TalkTalk to sell mobile services via Vodafone deal

Internet service provider TalkTalk has made a deal with Vodafone that will let it offer mobile telephone and broadband phone services to residential customers.

The Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) agreement, announced on Friday, means that TalkTalk will use Vodafone's network to provide the services. It will sell these alongside the home phone, broadband and television packages it currently offers when the services go live in the autumn.

"We've chosen Vodafone as our network partner as they have a proven network and a track record of success with their MVNOs," said Charles Dunstone, chairman of TalkTalk Group, in a statement.

TalkTalk, the largest residential broadband provider in the UK, plans to launch the contract mobile services in a range of tariffs aimed at new subscribers and its existing 4.2 million broadband customers.

Its business-to-business division Opal already provides mobile services as part of its enterprise telecoms packages.

In April, Carphone Warehouse split in two to form services provider TalkTalk and the Best Buy-owned Carphone Warehouse retail stores. TalkTalk's new mobile business will be a direct competitor to Talk Mobile — Carphone Warehouse's own MVNO — which also uses the Vodafone network infrastructure. Other Vodafone MVNOs include BT Mobile, Asda and Lebara.

The new deal means TalkTalk will be able to take on rival ISP Virgin Media, which has been offering 'quad play' packages of mobile, landline, television and broadband services since forming its own (and the world's first) MVNO using T-Mobile infrastructure in 1999.