More Orange and T-Mobile Users Benefit from the ‘Big Switch-On’

Orange and T-Mobile UK, the two wireless carriers that put their businesses together via a joint-venture called Everything Everywhere, have just announced that more of their customers can now benefit from access to the 3G networks of both carriers.

As part of the “big switch-on” that was launched last year, the two carriers enable their customers to take advantage of either of the networks in areas where coverage is available from both of them, or to switch between them whenever they want.

Through this move, users will be provided with connectivity even in areas where one of the carriers does not have coverage.

Moreover, the move results in faster Internet and data speeds in more places, all without the need to pay something extra.

Not to mention that the two companies are set to improve the 2G connectivity their users benefit from as well, and that both their 2G and 3G networks will soon benefit from expanded coverage.

“This is a significant achievement and demonstrates the latest milestone in our network vision and customer promise – to provide more things, to more people in more places than any other company in Britain,” Olaf Swantee, CEO of Everything Everywhere, said.

Customers are always on the move and demanding instant access to information wherever they are. Not only will customers be able to talk in places they weren’t able to before, they’ll also now be able to access the internet, social networks or download emails at improved speeds, in more places.”

The 3G switch-on will start to roll out next week, Everything Everywhere announced. The deployment will be performed from region to region, and is expected to become available for all 27 million Orange and T-Mobile customers in the next few months.

Regardless of their original carrier, users will not see increased charges when using the other operator's network.

“Already, customers of each brand have shown the value in having access to each other’s networks, with 1.7 million days worth of calls (or almost 41 million hours) having been made on the other brand’s network, and almost five billion extra text messages having been sent and received since October last year – benefitting over 20 million people across the country,” the duo notes.