T-Mobile could purchase 3

Link: T-mobile in Talks with Hutchison 3g over Network Sharing

T-Mobile and 3 are reportedly in discussions over sharing parts of their 3G network, according to the Financial Times (via Cellular News).

There’s also rumours that should this deal go through, the next logical step would be that T-Mobile purchase 3. James Barford, analyst at Enders Analysis, told the FT: “This deal, if concluded, would leave T-Mobile as the most obvious potential buyer of 3.”

Radio sharing agreements are not uncommon, with Vodafone and Orange agreeing a 3G network sharing deal back in February. The benefits for the operators are easy to see – with the amount of money saved in duplicate infrastructure, planning permission, etc, quite worthwhile in the fight to make the huge amount of money they spent on the 3G radio auction worthwhile.

Unsurprisingly, T-Mobile and 3 declined to comment on the FT article – which usually means something’s brewing..