Orange claims top mobile slot

Orange, one of the youngest mobile operators, claims it has overtaken market leader Vodafone in UK network coverage.

Managing director, Hans Snook, said Orange's network now covers 96 per cent of the UK's population, with 3,501 core sites in its digital infrastructure.

Last year it added 100 sites a month to its network - 40 more than its rivals, claimed Snook. Orange estimates Vodafone, Cellnet, and One 2 One operate 3,250, 2,700, and 2,200 sites respectively. Orange claims it will be operating 40 per cent more core base stations than rivals by the end of the year.

"We took over 25 per cent of total net growth and grew our market share from 11.5 per cent to 14.2 per cent," said Snook.

Group turnover grew by 49 per cent to #914m, with Orange Mobile's turnover jumping 67 per cent to #626m. Pre-tax losses reduced by 39 per cent to #139m.