BT to manage 3 network

Do-more

29/05/2008 - 10:22:31
3, Ireland’s mobile media network, has selected BT to build and manage its network infrastructure up to 2011 in a deal worth €44m.

More than 70,000 Irish mobile broadband subscribers are already on the 3 network.

The contract stipulates that BT will deliver the backhaul to support 7.2Mbps industry standard technology later this year rising to 14.4Mbps in 2009.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/Business/mhgbmhsnojoj/rss2/

rebel.ranter

They currently manage the 3 network, and they may be in line to do O2 as well.

1huge1

Three Ireland has awarded BT a contract worth EUR44 million which will see the telecoms firm boost Three's mobile broadband speeds.

Under the contract, BT will build and manage Three's network infrastructure as it prepares for mobile broadband speeds of 14.4Mbps by next year. Essentially, BT will provide Three Ireland with fibre optic capability and the backhaul infrastructure to support 7.2Mbps mobile broadband this year and double that speed by 2009.

The deal follows a contract signed in 2003 for BT to build the 3G access network for Three.

"What we are able to bring to the table is the backhaul infrastructure capability and first class project management skills. We have the size and scale to deliver a project of this magnitude," said Chris Clark, CEO at BT.

Robert Finnegan, managing director at Three, claimed the operator had "made great inroads in the broadband market" and was now "the leading provider in the Irish mobile broadband market with more customers using Three's network than any other". He added the deal with BT would "help us progress even further".

As part of the contract, BT will link by microwave to Three's transmission sites around the country and carry all traffic over its fibre optic network to the mobile operator's Irish data centre.

BT Ireland will also provide full operation and maintenance services, with field engineering staff on call to fix any faults on Three’s national infrastructure.

In addition, it will extend the number of Three cell sites in Ireland from 700 to 770 by the end of the year. A spokeswoman for Three told ENN that if it was successful in its bid for the national broadband scheme, it would probably have to add even more cells which could be developed by other providers of cell sites.

Three claims to have over 70,000 Irish mobile broadband subscribers on its network and population coverage of just under 90 percent.

From ENN

http://www.enn.ie/article/10124439.html

interesting news, those speeds in such a short time are very appealing.

Davy

the leading provider in the Irish mobile broadband market with more customers using Three's network than any other"

Is this really true? I have never used 3 modem broadband, but if gonna have seeps like this and portable seems like a good package. and the posts lately about the speed users are getting improving sounds all good

1huge1

well its either them or vodafone, 3 in that article claim 70,000 using their mobile broadband which is impressive, I do remember vodafone stating the 70,000 mark aswel so either way there close, but with a upgrade like this the tide could turn in 3's favour.

on another note anybody know how many customers 3 have on their mobile network (not the broadband thing), I remember hearing 70,000 (that number is getting popular) there about a year and a half ago but nothing since.

Davy

their was a lot of talk about the last figures, was only a tiny % but i haven't heard figures released since then.

When they upgrade will they be able to offer different speeds, i would have taught they wouldn't be able to? So the price would go up, or it be upgraded like eircom did a few years back for nothing once you had it.

Walkman

Apparently they hit 280,000 customers including broadband by end of March.

Sam Vimes

davton wrote: »

Is this really true? I have never used 3 modem broadband, but if gonna have seeps like this and portable seems like a good package. and the posts lately about the speed users are getting improving sounds all good

it is true. i used to sell all three of them. 95% of people went for the three one, 5% went for the o2 one and i sold one vodafone one to a guy upgrading from an old vodafone modem.

now if they did a poll of happy customers.....

Davy

Sam Vimes wrote: »

now if they did a poll of happy customers.....

ye, In saying that with the problems etc is it cheaper to switch, what it comes down to most of the time! think 3 is the best value for me at the mo

Walkman wrote: »

Apparently they hit 280,000 customers including broadband by end of March.

That a doesnt improvement, but for the millions they spent cant be a profit yet.

Anyone know about the speeds? per earlier post 2 speeds or price hike