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Share 3G wireless, yes! - but will there be enough backhaul? Report doesn't say...

"Network sharing will become essential for operators that are struggling to expand 3G coverage and make funds available for a number of alternative investments," announced  Dr Alastair Brydon of Research And Markets today.

The company announced its latest survey into the mobile business with the opinion that "The recent announcements of major network-sharing deals in the UK between Hutchison 3G and T-Mobile, and between Orange and Vodafone, are indicative of a trend that is set to spread across all developed markets."

The report goes into a great deal of detail - but it's not clear from the summary whether the questions listed actually provide the important answer to the question of backhaul. Amongst the points covered, says the report, is "How will network sharing affect the market for mobile infrastructure?" - which is a good question.

The trouble is, many consultants rather think the market for infrastructure is underinvested - especially for high-speed data services. So if the answer to the question is "The market for infrastructure is now going to run out of money" that would be a major disaster for the industry, and would almost certainly be the headline statement for the report.

And if the answer is "A magic wand has been discovered which will miraculously provide all the backhaul high speed data services will need!" then that, too, ought to be the top point.

Neither point is offered as the headline, which is disappointing...