Olswang advises Vodafone in network collaboration with Telefonica UK

Olswang, Europe's leading technology, media and telecoms law firm has advised Vodafone UK on its agreement with Telefónica UK to strengthen their existing network partnership.

Vodafone UK and Telefónica UK plan to pool the basic parts of their network infrastructure to create one national grid running each operator's independent mobile spectrum. The plan will deliver real benefits to today's mobile phone users by creating two competing networks that will be able to offer indoor 2G and 3G coverage targeting 98% of the UK population by 2015. This agreement will also lay the foundations for two competing 4G networks to deliver the capability for a nationwide 4G service faster than could be achieved independently*.

Chosen for their specialist sector expertise and innovation, Olswang's multi-disciplinary team advised on all commercial and corporate aspects of the partnership, including the creation of a new 50/50 joint venture company that sees the consolidation of both operator's existing basic network infrastructure. The team also advised on all related tax, employment and financing matters.

In addition to the management of Vodafone's trademark portfolio, the strengthening of this partnership has been the first strategic mandate for Olswang as a new panel firm, following its appointment to the "new look" panel in September 2011. 

"Only once or twice in your career do you get the opportunity to do something as innovative as this project," says Purvi Parekh (co-chair of Olswang's global telecoms group), who led the commercial and telecoms team on the project. "It was challenging and exciting at the same time. We were thrilled Vodafone UK chose us to help them to deliver the joint venture and partnership arrangements."

Olswang's integrated Telecoms team advises on the full range of issues including; commercial/transactional, regulatory, corporate/M&A, finance, competition, intellectual property, dispute resolution, real estate and tax.

The transaction was led by Purvi Parekh (Telecoms) and Simon Morgan with assistance from Mark Joscelyne (Tax), Gary Henderson (Employment), Moni manning (Finance) as well as Rob Bratby, Anna Soilleux, Jill Pollock, Louis Glass, Nick Owers, Natasha Mills, Dominic Holmes and Mark Spinney.