- TXO’s John Teasdale highlights the potential for transforming telecom infrastructure post-merger
- Rationalisation could lead to cost savings and enhanced national coverage, with a focus on sustainability
What happened: Streamlining infrastructure for smarter growth
Vodafone and Three’s merger has created a telecom giant serving over 27 million UK customers across 26,000 sites. The next big task is infrastructure rationalisation. Both networks were built independently and now need to be streamlined into one efficient system.
John Teasdale, Group CTO at TXO, sees this as a crucial opportunity. He believes the rationalisation process could significantly enhance the sector’s role in the circular economy. Teasdale explained that many sites overlap, particularly in urban areas, leading to wasted resources. By removing redundant infrastructure, VodafoneThree can improve coverage in rural and underserved zones.
The focus will likely be on decommissioning base stations, backhaul networks, and possibly even realigning spectrum. This will create a more efficient network, fit for the 5G era.
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Why it’s important
Teasdale stressed that this rationalisation isn’t just about cutting costs. It’s about creating a smarter, more sustainable network. Much of the infrastructure being phased out is still viable. It can be refurbished, redeployed, or resold to other operators, contributing to the circular economy.
While there’s no fixed timeline, delaying the rationalisation will lead to rising costs. Maintaining two separate networks adds unnecessary energy expenses and operational burdens. Teasdale compared the process to previous mergers, such as T-Mobile and Orange’s formation of EE in the UK. While rationalisation may take years, VodafoneThree has an opportunity to lead in sustainability.
In summary, VodafoneThree’s infrastructure overhaul is about more than saving money. It’s an opportunity to set new industry standards for efficiency and sustainability.
