The flip side of the Orange/T-Mobile merger is that users on one network can use the other's network if the signal for their home network is dead or significantly weak, but yes there is less competition. The likes of Virgin Media and the supermarket networks ride on the back of the major provider's networks.
As for 3, I was on them for 18 months and moved to Orange last year when I got fed up of the generally patchy 3G signal and they justified my decision when I rang them up to cancel the contract them trying to blame it on my handset at the time - a handset THEY were offering on THEIR network.
Things may have changed since then I don't know. But so far, I'm happy with Orange so will stay put for the foreseeable future.
As for 3, I was on them for 18 months and moved to Orange last year when I got fed up of the generally patchy 3G signal and they justified my decision when I rang them up to cancel the contract them trying to blame it on my handset at the time - a handset THEY were offering on THEIR network.
Things may have changed since then I don't know. But so far, I'm happy with Orange so will stay put for the foreseeable future.