T-Mobile and Orange have announced plans to bring blanketed, shared 3G service to both of their customer bases in the United Kingdom. The move means that all T-Mobile UK and Orange customers will have access to the 3G coverage of both carriers. The rollout of the deal begins early next week.

In 2010 T-Mobile UK and Orange merged together as one company, Everything Everywhere. This deal also brought overlapping, shared 2G coverage to both companies' customers, similar to today's announcement. Virgin Mobile also has a separate agreement with Orange which will allow it to use the company's 3G network beginning sometime in 2012.

Image courtesy of Anirudh Koul