Introduction to O2
O2 offers fast and reliable broadband to both O2 mobile
customers and non-customers.
You don't have to be an O2 mobile user to get fast O2 Broadband,
but it helps. Or at least it makes it cheaper, as the mobile
operator offers the same products only at heavily slashed
prices.
O2 offers three good quality home broadband packages, delivered
via the BT copper-wire network. However, O2 does not offer fibre
optic broadband as yet.
All the O2 internet packages offer broadband speeds of up to
20Mbps (with varying usage limits) and all three packages come with
an O2 wireless router.
You also get free McAfee security software to protect your
computer from spyware and nasty viruses.
Prices are significantly cheaper for existing O2 mobile phone
customers, however bear in mind that you will need to pay line
rental on top of that charge.
O2 Broadband is not available in all areas, though. If you live
outside of the ISP's network, you can still get O2 Broadband
(called O2 Access), which is more expensive than the three packages
offered to customers within areas O2 Broadband actually covers.
O2 broadband
If you are already an O2 customer, adding an O2 broadband
package is an attractive option, as the current packages are quite
competitive. In a nutshell it's a cheap option. Plus, O2 has been
praised for its great customer service for years, according to
Ofcom's customer satisfaction polls.
Why it may not be right for you
If you don't live in the O2 broadband area, you can still get O2
broadband, but it's a lot more expensive. Check who else provides
broadband in your area, you may find that another supplier is
cheaper.
If you don't have an O2 mobile contract and have no plans to get
one, the provider's broadband may not be the best deal for you. You
may be able to get cheaper broadband from another provider.
O2 history
Part of the Spanish telecommunications giant, Telefónica, O2
offers fast home broadband to customers throughout the UK.
O2 was formed in 2001 following the demerger of BT from its
former mobile phone business, BT Wireless.
After five years as an independent company, it was bought by the
Spanish giant Telefónica for £17.7bn - the biggest all-cash
takeover in the history of the telecommunications industry.
O2 currently has over 43m customers in Europe, including 18.4m
in the UK.
In 2007, O2 entered the home broadband market with the purchase
of Be Unlimited, a small DSL start up company. It now offers three
home broadband packages and a range of business services.
Bundling
O2 has also introduced bundling options. This means that
customers can get home phone and broadband services from O2, which
can save a significant amount of money. Industry insiders advise to
get all of your internet services from a single provider, as it can
save hundreds in the long run