Mobile phone firms' pledge to cut number of masts after merger

People opposed to the proliferation of mobile phone masts are to get an unexpected benefit from the confirmed merger of Orange and T-Mobile.

Bristol-based Orange said there will be a "significant" cut in the number of masts as the two companies will be able to share poles in future.

Mobile phone operators have long been criticised for putting up separate masts near those of their rivals.

People living near them claim they blight their surroundings and want to know why one mast cannot be used by a number of firms.

In the case of Orange and T-Mobile, their merger is expected to result in a fall of up to a third in the number of mast sites.

The information was given to Northavon MP Steve Webb, who said he hoped the structures no longer needed would be removed quickly.

He said there were a number of locations in his constituency where the companies had separate masts relatively close to each other, including in Hill Lane, Old Sodbury, near Chipping Sodbury, and he would contact them to see how soon redundant masts could be removed.

Mr Webb said: "While most people use mobile phones and see the need for masts, they are often unsightly, especially where there are several in close proximity.

"One side-effect of the merger between Orange and T-Mobile is that where the two companies have separate masts right next to each other, it should be possible for one of them to be removed."

In a letter to the MP, Orange said: "By pooling the two networks, there will be a significant reduction in the numbers of masts needed to serve the existing customer bases, with an expected 20 per cent reduction in the number of base stations and a 35 per cent reduction in the number of mast sites.

"There will also be a reduction in the amount of energy used across the estate of the new company."

But Orange stressed there would be no immediate changes as the process of merging the two businesses would take some time.

Its merger with T-Mobile was confirmed after UK competition watchdog the Office for Fair Trading withdrew concerns over the joint venture.

The European Commission also backed the deal after the companies agreed to a number of concessions aimed at pacifying industry fears.

But there are warnings of job losses among the combined 19,000 workforce and Orange staff in Bristol are waiting to hear if they will be affected.