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Sky has just announced it plans to enter the cellular network provider market, kicking off its own service in 2016.
Sky already boasts a range of comms offerings, with the UK firm well invested in home broadband, TV, and telephony. This is its first foray into mobile networks, however.
Jeremy Darroch, Sky’s Group Chief Executive, said: “As the UK’s leading brand for home entertainment and communications, Sky has a proven ability to launch new services, at scale.”
“We know our 11.5 million customers trust Sky to offer them the best quality and choice and have an appetite to take more from us.”
He added: “We can build on our expertise in content, innovation and service to launch a range of exciting new services and exploit the opportunities for growth in the fast-changing mobile sector.”
Related: Vodafone UK boss says customers don't care about 4G speed
It’s part of a new partnership with Telefonica UK – the firm that owns O2 (for now) – which will see Sky given ‘wholesale access’ to 2G, 3G, and 4G services.
Telefonica also loans its services out to Tesco Mobile, the UK’s current number one mobile virtual network operator.
The company hopes it will have 98 per cent 4G network coverage by 2017, which is good news for Sky.
Ronan Dunne, Telefonica UK’s Chief Executive, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Sky to our roster of innovative, successful partnerships, through which we help partners grow their offer to customers.”
“Sky understands the importance of a strong network and excellent customer experience and has made us a trusted partner to help deliver brilliant services.”
Dunne closed by saying: “This will widen consumer choice still further and demonstrates the lively competitiveness of the UK market.”
