The website Telecoms.com reports that the CEOs of the four major UK mobile network operators (MNOs) have agreed, in theory, on a collaboration plan to address areas of the UK still struggling with connectivity.

The agreement comes after the four met with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and two potential options were discussed. The first option involves one competitor opening up infrastructure to another should the same be done in return.

This would reward MNOs for investing in the rural communities and working alongside a rival. Building more masts could compound coverage gains with reciprocal agreements. This option was preferred for the areas where users have limited choice in providers.

The second option covered rural areas that do no currently fall into the area covered by any MNO. In this instance the creation of a new company has been proposed, to build new infrastructure that could be used by all MNOs.

The plans are subject to agreement by Ofcom and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Recent data from Ofcom estimated that 8% of the UK is currently a ‘not-spot’ for connectivity.

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→ Telecoms.com - UK rural collaboration back on the table