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O2 investing up to £690m improving network in 2015

Michael Garwood
November 20, 2014

“Unprecedented” investment to increase between 10 and 15 per cent next year across 2G, 3G and 4G. Credentials in public sector at all time high

O2 UK CEO Ronan Dunne has revealed the operator plans to increase investment in its network by between 10-15 per cent next year.

According to Dunne  the operator, which has more than 24 million customers in the UK (three million on 4G), has invested £600 million in improving its network in 2014, down £400 million on 2013.

However, with the firms continued rollout of its 4G network, which went live in August last year, as well as upgrades to 2G, 3G and improving coverage in so called ‘not spot’ areas, investment will increase by up to £90 million next year.

“This year we will invest around £600 million and increase that by between 10 and 15 per cent next year,” said Dunne. “A key message that often gets lost is we are upgrading our 2G, our 3G and we are delivering 4G at the same time as well as enhancing our coverage in areas where there have been gaps with coverage.

“Our investment is actually going along way to addressing the challenge the government has recently set in relation to the debate on national roaming. We are investing in reducing the not-spots and partial not-spots in the UK already as part of a programme which will achieve 98 per cent indoor population coverage on 2G, 3G and 4G.”

B2B / Public Sector

The investment has also aided O2’s ambitions in growing its share in the public sector, in which Dunne claims the operator to be the fastest growing partner and supplier in that market today.

He also lauded O2 as the only UK mobile provider to achieve the government-approved network certification, CAS(T), announced in May this year, describing O2 as the ‘partner of trust’ in market.

“We have seen an explosion in our B2B business, particularly on the strength of our offering and engagement in the public sector. We have grown rapidly and are the fastest growing partner to the public sector suppliers.

“We are the only network that has CAS(T) accreditation and we have the highest reference rating from the information commissioner. So across a number of reference points, we are being the partner of trust across different categories.”

 

 

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