T-Mobile and Orange have announced their intention to merge their UK mobile phone operations to create the UK's biggest mobile network.

The plan being considered between French owned Orange and German owned T-mobile is scheduled to be agreed in November this year, although it could take an additional 18 months before the two brands were merged. By creating the new network as a joint business venture, rather than a takeover, they hope to avoid being blocked by the Competition Commission.

T-Mobile is currently the fourth-largest mobile operator in the UK, with a 15% share of the market. O2 has a 27% share, followed by Vodafone with 25% and Orange with 22%.