Sainsbury's to pull out of mobile market as talks break down

Sainbury’s has confirmed it is shutting down its mobile network on January 15.

In a message on its website, the retailer announced on Wednesday that the service, which runs on the Vodafone network, would be closed after running for two and a half years.

Vodafone said in a statement: “we regret that Mobile by Sainsbury's - a joint venture between Sainsbury's and Vodafone UK - offering a mobile phone service to Sainsbury's customers is ending and the service will no longer be available from 15 January 2016”.

Engadet reported that talks between the telco and the retailer broke down, which led to Sainsbury’s quietly pulling monthly plans from its website.

It’s the second foray into the mobile sector for the retailer, after its Sainsbury’s One network began in 2001 on BT’s network, until it closed in 2003.

Customers won't automatically be switched over to a new network, and will have any disconnection fees waived if they transfer before the network is shut down.