O2 mobile broadband
O2 overview
- PAYG mobile broadband from £2 per day
- Mobile broadband contracts from 1 month (flexible rolling contract) up to 24 months, with choice of 3GB or 10 GB downloads per month
- Good range of free laptop deals
- Discounts on O2 home broadband when you buy with mobile broadband
- O2 also do a range of business mobile broadband and laptop deals
Best selling O2 mobile broadband deals
- Payg dongles
Pay and Go
- £19.99 one off cost*Increased data allowance on £2 and £15 top ups
- Pay as you go price plan*£2/500MB/day
£10/1GB/30 days
£15/3GB/30 days - Offer ends 30 Sep*Increased data allowance on £2 and £15 top ups
ONLINE OFFER
- Free laptop deals
Samsung N150
- FREE laptop + dongle
- £21.28/mth for 24 months
- Up to 3.6Mb max speed
ONLINE OFFER
- Pay Monthly dongles
1GB / 1 month- FREE dongle + £10/mth
- 1GB/mth downloads
- Up to 3.6Mb max speed
ONLINE OFFER
O2 Broadband Genie Road Test results
- Downloads
3 stars- Uploads
- 3 stars
- Most stable
- 3 stars
- Coverage
- 3 stars
- Feelgood factor
- 3 stars
- Dongle software
2 stars- Overall rating
- 3 stars
May 2010
2010 Awards: none
The biggest disappointment on this year's Road Trip had to be the performance of O2, even if it wasn't completely unexpected. Another Huawei E160 turned up on our doorstep - the same model that had performed OK, if not brilliantly, last year. Simply installing the software was the opposite of the simplicity offered by every other dongle taking part, either this year or last, and things never really improved.
Last year's trip saw us praising O2's stability, while its download speeds took runner-up and the software also got an honourable mention. Unfortunately, while its download speeds were still something close to respectable (averaging a little under 0.9Mb in fourth place), the E160 didn't pick up any awards or runners-up accolades at all this year. Its upload speed was also very poor, averaging at around the same speed as Orange in equal last place (about 0.3Mb).
We like O2 at Broadband Genie, but the strain on its network ,which can't be being helped by the data hungry iPhone, is really showing. It seems to be trying to alleviate this by constantly - and annoyingly - trying to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots, which was never going to win it points on a Road Trip. However, if you're going to be near some and are looking mainly to use a dongle in places such as cafes, or on campus, this may well still be an extremely good choice for you - just check your coverage before committing.
But on the road, we just can't recommend this above any of its rivals. Even 3 (with its good upload speeds) and Orange (with good stability) offered something, but O2's former strong points seemed to have deserted it. The dongle's software - even once installed - frustrated. Poor coverage sent it looking for all kinds of other connections, but none ever came to fruition. Right now, this really isn't one for the road.
Overall analysis of the Mobile Broadband Genie Road Trip 2010
by May 2010
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, it's 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.
Looking for O2 home broadband?
O2 customer reviews
Show all 86 O2 Mobile Broadband reviews»
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I've been using O2 mobile broadband for a month now and I'm surprised how good it is, hardly ever the connection drops and it's fast enough. Nothing to complain about, only that I can't download anything 'cos it's too expensive. -
ive had my pay as you go dongle for 6 months ,it worked perfect for the area i live in .they then changed how you buy access ,now for the life of me i cant top my dongle up .ive had my bank cards stopped 4 times for to many attempts a trying to buy acces ,phoned up o2 ,they told me to buy acces from another pc ,ive tried my matea .very same problems ,he is on ultra fast broadband ,sick to death of it ,got around 100mb left .they actually gave me this month free due to problems im having ,every time i click on buy ,it highlights my card and says ,number not valid???? -
My 02 dongle is a pain in the ass I hav had it 9mths for the last 3mths I hav had nothing but probs it never as any signal and when it does its very low....... and on a Sunday I hav no signal............... anyone out there thinking of getting an 02 dongle dont..... I live in Darwen Lancs
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I have been trying since Monday to get a signal. THe SIM card and dongle work ok
but the lights on the dongle stay at red. O2 say there is an outage and a general
problem with the signal in the SW London area but do not give further information.
I was wondering how long these outages can go on for.
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