Home > Media and Analysts > News Release Archive > New Releases - 2008 > May > 02|05|08

02|05|08

Ofcom confirms O2 has now met its 3G rollout obligation

Ofcom has today confirmed that mobile operator O2 has now met its obligation to roll out its 3G services to at least 80 per cent of the UK population.

This follows Ofcom's notice to O2 in February that it would shorten its licence by four months if it did not comply with its rollout obligation by June 30 2008.

The rollout obligation requires each of the five holders of a 3G licence to roll out their networks to enable the provision of 3G services to at least 80 per cent of the population from 31 December 2007.

Ofcom will conduct a further assessment to ensure that these licensees remain in compliance on 31 December 2008.

Ends.

Notes for Editors

1. O2 acquired its 3G licence in 2000 for £4,030m. Ofcom estimated that a reduction of the licence term by four months would have been equivalent to a significant financial sanction of at least £40 million.
2. The five 3G licence holders in the UK are H3G, O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone. The other four licensees demonstrated that they were in compliance with this obligation on 31 December 2007. Ofcom has now established that O2 is also in compliance, by examining information received from the company during April.
3. 3G technology enables consumers to watch video and television and access the internet via their mobile phones as well as offering conventional voice and text services.

Back to top