UK-based mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Truphone has signed a five-year agreement with BT Wholesale to use EE’s network.
Under the new deal, Truphone customers will gain access to EE’s network, which independent testing shows offers the best overall coverage and speeds across the UK. Truphone’s service is currently delivered over the O2 network.
Ralph Steffens, CEO of Truphone, commented:
“We’re incredibly excited to partner with BT Wholesale, the clear market leader in the UK, on this important relationship in one of our core mobile markets.
It’s fantastic to be able to offer our customers the scale and reliability of BT’s network and we are really looking forward to all the opportunities this partnership will afford us.”
Ofcom’s Connected Nations report noted that EE’s 4G network covers more than 86 percent of the UK landmass, roughly 2,500 square miles more than its nearest competitor, reinforcing EE’s strong position on coverage.
Alex Tempest, Managing Director of BT Wholesale, said:
“This new agreement is great news for Truphone customers, who will soon be able to benefit from data speeds more than twice as fast as any other network.
Alongside Truphone’s success in Enterprise mobile, we have been particularly impressed with Truphone’s capability and ambitions in IoT.”
Truphone has been active in the Internet of Things (IoT) space. In September 2021 the company announced a collaboration with Sony Semiconductor Israel and security specialist Kigen to deliver Truphone’s IoT platform and global connectivity on Sony’s Altair cellular IoT chipsets using Kigen’s iSIM OS.
At the time, Steffens said the partnership highlighted Truphone’s leadership in providing connectivity for IoT and predicted the integrated technologies would enable powerful, scalable deployments across sectors including automotive and wearable devices.
The announcement with BT Wholesale did not initially specify whether Truphone would have access to EE’s 5G network as part of the agreement. A Truphone spokesperson later confirmed that 5G service will be provided from commercial launch in Fall 2022.
(Image Credit: EE)
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