Dixons Carphone, the company made up of Dixons and Carphone Warehouse, has announced that it is to launch its own UK mobile network.
The as-yet-unbranded new network, which will launch some time this spring, will be a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). This means that it will operate entirely on a pre-existing physical network.
In this case, Dixons Carphone is partnering with Three to offer its service.
The new network “will bring innovative and highly personalised connectivity options for customers to enjoy,” according to Carphone Warehouse CEO Graham Stapleton.
This should mean giving customers far greater flexibility from their long term contacts. Stapleton told the Financial Times that a Dixons Carphone phone contract would enable customers to change the proportions of their data, call, and text allowances mid-contract.
Another interesting aspect of the new mobile network will be its incorporation of the so-called ‘Internet of Things.’ Contracts will allow for connections to smartphone technology, as well as to laptops and tablets.
This makes sense, as one of the reasons given for the merger between Dixons and Carphone Warehouse last year was the ability to better serve the growing Internet of Things.
Related: Three O2 deal – is it good for consumers?
To that end, the company has developed its own software platform which will seemingly link up purchases made from Carphone Warehouse (so smartphones) with those made from Dixons (such as smart TVs).
With O2 and Three likely set to merge, and BT buying out the similarly-merged EE, the UK mobile network scene looks set to change radically over the coming years. Such MVNO partnerships could become a common occurrence in a bid to offer alternatives to the soon-to-be big three.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
