O2 today announced that its 4G network is to launch on Thursday 29th of August 2013. The service will initially be limited to London, Leeds and Bradford areas but it set to expand to ten further cities before 2014 arrives. It will be the first 4G competitor to the EE network which has enjoyed first mover advantage and a 4G monopoly for almost a year. EE now offers 4G services in 95 towns and cities.
£26 for what?
O2 will be setting up special 4G tariffs, rather than simply and graciously allowing existing customers the benefits of its faster network. The network, owned by Spain's Telefonica, has set its lowest 4G tariff at £26 per month. Subscribers get a contract "happiness guarantee" which lasts the first 30 days when ordering from O2 direct, also during your contract there will be 12 months of free music content provided. However it's difficult to evaluate O2's £26 monthly contract offer as the telco has not given any further essential details about it - such as the minutes, texts and data allowances that someone who signs up will get. EE's current cheapest 4G talk/text/data bundle offer is £21 per month.
Ronan Dunne, CEO of Telefónica UK (O2) said: "It's great that I am able to announce O2 4G the day after the spectrum has been cleared for use. Digital connectivity will be made ubiquitous by 4G and become the oxygen of modern life. It is our intention to use 4G to inspire the nation through the possibilities of technology, encouraging people to live more, do more and be more with O2."
iPhone 5 not compatible
The BBC mentions some sticky points for O2 in their launch news article; firstly in O2's limited 4G operational areas it will be at least initially slower than the EE "double speed" areas, secondly the Apple iPhone 5 is, in its current form, incompatible with the O2 4G network. O2 hopes to appeal to customers and distinguish it's 4G offering by the bundled content available.
A tale of 10 cities
Additional O2 4G coverage area cities by the end of this year will include Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Liverpool, Nottingham, Leicester, Coventry, Sheffield, Manchester and Edinburgh. O2 says that it aims to reach 98 per cent of the population with its 2G, 3G and 4G service before the end of 2015.
Vodafone, Three and BT are yet to announce launch dates for their 4G services. However BT won't be competing in the mobile contract field with its 4G offerings but instead it is planning to extend access for its broadband customers in some areas.
GiffGaff & Tesco
CNet has revealed that GiffGaff and Tesco customers will also be offered 4G access options. There were no specific details of what will be offered at this time.
