O2 4G Secures 1m LTE Customers As Data Demand Surges

O2 says it has attracted more than one million 4G customers since it launched its LTE network last August and claims these users consumed more data than the first six months after 4G went live than all of its customers combined between 2000 and 2008.

This is much less than EE, which has enjoyed a significant headstart in the market, but is double the number of 4G customers announced by Vodafone in February despite launching on the same day.

Three, which is not charging a premium for 4G, claims it has 1.9 million customers with a 4G-compatible handset.

O2 4G rollout

O2 says its 4G coverage is now available in 191 towns and cities, reaching one third of the UK population indoors and 41 outdoors. However the operator has not revealed specific locations, raising the possibility that it has bulked the list up by including multiple settlements within or alongside large conurbations.

The operator had not responded to TechWeekEurope’s request for more detailed coverage locations at the time of publication.

O2 is also investing in its 2G and 3G networks, with a quarter of its masts set to be upgraded by the end of 2015, with fibre connections, radio  equipment, remote monitoring devices and antennas all set to be checked, with improvements to its 2G service seen vital to supporting the recent developments in M2M connections.

Network modernisation

An additional £16 million is also being set aside to bring 3G data to 200 communities which have never been able to receive mobile data services at all until now.

O2 CEO Ronan Dunne says the modernisation programme is one of the largest infrastructure improvement projects taking place in the UK today and has hailed its 4G rollout as the “fastest network rollout in the history of this company.”

“Investment in all layers of our network is key to ensuring customers receive a great experience, whether that’s in streaming live goals in the pub or receiving critical business information,” he says. “We continue to invest the equivalent of £1.5million in our network every single day to offer seamless connectivity for our customers across 2G, 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi and remain focused on delivering an experience that exceeds our customers’ expectations.

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