Britain's mobile operators team up to tackle rural 'not spots'

Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings

25/10/2019 07:36

LONDON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Britain's four mobile network
operators have agreed to build a shared rural network, backed by
funds from government, that will banish "not-spots" in the
countryside where consumers cannot get an adequate signal.
    EE  BT.L , Vodafone  VOD.L , O2  TEF.MC  and Three  0215.HK 
will collectively spend 532 million pounds ($684 million) over
20 years according to the plan published on Friday, potentially
supported by a 500 million pound investment from government.
    The operators would invest in a network of new and existing
phone masts they would all share under the proposal, which the
government hopes will be formalised early next year.
    

($1 = 0.7780 pounds)

 (Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Kate Holton)
 ((paul.sandle@thomsonreuters.com; +44 20 7542 6843; Reuters
Messaging: paul.sandle.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))