Dixon's Carphone Warehouse will launch its mobile network in May
Dixons Carphone Warehouse announced the launch of its own mobile network. The iD network launches in May, it will offer free roaming in 22 countries, 12 and 24 month plans with a focus on providing affordable 4G plans. Carphone Warehouse will use Three&rsquo;s existing network, it is expected to be the UK&rsquo;s cheapest 4G network. {Sky recently announced plans for a standalone mobile network on O2.}International Business Times 23-Apr-15Mail Online 22-Apr-15
Not content to just sell other manufacturers phones and mobile plans, Carphone Warehouse is launching a network of its own.

Called iD, the mobile network will launch in May and offer free roaming in 22 countries including the US, Australia and across Europe.

The firm's boss told MailOnline the aim is to offer features that customers want, including 12-month contracts and affordable 4G handsets.

Carphone Warehouse's mobile network launches in May and will offer free roaming in 22 countries, including the US, Australia and across Europe. The firm's boss told MailOnline the aim is to offer features that customers want, including 12-month contracts and affordable 4G handsets

When iD launches next month it will offer the most comprehensive range of roaming countries, ahead of Three with 18 countries and Lyca on 17.

Carphone Warehouse's iD will use Three's existing infrastructure to offer these networks and plans.

'Carphone Warehouse is unique because we speak to more customers across the networks than anyone else. This gives us a unique customer insight,' UK and Ireland chief executive Graham Stapleton told MailOnline.

The iD network (logo pictured) will use Three's existing infrastructure to offer networks and plans

'They tell us what could be better across the whole of the industry and iD is based on that insight; giving customers what they want.

'We're building this network from scratch and are using the latest technology to connect and build iD, and because tech is moving so quickly we've been able to come up with something innovative and different.'

He said that at launch Carphone Warehouse is creating a platform for the network and in 'two to three months' time [it] will launch products that no-one else will have.'

But Mr Stapleton wouldn't reveal what these will be in order to maintain a competitor advantage over rival networks.

He continued that the aim is to have all the handsets it currently sells available on the network.

'The reason we are putting 12-month contracts and deals out there is that there is no-one else offering such 12 month contracts and our customers said it was a feature they wanted,' he continued.

iD won't the only network to offer 12-month contracts, though. Vodafone, for example, has a range of contracts that start at £9.50 a month.

When iD launches it will offer the most comprehensive range of roaming countries, shown in the graph above. This will put it ahead of Three with 18 countries and Lyca on 17

Carphone Warehouse's boss Graham Stapleton said the iD website will launch tomorrow, where people can register their interest. The full range of plans will be announced as they become available, but an example offers the Samsung A3 (shown) on a 12-month 4G plan with 300 mins, 5000 texts and 1 GB data for £19.50

In terms of next steps, Mr Stapleton said the website will launch tomorrow where people can register their interest, and the network as a platform will launch in May - although he didn't give an exact date.

GOOGLE ANNOUNCES MOBILE NETWORK Two months after it announced it was launching its own mobile network, Google is now said to be looking at ways to get rid of roaming fees. The tech giant is said to be in talks with Hutchison Whampoa, the owner of the Three network, to let its users make calls and send texts in any country at no extra cost. Industry sources said the firms are discussing a 'wholesale access agreement' that would help Google create a global network. Google's vice president Sundar Pichai confirmed rumours his firm was launching a mobile network plan during during a talk at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February. It will be initially offered to cities that have Google Fiber, such as Kansas, Texas and Utah and Google is working with network operators on developing the cellular plan.

The firm will also be launching an app to manage billing and then new features will be announced during the summer that Mr Stapleton described as 'just fantastic and very innovative.'

The full range of plans and offers will be announced as they become available, but an example plan offers the Samsung A3 on a 12-month 4G plan with 300 mins, 5,000 texts and 1 GB data for £19.50.

'This is just the beginning,' added Mr Stapleton.

'We know that there are lots more customer issues and frustrations with existing mobile plans that we're eager to tackle.

'We want this network to be focused on the individual and we will continue to listen to customers over the coming months, asking them to help develop and evolve iD.'

Other features include controls and caps to help people prevent 'Bill Shock' - surprise costs and fees added to their account.

iD is the first major initiative from Dixons Carphone and will be available to customers via all Carphone Warehouse, Currys and PC World stores, as well as online.

Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch.com told MailOnline: 'It's quite a coup that iD piggybacks off Three's network given that Carphone Warehouse hasn't offered any deals from the network in years. Perhaps iD Mobiles was the olive branch.

'The promise of 12-month contracts is likely to be a major win with mobile users who crave flexibility - we know that because of the rising popularity of SIM-only deals.

'But iD's success all hinges on how keenly these shorter contracts are priced. We eagerly await more concrete details, in terms of cost and the full range of handsets that will be offered.'

Carphone Warehouse is the latest firm to launch its own network.

In January Sky announced plans to launch its own network, powered by O2. O2's owner Telefónica UK will give Sky wholesale access to 2G, 3G and 4G voice and data services. The first deals are expected to launch in 2016. Sky is the country's second-largest provider of home broadband and most popular 'triple-play' provider

In January Sky announced plans to launch its own network, powered by O2.

O2's owner Telefónica UK will give Sky wholesale access to 2G, 3G and 4G voice and data services, with the first deals expecting to launch in 2016.

A CHANGING MOBILE LANDSCAPE Carphone Warehouse's iD will use Three's existing infrastructure to offer networks and plans. It is the latest firm to launch its own network. In January Sky announced plans to launch its own network, powered by O2. O2's owner Telefónica UK will give Sky wholesale access to 2G, 3G and 4G voice and data services, with the first deals expecting to launch in 2016. Meanwhile, Telefónica UK already rents part of its network to Tesco Mobile. Sky is hoping to rival fellow broadcaster Virgin Media, which shares EE's network, and BT, which is said to be in talks to buy EE. Vodafone was initially seen as a leading contender for the wholesale partnership with Sky as the two firms already have content partnerships in place. Vodafone Red 4G customers can get access to Sky Sports as part of their plan, for example. Instead, Vodafone is planning to launch a broadband and TV service later this year that will use its Cable and Wireless business fibre network, and BT's Openreach network.

Sky is hoping to rival fellow broadcaster Virgin Media, which uses EE's network for its mobile services, and BT, which is said to be in talks to buy EE.

Under the terms of Sky's multi-year deal, Telefónica UK will share its network with the media giant across the UK, and the first services will launch next year.

Sky is the country's second-largest provider of home broadband since entering the market seven years ago, with more than 5 million customers.

It is also said to be the most popular 'triple-play' provider, with almost 40 per cent of its customers taking its three services - TV, telephone and broadband.

Adding a mobile service would make it a so-called 'quad-play provider.'

More recently it launched a mobile TV service Sky Go that lets people watch live and on-demand films and TV shows on their phones and tablets.

Financial terms of the partnership were not given and an O2 spokesman said the deal would not affect existing O2 customers.

Meanwhile, Telefónica UK already rents part of its network to Tesco Mobile.

And Sky and Vodafone also have a number of content partnerships in place.

Vodafone Red 4G customers can get access to Sky Sports as part of their plan, for example.

Vodafone is planning to launch a broadband and TV service later this year that will use its Cable and Wireless business fibre network, and BT's Openreach network.

Pricing details, and what TV content will be offered, has yet to be announced.