O2 – Mobile News

O2 blasted by Ofcom after hiking mid-contract prices

Staff Reporter — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 12:15:12 +0000

Ofcom has criticised O2 for imposing mid-contract price rises warning the move undermines new rules designed to protect consumers from unpredictable bill increases.

The rise will see monthly bills increase by as much as £4 per month depending on the plan. A typical 30GB handset contract costing £35 per month could now rise to £39, adding more than £48 over a year. Some SIM-only customers are reporting increases of around £2 per month.

From April millions of mid-contract customers will face a price rise of at least £2.50 per month. This is 40 per cent more than the £1.80 a month increase written into their original contracts.

Earlier this year, Ofcom banned inflation-linked mid-contract price rises in mobile and broadband deals. Providers must now clearly state any future increases at the point of sale, giving customers certainty over what they will pay each month.

Ofcom says O2’s latest increases appear to breach the spirit of those rule and said:

“We want customers to have certainty about their monthly mobile bill. Earlier this year we banned unpredictable price rises linked to inflation and instead required providers to tell customers upfront about any increases in their contract. We are disappointed by O2’s decision. This goes against the spirit of our rules which are designed to ensure greater certainty and transparency for customers when they sign up.”

An O2 spokesperson said: “As acknowledged by Ofcom in its letter to providers, its rules do not prevent companies from increasing annual price changes – for example, to invest in improving networks. The changes we have announced in no way breach any regulatory rules.

“We appreciate that price changes are never welcome, but demand for mobile connectivity is greater than ever, and any price change customers see on their bills is greatly outweighed by the £700m we invest each year into our mobile network to meet this growing demand. We have written directly to customers about this change, and they are able to exit without penalty if they wish.”

Ofcom has now written to all major mobile operators reminding them of their obligations to treat customers fairly.

Mid-contract price rises have become increasingly contentious over the past decade. Prior to Ofcom’s rule change networks linked annual rises to RPI or CPI inflation. UK mobile bills have risen faster than wages in three of the last five years.

O2 added a fixed percentage on top of inflation, sparking subscriber complaints and prompting parliamentary questions. The new rules sought to end that practice

O2 offers data rollover as standard on premium pay monthly plans

Staff Reporter — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 10:02:09 +0000

O2 has strengthened its Pay Monthly Plus and Ultimate Plans with enhanced data flexibility and customer rewards.

O2 has added data rollover as a standard benefit on its Pay Monthly Plus and Ultimate Plans, further enhancing the value of its premium mobile offerings.

Customers will be able to to carry over any unused monthly data allowance to the following month Customers on eligible plans will now automatically roll over unused data into their next billing cycle. This, a customer with a 50GB monthly allowance who uses only 30GB in one month will have 70GB to use in the next.

The rollover applies across a range of handsets and plan types, including tablets and the latest smartphones such as the new Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, available on a 36-month Pay Monthly Plus contract for £55.68 with 50GB of data.

The idea isn’t new. Sky Mobile has offered data rollover for nearly eight uyears. It introduced its data rollover feature, known as “Roll,” when it launched its mobile network on 5 January 2017.This automatically transfers any unused data at the end of each month into a customer’s “Sky Piggybank,” allowing them to use it within12 months.

Christian Hindennach, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Media O2, said:
“We are always looking to evolve our plans and perks . Data rollover is the latest benefit we are bringing to O2 customers to help keep them connected at no extra cost.”

Hindenanch: evolving our plans and perks

Further incentives are available depending on the plan tier. Pay Monthly Plus Plans include up to £350 in added value over the contract term, while Ultimate Plans boast over £1,000 in extra such as enhanced roaming destinations, a three-year handset warranty, and the Switch Up feature – enabling handset upgrades every 90 days.

O2 adds 5G standalone to Wembley Stadium in time to boost coverage for for Oasis, and Dua Lip events

Staff Reporter — Tue, 13 May 2025 09:33:49 +0000

O2 has upgraded 5G connectivity at Wembley Stadium in preparation for the FA Cup Final shows by Oasis and Dua Lipa expected to attract more than 2.5 million visitors.

The upgrade introduces a 5G standalone network throughout the stadium via a dedicated distributed antenna system, delivering faster speeds and more reliable service across the stands, concourses, and hospitality areas.

To support the upgrade, O2 has installed seven new small cells and upgraded two masts in the surrounding area, enhancing network performance in hotspots such as Wembley Park Station and Wembley Way.

EE is the lead partner of Wembley Stadium, officially branding the venue as “Wembley Stadium connected by EE.” The partnership, initiated in 2015, focuses on enhancing the stadium’s technological infrastructure and fan experience.

Sell-out summer Oasis concerts at Wembley

The enhanced network will support a record-breaking season at Wembley, beginning with the FA Cup Final.

“Wembley is one of the UK’s most iconic venues, and this summer promises to be one of its biggest in living memory—from the FA Cup Final to the long-awaited return of Oasis,” said Dr Robert Joyce, Director of Mobile Access Engineering at O2. “Our investment in and around the stadium is designed to give a huge capacity boost to O2 customers attending these events, so they have the best possible experience.”

The Wembley upgrades are part of Virgin Media O2’s broader £700 million Mobile Transformation Plan, which aims to future-proof the network. The plan includes expanding 4G and 5G coverage, rolling out small cells nationally to boost capacity in densely populated areas, and deploying innovative solutions to address known connectivity blackspots across the UK’s transport hubs and entertainment venues.

EE takes the lead in mobile data performance according to nPerf test app

Staff Reporter — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 12:17:04 +0000

EE has emerged as the dominant network in key areas of mobile connectivity, according to an analysis by nPerf.

The analysis is based on 91,281 tests conducted by users under real-world conditions using the nPerf application, available on both Android and iOS. EE achieved the highest nPerf Score in categories such as latency, video streaming, and mobile internet services.

nAalysis is based on 91,281 tests using the nPerf appl

As far as the other networks are concerned, Three demonstrated standout performance in download and upload speeds, appealing to users who demand rapid and seamless internet experiences. Vodafone’s strength lies in its video streaming capabilities, delivering a high-quality streaming experience. O2 excels in minimizing latency and reducing delays in connectivity, showcasing its commitment to improving customer satisfaction.

“The mobile market in Great Britain continues to evolve, with each operator showcasing distinct strengths across various performance indicators. While EE leads the pack, Three, Vodafone, and O2 each contribute to a vibrant and competitive landscape through their focus on specific KPIs. As 5G technology drives further innovation, the market is poised for even greater advancements, ensuring users benefit from enhanced connectivity and cutting-edge mobile experiences,” said nPerf.

Phones4U collusion trial racks up £106 million in legal costs

Staff Reporter — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 20:20:34 +0000

Administrators launch battle to slash networks’ lEGAL COSTS

The administrators of Phones4U face a staggering legal bill of £77.2 million from the networks they sued in addition to their own costs of around £29 million.

This arises from Phones4U’s unsuccessful four-month trial during its administration, where they claimed all the mobile networks colluded to push Phones4U into bankruptcy. The failure to prove this was set out in a 750-word judgment.

Vodafone has submitted the highest legal bill, seeking £22,778,754. EE is asking for £16,208,078, Deutsche Telekom for £10,524,003, Orange for £11,891,000, O2 for £7,898,173, and Telefonica for £7,937,286.

However, Phones4U in Administration’s lawyers are are challenging the networks’ legal bills, arguing they deserve only a fraction due to criticisms of their conduct noted in Mr. Justice Roth’s judgment, which they plan to appeal.

In a hearting on December 19 on on costs, Phones4U’s counsel, led by Kenneth MacLean KC, argued that EE should recover only 70 per cent of its costs due to criticisms of its legal distance, leading to additional expenses.

Vodafone should receive only 80 per cent due to the judge’s critique of its witnesses’ evidence, which was said to have resulted in unnecessary time and costs.

Counsel stated:

“The Judge was also critical of Vodafone’s conduct towards P4u, describing its conduct in “deliberately misleading a long-term commercial partner”, as “distasteful or even disreputable”, and that the Partner of Choice presentation in particular was a “subterfuge”: Vodafone’s conduct in this period, and its evidence seeking to justify that conduct, that was roundly rejected, should be sanctioned in costs.

“Vodafone failed to preserve potentially relevant documents”

They also cited relevant documents being mislaid.

“Vodafone failed to preserve potentially relevant documents in the form of Mr (Jeroen) Hoencamp’s notebooks. Although this loss was found not to have been deliberate, it came after Mr Hoencamp had been instructed to preserve documents, he “clearly should not have thrown them away”, and the Judge found that the loss was “unfortunate and one will never know whether those notebooks would contain anything relevant regarding various critical meetings which Mr Hoencamp attended”:

Former Vodafone UK CEO Jeroen Hoencamp: “failed to preserve potentially relevant documents”.

Mr MacLean also contended that O2 should receive only 50 per cent of its costs, largely due to the judge’s criticisms of then O2 CEO Ronan Dunne’s clandestine meeting with EE’s Olaf Swantee at The Landmark, which was interpreted as an attempt to collude.

Ronan Dunne (top) and Olaf Swantee: held a clandestine meeting at The Landmark Hotel in which Phones4U was discussed

The networks insist on their full costs, setting the stage for a detailed examination of claims and counterclaims.

READ THE FULL COSTS CLAIM AND NETWORKS REPONSES AT THE HEARING HERE

Three is fastest for 5G internet according to nPerf user app tests

Staff Reporter — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 10:19:39 +0000

Three delivered the fastest 5G internet speeds over the last year according to nearly 100,000 real word tests carried out by users of the nPerf mobile application.

Nperf is a French company with more than 10 years of experience measuring Internet connections.

Three scored 89,037 points beating last year’s winner EE by 4,000 points into second place Vodafone remains third with 11,000 points less than EE. O2 came last in the rankings for several years in a row with upload speeds lower than its competitors.

nPerf mobile application carried out 100,000 tests by users

“Even if, O2 has the best latency over the period, the score gap with its competitor is still too large to close this year” said nPerff.

Networks furious at Virgin Media O2 “misleading and confusing” accusations that customers are overpaying.

Staff Reporter — Fri, 05 May 2023 10:55:27 +0000

Vodafone, Three and BT have accused Virgin Media O2 of confusing customers with “misleading and incorrect information and chasing publicity with sensationalist headlines”.

This follows VMO2’s announcement today that claims consumers are overpaying for handsets by more than £500m each year

Virgin Media O2 has launched a new campaign on what it calls the “smartphone swindle” and demands other mobile operators introduce changes that “would stop millions of consumers overpaying for their mobile phones, as new analysis reveals that handset overpayments are costing consumers £530 million each year.

.It says EE, Three and Vodafone “have millions of customers on traditional phone contracts that bundle together airtime costs for minutes, texts and data with the cost of the handset”.

Gareth Turpin, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “We’re calling time on this half a billion-pound problem and urging the industry to step up for consumers and put an end to the smartphone swindle. “As the only operator to have offered split contracts for over a decade; automatically roll down our direct customers once their device is paid for; and ensure customers receive clear handset payment information at the end of their contract, we want others to ensure consumers don’t overpay for their smartphones. During a cost-of-living crisis, and with older and low-income households most at risk, I’m asking the other operators to do the right thing.”

Turpin: I’m asking the other operators to do the right thing.”

But rival networks have slated VMO2’s claims.

Vodafone says the accusations and assumptions are incorrect.

“We’re disappointed to see VM02 confusing consumers with incorrect information and sensationalist headlines at a time when as an industry, we all need to be providing consumers with greater clarity to enable them to make the best choices for their needs” said a Vodafone spokesperson

“It is a regulatory requirement for us all to be transparent with our customers, to provide end-of-contract notifications and Annual Best Tariff recommendations based on a customers’ needs, a requirement we take extremely seriously at Vodafone. ‘

“Like VM02, Vodafone customers on split contracts with Vodafone EVO will not see any further handset charges once their 0% finance deal ends and will therefore never overpay for a phone.

“All handset customers on legacy contracts are contacted repeatedly when their contract comes to an end, and after three months – if they haven’t moved onto a new contract already – we automatically apply a monthly £5 discount. We believe in offering our customers choices and always encourage them to make sure they are on the best deal for their needs.Vodafone was the first MNO to have both mobile and fixed social tariffs – Voxi for Now and Vodafone Essentials

BT said the Virgin Media O2 claims were “misleading and unnecessary” “ They are designed to chase headlines, at a time when consumers need confidence that the industry is clear and straightforward. This also comes at a time when VMO2 themselves increase broadband customer’s prices by as much as 50 per cent when going out of contract.

“Like VMO2 we offer spilt contracts with EE Flexpay, while providing all customers with clear end-of-contract notifications, including the best offer for them based on their usage. With EE Flexpay, once the handset is paid off no further charges are applied. We don’t position this as a discount because it isn’t – the handset is owned by the customer.

“Along with providing customers with great value, we are also doing all we can to support our financially vulnerable customers with our market-leading social tariffs. We currently have 80% of all social tariffs customers in the UK, another area where VMO2 could focus more attention.”

Three also disputed the VM02 accusations saying; “Three already offers split contracts where customers can take out a loan to pay for their device, which is separate to their monthly airtime payments. The customer owns their device from when they purchase it and once their device loan is paid off, the customer isn’t required to make any further payments towards the cost of their device. We contact customers with offers which are as good as or, in some instances, better than those we offer new customers. O2 also sell linked contracts themselves through third parties such as Great O2 Mobile Phone Deals & Upgrades | Mobile Phones Direct

Virgin Meda O2 said it based its overpayment analysis on a survey by Strand Partners “using survey data on a number of people by operator reporting to have taken a device and be out-of-contract; average reported spend by operator; scaled in line with Ofcom pay monthly total connections data and Citizen’s Advice research on proportion of mobile bills attributable to handsets”.

O2 is top for network freebies says uSwitch

Staff Reporter — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 15:03:06 +0000

Three takes second place with perks worth over 60 per cent lower than O2.

O2 has the best subscriber perks says an analysis of network incentives by comparison site uSwitch

Opt for the O2 SIM only £6 per month 4GB deal and take advantage of all of the perks on offer, and the perks will be worth £1,102.44. This is a 665.58 per cent profit on the total contract amount over two years.

Unlike the UK’s other top providers,U USwitch says O2 customers can benefit from perks that renew each week says comparison site USwtch. These include a free weekly Greggs’s coffee, sausage roll and breakfast roll. You also get the chance to bag a free weekly Odeon cinema ticket throughout a contract.

Whilst free Apple TV and Peloton subscriptions are on offer in the first three months, there are larger perks available too.

Users can redeem a free 43″ £529 Bravia TV if they buy or take out a contract deal on a Sony Xperia 1 IV or 5 IV, this week with the TV. Whilst some perks require an initial spend, the return could still see consumers benefiting.

“The total value of all O2 perks is £2,135.67. Over 24 months, customers could be earning £699.23, once they’ve factored in contract costs and the cost required to redeem some of the perks”, says uSwitch.

Rank	Provider	Total cost of perks*	True value of perks	Value of perks minus cost of contract
1	O2	£1,436.44	£2,135.67	£699.23
2	Three	£435.00	£692.08	£257.08
3	Vodafone	£143.64	£349.72	£206.08
4	iD Mobile	£0.00	£98.88	£98.88
5	Lebara	£181.31	£273.55	£92.24
6	giffgaff	£0.00	£80.20	£80.20
7	VOXI	£7.00	£23.98	£16.98

*Cost of perks without weekly deals (e.g. O2 Greggs coffee)

O2 PERKS HOLD VALUE MORE THAN ANY OTHER NETWORK

Lebara, iD mobile and giffgaff offer a range of one-month rolling contracts and one-off perks that can be redeemed in the first month of a contract.

In the first month, a new user could be benefitting from perks worth 2335.3% of the cost of a Lebara SIM-only contract. But once the perks have been used, they depreciate, making contracts less profitable and, in some cases not profitable, over 24 months.

Lebara’s perks amount to £92.24. So, in the first month, perks on offer for Lebara’s 1GB one-month plan for £3.95 a month are worth 2335.3 per cent more than the contract cost. After two years the contract cost will amount to £90.06, meaning perks will only be worth £2.18.

O2 offers a range of deals, including weekly, monthly and one-off, and customers’ perks are guaranteed to be valued at at least 130.3 per cent after two years, for higher priced contracts such as O2 SIM only unlimited contract for £35 a month. Lower priced contracts like O2 SIM only 15GB for £8 a month, value perks as much as 582.5 per cent after two years. O2 customers are always guaranteed, over the length of their contract to make a profit from the perks on offer, says USwitch.

Three’s perks are worth £257.08 overall when factoring in the cost of the contract. Three offers several high-value deals to their customers which are mainly one-off perks, including 50 per cent off Moonpig, 30 per cent off Molton Brown and £10 off UberEats.

Perks after 12 months for Three’s SIM only 3GB £5 a month contract will be worth 549.8per cent of the contract cost. The perks included with the O2 SIM only £6 per month 4GB deal are worth over double that at 1,256.7 per cent of the cost of the O2 contract.

Vodafone’s customers can earn up to £206.08 in their first month, Perks include a half-price Wine52 order, three months free Spotify Premium and £30 off a Haven Holiday, among many other deals.

Virgin Media O2 reveals Brits connectivity habits in 2022

Staff Reporter — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 10:29:44 +0000

Mobile traffic was up 36 per cent year-on-year

Virgin Media O2 has released its findings of consumer connectivity behaviours that have occurred in 2022.

The network saw its biggest ever year for data use on its broadband and mobile networks and customers downloaded nine per cent more broadband data per day than the previous year.

The findings revealed

The biggest train strike across the country occurred in June, resulting in a 72pc reduction in City of London crowd volumes compared to the week before.

Broadband traffic peaked five per cent week on week during the strikes due to an increase of video calls.

O2 motion data revealed European travel from the UK reached pre-pandemic volumes over the summer, with weekly roaming volumes nearly tripled compared to summer 2021.

Online gaming has continued to drive record broadband traffic spikes in 2022 with the launch of Call of Duty Warzone 2.0 on November 16 being the busiest day ever for gaming-related broadband data consumption.

Football caused the biggest O2 mobile data traffic spikes this year, as the 1pm England v Iran game on November 21 drove record spikes.

The Women’s Euros final saw a 49pc increase in household reach on July 31 compared to an average day.

Premier League and Champions League saw huge mobile data surges, with mobile network traffic 37pc and 30pc higher than the 2021 finals.

TikTok accounted for nearly 10pc of all mobile app usage in November, while Snapchat and Instagram were responsible for 2.5pc and 1pc respectively.

Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer, Virgin Media O2 said: “Looking back to 2022, it’s clear that reliance on broadband and mobile connectivity is seeing traffic and data use grow more and more. This year, a number of major events that gripped the nation alongside huge gaming launches and the continuation of hybrid working, have all contributed to a record-breaking surge in customer traffic on our network and we see no sign of this changing.

“With 2023 on the horizon, whatever it brings, we’ll continue to invest heavily to keep the country connected, keep pace with demand and ensure we’re focused on customer experience and reliability.”

O2 hopes to add Prime numbers

Staff Reporter — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 12:19:56 +0000

Free Amazon Prime six-month Prime sub for upgrades and new customers.

O2 is offering Amazon Prime as an O2 Extra to new and upgrading customers free for six months,. They are then auto-renewed at £8.99 per month after the free period. Customers can add Prime within the first 28 days of their contract when they purchase any eligible Pay Monthly device, SIM only plan or Volt bundle. But existing Prime members are excluded from the O2 freebie.

O2 customers who don’t need a new phone can add Prime subscription for £8.99 a month to their O2 account and get a £2 a month discount on the cost of their Airtime. Volt customers can also sign-up to Prime when they purchase a SIM only plan from O2.

O2 customers that are not ready to upgrade can take Amazon Prime as an O2 Extra by adding it to their O2 bill for £8.99 per month, and can get £2 a month airtime discount.