UK operators Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) and Orange are mulling over a deal in which the two companies would share the technology, engineering and maintenance of their British network base stations, reports the Observer. The newspaper, which doesn’t cite a source, says the deal could save Vodafone £1 billion ($1.46 billion), and would extend an existing agreement in which the two operators already share some of the running costs of their base stations. The two are expected to agree to integrate their 3G access networks, and possibly collaborate on managing their international network coverage. Last year, T-Mobile UK and its smaller rival 3UK signed a similar deal, forming a joint venture integrating their 3G networks.