Before purchasing an O2 Mobile Broadband Dongle, I was horrified to see so many negative reviews. Despite this, and being an O2 customer, I purchased a Pay & Go dongle anyway and have been amazed. The installation was simple, registered and immediately had my double usage applied and now have speeds far better than 3 mobile. I had doubts at first as I checked my postcode using the text postcode check service on the dongle box and I was advised not to use the dongle... again, I did it anyway and as mentioned now have superior mobile Internet from O2 so would highly recommend the service to anyone.
O2 mobile broadband
O2 overview
- PAYG mobile broadband deals available with pre-loaded data
- Mobile broadband contracts from start from 1 month (flexible rolling contract) with a choice of 0.5 - 3GB downloads per month
- Discounts on O2 home broadband when you buy with mobile broadband
- Free delivery and 14 day returns policy
Best selling O2 mobile broadband deals
- Payg dongles
Pay and Go
- £20.42 one off cost*FREE double data top up every thrid time you top-up
- Pay as you go price plan*£2.04/200MB/day
£10.21/1GB/30 days
£15.32/2GB/30 days - Up to 7.2Mb max speed
Or Call 0800 198 1356
- Pay Monthly dongles
1GB / 1 month + Unlimited WiFi- 10.20 dongle + £10.21/mth
- 1GB/mth downloads
- Up to 7.2Mb max speed
Or Call 0800 198 1356
O2 Broadband Genie Road Test results
O2 Road test
- Downloads
4 stars- Uploads
3 stars- Most stable
2 stars- Coverage
- 3 stars
- Feelgood factor
- 3 stars
- Dongle software
- 2 stars
- Overall rating
- 3 stars
May 2011
2011 Awards: none
For the second year in a row, O2 walked away from the Road Trip with no awards, not even a runner-up. In fact, even with a different dongle in 2011, it never really came close. One big disappointment was that the E169 came with the same software we had so much trouble with last year, giving us the impression the provider isn't too interested in sorting out its mobile broadband dongle issues. New software could've really made a difference.
The reason we say this is twofold. Firstly, as we said last year, in 2009 stability was a strong point. It's anything but now. Secondly, when it did actually work, some of the results were fantastic. But in each situation it was very much too little, too late. O2 completed the equal least amount of speed tests, yet in the few it nailed it recorded the second fastest time and the best average time. Great, but without some level of consistency the internet experience is nothing.
O2's E169 performed averagely in the program downloads section, but there were issues with almost every streaming test we tried. Uploading was equally problematic, with more fails than successes and a slow speeds throughout. It really does need to be back to square one for the O2 dongle software if it's going to be any use on the move.
That said, if you're going to be mainly sat in one spot with mobile broadband and can get a good signal, there's a lot to be said for O2's performance. Problems seem to stem from it trying to communicate with pretty much everything it comes into contact with looking for Wi-Fi, which means moving is really confusing it.
Overall analysis of the Mobile Broadband Genie Road Trip 2011
by May 2011
About O2
In the world of mobile broadband providers, O2 is benefiting from a strong middle ground position between the old reliables and younger cooler (and/or cheaper) brands.
O2 has a bit of both: while it has tended to follow its rivals in the mobile broadband UK market (for example, it still doesn't have a mobile Wi-Fi unit), its marketing has a fresh, lively feel (such as sponsoring The O2 Arena). Its message of strong customer service – backed by a string of awards for its support – has helped it maintain a healthy market position. If you compare mobile broadband prices it is unlikely O2 will come out on top, but it would claim you are paying for extra quality.
The company started out as BT Cellnet (one of the original two UK mobile networks, alongside Vodafone), before being demerged from BT in 2001. After five years of independence it was snapped up by Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica in 2006, where it continues to be a wholly owned subsidiary. O2 entered the 3G mobile broadband contract market in April 2008. This was a little behind some of its rivals, with the mobile internet provider claiming it had wanted to ensure the service would meet customer expectations. It released its first pay as you go mobile broadband dongle in December 2008. The ISP also started selling subsidised laptop deals later than its rivals, in March 2009, with a variety of Samsung laptops.
Vodafone and O2 announced a network infrastructure collaboration deal in March 2009. The biggest deal of its kind, it sees the two mobile internet providers merging their existing mobile sites while building new ones together. This is aimed at both improving coverage and future-proofing their combined network.
In 2011 O2 Mobile announced it had begun 4G trials in preparation for the forthcoming spectrum auction expected for 2012. This should give it a head start in providing 4G mobile broadband services across the UK from some time in 2013.
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O2 customer reviews
Show all 111 O2 Mobile Broadband reviews»
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I bought the £10.20 O2 dongle and got the 1gb data plus the promised extra 1gb data when i registered, pin number sent to my mobile phone ,only used 500mb so far so heres hoping. So they must have listened and got their act together or got knuckles rapped. As for free WI-FI local BTOPENZONE home/hub and BTFON WI-FI hotspot didnt work think its only ones that they list that work. It could be a good stop gap.
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I did register for the double data on my pay&go dongle and recieved the data. I have been happy with o2,,But i keep losing the signal and cant connect to bt wifi openzone. I think o2 is overpriced for what you get. I am going to change to 3 for a new laptop and 15gb data allowance.
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O2 Mobile Broadband > Pay as you go.
Signal keeps dropping out, despite being located very close to one of their masts.
O2 Service check says i should have very good coverage for my postcode.
Memory is cleared regular and kept to a minimum.
All Windows Updates taken care of regular.
So tell me....
Why does my internet suddenly drop connection every few minutes?
This just isn't good enough. Especially for someone who relies on the internet for a living.
My advice... Try Sky Broadband. I was trying to avoid committing to a monthly bill, but where the internet is concerned, it's worth doing. The difference is HUGE. O2 mobile broadband just is not in the same league (or anywhere close). Why then, does it cost so much more??
Very unhappy, soon to be lost, customer.
P1
