BSkyB could move into mobile phone market

By JAMIE GRIERSON
Published on 27/05/2012 23:25

SATELLITE broadcaster BSkyB is considering a move on Britain’s mobile phone market to add to its television, internet and land-line phone package.

The FTSE 100 company has discussed buying up a portion of the airwaves put up for sale by Everything Everywhere, the owner of mobile networks Orange and T-Mobile.

The move would see BSkyB add mobile phone services to its current range and would strengthen its position in the face of new competition in the pay-TV market from the likes of Lovefilm and Netflix.

BSkyB, which is 39 per cent owned by News Corporation, reported a 5 per cent increase in revenues in the nine months to 31 March, despite freezing prices for customers.

The phone-hacking scandal at News International, which led to the closure of Sunday tabloid the News of the World, scuppered News Corp’s plans to take full control of BSkyB.