The partnership marks the first time that a Chinese telecom operator has launched MVNO services outside China. The strategic partnership, secured via Everything Everywhere’s mobile virtual network aggregator (MVNA) Transatel, takes the company’s portfolio of MVNO partnerships to 24, and demonstrates Everything Everywhere’s commitment to expanding opportunities for new MVNOs across the UK.
China Telecom (Europe) selected Everything Everywhere and Transatel based on the strength of Everything Everywhere’s shared T-Mobile and Orange network, which offers the biggest 3G network and widest 3G coverage in the UK, and Transatel’s flexible and technologically advanced MVNO platform, which will allow China Telecom (Europe) to launch its service in the UK within months.
Launching in Q1 2012, China Telecom (Europe) will specifically target Chinese residents and businesses in the UK, as well as visitors to the country such as students and tourists.
Marc Overton, Vice President of Wholesale and M2M at Everything Everywhere, said: “We’re delighted that Everything Everywhere has been selected by China Telecom (Europe) as its MVNO partner in the UK. Everything Everywhere offers MVNO customers the biggest 3G network and widest 3G coverage in the UK, making us the partner of choice for MVNOs. We look forward to growing our partnership with China Telecom (Europe) in the future.”
Yan Ou, Managing Director of China Telecom (Europe), said: “Entering the UK mobile market is a strategic move for China Telecom (Europe). We selected Everything Everywhere based on the strength of its network, and Transatel’s proven track record of getting MVNOs up and running quickly and efficiently. We are keen to launch the service in the UK as soon as possible as there is a real gap in the market for the provision of tailored mobile services and competitive tariffs aimed at the growing Chinese population in the UK.”
Jacques Bonifay, CEO of Transatel, said: “Working so closely with the UK’s biggest communications company means that we are able to win exciting and strategically important deals such as this one with China Telecom (Europe). Our technology allows businesses to launch their MVNOs to market within weeks, ensuring they can get up and running and start marketing to customers as quickly as possible. We are very much looking forward to helping China Telecom (Europe) be a successful part of the UK’s mobile ecosystem.”