• One year to the day since the network launched, O2 finds almost a fifth of all mobile data used by O2 customers is on 4G
  • The data equivalent of eight million hours’ worth of HD video has been used over O2 4G in the last twelve months
  • Uptake of 4G is more than double that of O2’s 3G network in the first year

On the first anniversary of O2’s 4G network, it has been revealed that a total of 5,400 Terabytes of 4G data has been carried since launch – the equivalent of eight million hours of HD video. In fact, nearly 20% of all data used on O2’s multi-layered network is carried over 4G.

Since the network launched in August 2013, O2 4G has seen customer numbers double on its uptake compared to O2’s 3G network in its first twelve months. Analysis of this trend reveals that O2 customers have been making use of the faster speeds and improved latency offered by 4G by watching more video content, playing games and streaming other media.

Business customers have been able to make use of the O2 4G Pop Up Office, which allows them to create a 4G mobile hotspot capable of connecting up to 10 devices to O2 4G at any one time. This helps businesses work more efficiently on the move, allowing for fast and easy access to information and systems via smartphones, tablets and laptops.

Jason Woods, Head of IT for Aspects Beauty, recently modernised the company by moving to a cloud-based system and chose O2 4G to keep the business connected. Members of the sales team are now able to access documents and videos to prepare for client meetings quickly and easily. Jason said: “Since we started using O2 4G, the speed of operations has vastly improved – I get fewer calls asking for assistance and the sales team have a much easier time.”

O2 has launched 4G in over 240 towns and cities across the UK – as far north as Paisley in Scotland to Bournemouth in the south-west and across the Irish Sea to Lisburn and Belfast. Customers with a 4G-ready device in Uckfield and Southend can also experience O2 4G for the very first time from today.

Derek McManus, COO of Telefónica UK (O2) said: “We have spent the past year rolling out our 4G network so we can connect customers to the products and services they are passionate about in today’s digital age. It’s been the fastest build of any new network in our history – just one year after launching 3G we had reached 16% of the UK population and, in the same timeframe, we already reach over 45% of the UK population with 4G.

“Our £1.5 billion investment in our network over the next three years will mean we will help the UK to become a truly connected nation. As well as continuing to bring 4G to even more places, we are upgrading our 2G and 3G services until we cover 98% of the UK population indoors by 2017.”

O2 offers a wide range of 4G devices in O2 stores and online at O2.co.uk. 12 month Pay Monthly tariffs start at £11 per month on Simplicity offering 500 minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB data. O2’s unique and popular O2 Refresh tariff offers customers a range of tariffs with 4G data, for instance, unlimited minutes, texts and 2GB of data for £18 per month, plus the cost of the Phone Plan. For more information on O2’s 4G service and products visit http://www.o2.co.uk/4g

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