Introducing Project Beacon…
Project Beacon involves two competing mobile networks, Vodafone and O2, joining forces to improve your mobile experience. Far from a merge, the partnership is focusing on the physical infrastructure of the networks. Vodafone and O2 are putting their masts together, removing duplicates and creating some news ones to give you even better mobile coverage across the UK. Vodafone will be in charge of the network maintenance in the West of the UK and Wales, while O2 will be looking after the East, including Northern Ireland.
This doesn’t mean that Vodafone and O2 will be sharing signal, spectrum, fibre backbone network or services – but will mean that when they’re finished, there will be about 18,500 masts across one grid – allowing Vodafone and O2 customers to receive signal from each of the masts across the UK. This will equal a 40% increase on sites available to either network currently – but a 10% reduction in total. The partnership will also see indoor network coverage improve for both networks to keep your workforce better connected. Project Beacon is already underway and is expected to be finished by the end of 2015 – 2 years ahead of Ofcom’s own deadline for 4G coverage (of which was only outdoor).
Key figures:
-
40% increase on sites available to either network currently
- 10% decrease in total
- Aim to offer 2G and 3G coverage to 98% of the UK population, and deliver indoor 4G coverage to 98% of the population on a brand new spectrum, by the end of 2015.