mobileu.co.uk

Orange revives TV broadband interest

Mobile phone operator Orange has resumed its intentions to provide television services via broadband.

The company outsourced its fixed-line network to BT last month, which can now enable it to piggyback on BT's network, which is one of the most advanced and comprehensive in the nation.

Orange's new access means that it can put it broadband television plans back into motion, having initially announced their launch by late 2007.

The company – which has access to nearly 30 million customers after it merged with T-Mobile's UK arm in March – has not, however, announced plans for an immediate launch.

The foray into television would allow Orange to compete with the likes of Virgin Media, BT and BSkyB and offer a number of services – including broadband, television, mobile and fixed-line telephone services – in one package.

Currently only Virgin offers all of the services in one and any move by Orange would present real competition.

Orange is currently the fifth largest telecommunications company in the world, with more than 189 million customers worldwide as of 2009. In the UK it has around 17 million users of its mobile and broadband services.