Visit O2 web site

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

Currently showing the top 3 of 14 results show all»

Best selling O2 mobile broadband deals

Hardware Price/mth Speed(Up to) Downloads(limit) Contract
O2 USB Modem 160EDongle info» PAYG £20.00 setup 3.6Mb N/A NO CONTRACT Go
Samsung R519Laptop info» £35.00 3.6Mb 3 GBper month 24
months		 Go
Asus 1005 H netbookLaptop info» £25.00 3.6Mb 3 GBper month 24
months		 Go

Currently showing the top 3 of 14 results show all»

O2 road test

O2 Road test
O2 Huawei E160 dongle
Downloads
rating -3 stars3 stars
Uploads
rating -4 stars4 stars
Most stable
rating -5 stars5 stars
Coverage
rating -2 stars2 stars
Feelgood factor
rating -4 stars4 stars
Dongle software
rating -5 stars5 stars
Overall rating
rating -3 stars3 stars

May 2009

Three of the six mobile broadband providers supplied us with the popular Huawei E160 dongle, including O2. Maybe it's a male thing, but we certainly preferred the cool matt black finish of the Virgin Mobile and Orange models, compared to the glossy white of O2. Overall we had high hopes for O2 on this trip, as it seems to have one of the stronger reputations in mobile broadband.

The E160 is a sleek and stylish dongle, even in white. Once popped into a USB socket the software installs immediately and we were ready to get online in just a couple of minutes, despite a couple of erroneous messages from Windows advising us to restart the laptop.

As you'd expect from O2, the dongle software interface was simple, modern and attractive. But while it was the most visually pleasing of the six interfaces on show, it didn't really tell you an awful lot on the front end. For example, it was not clear which kind of connection you were currently connected with (3G, HSPA etc) and there was no obvious indication of top speeds.

Overall, O2's coverage fell quite a way short of some of its competitors, as it failed to complete a number of our Mobile Broadband Genie speed tests. However, the speed tests the E160 did complete returned relatively strong results, coming in third overall for downloads (which included streaming video and audio and downloading podcasts) and runner up in the Downloader category. However, for downloading, it was a long way behind the eventual winners.

While coverage was disappointing, stability was quite the opposite, seeing O2 walk away with the Road Trip's Most Stable award. The dongle held its connection excellently, even when there was no data transfer. It was nice not to be continually disconnected in the countryside and through tunnels, although speeds were a way off the top contenders, Virgin Media and Vodafone. However, if you just want to sit back and let your laptop download some data while you do something else, this could be the choice for you.

Overall analysis of the Mobile Broadband Genie Road Trip 2009

by Chris Marling May 2009

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 62 O2 Mobile Broadband reviews»

unhappy

by lisa craughwell
at 23:16 on 7 Jan 2010

we have our white modem about 15mths and the speed was good 4 the 1st 10mths than got slower and slower and now we listen 2 any song; play cards r if we r on face book the laptop would stop then stast workin again;a 3min song would take us 10mins r so 2 listen 2 and were not very happy. Report abuse
happy

by Steve
at 12:09 on 29 Dec 2009

Well, I'm with Laura and from my tests would give O2 9 out of 10 for quality of dongle service delivery; plus O2 are one of the few providers who bundle wi-fi access into their dongle package

I've bought a PAYG dongle with a view to trialling, and if OK, switching to a small business 2 year contract.
Bought a 7 day access to do tests (commencing 18th Dec and finishing on Xmas day).

Used it in 2 locations; PO12 xxx (my work location) and RG4 xxx.

In PO12 signal connection is 3G. I had one consistent issue whereby the connection would fail, but the dongle retained solid blue light, connection manager indicated a connection, and the system tray icon also showed connection. I had to force a disconnect and reconnect and all would be OK – until it happened again. I spoke to O2 support (very helpful) and made their recommended change in the advanced section of Connection Manager. This didn't fix it. (The result of this issue was that whatever I was working on; webmail, on-line purchase, sending this sort of message to you, etc; would be completely lost with no recovery option).

No other problems, easy to connect etc., although the O2 network was “erratic” on the Sunday and Monday (I guess overloaded with the number of people on line).

In RG4 (Xmas Eve and Xmas morning) low signal but High Speed… connection. None of the disconnect issue referred to above; solid, good, consistent access – so to me it indicates an issue with the network local to PO12.

I'm back in PO12 now, have spoken again with O2 support who now tell me my reception area isn't as good as represented on their coverage map.

Overall impression is that the service is good; if I was working from RG4 then I would definitely sigh up for a long term business contract with O2. But being predominantly in PO12 then with the disconnect issue I'm going to return the dongle.

I was impressed with the O2 connection manager software (compared to other providers); very intuitive and provides good control and statistical information.

(I've trialled 3 – far too much traffic congestion resulting in lockouts, failed connections, low speed. Currently with BT as a small business customer, but can't wait to get away from a supplier with no customer care whatsoever)
Report abuse
happy

by Laura
at 04:33 on 28 Dec 2009

I'm delighted with my o2 dongle, I never lose my signal, never get disconnected, it works just like proper broadband, I'm with Mark and Daniel on this one, Except I don't find it slow at all, it's just as good as virgin, maybe even better.... Virgin were down for a few days due to the bad weather (I know that can't be helped, And I'm not complaining!)
but I'd have been lost without my little dongle to keep me going over those few days. Report abuse
unhappy

by Laura
at 04:17 on 28 Dec 2009

Well I've been with T-Mobile and "3", and to be honest they both are nothing other than filthy robbing cowboys, But I'll do a seperate review for them in a mo :)

I've been with o2 for a few weeks now, and the only problem I have had with it is I don't like the colour! Yep, It's Pink! I wanted a white one, but shop were out of stock lol

The reception is fantastic, Internet pages load quickly, I can watch video's on YouTube, I can shop online, It's almost like having proper internet, except even I think it's better than that. This internet you can take with you where ever you go and don't have to rely on wifi spots!

As with the weather over the festive season, I was stuck on the A80 for 6 hours moving only an inch every 20 mins or so... it was awful. I had my laptop and o2 dongle, so while I was stuck in traffic, I was able to log into MSN and chat away to people, also I could get traffic reports on google and i even checked my emails... while trapped in my car on a road. So for me, my little pink o2 dongle was a complete life saver, it made what could have been an gruelling 6 hours bearable :)

When I bought the actual dongle the man in the shop could not have been more helpful, I told him about the previous problems I had with "3" and T-Mobile (Content locks, network signal dropping, disconnection, slow speeds and the worlds worst customer service ever, seriously, phoning 3 to complain about their dongle, I almost forgot who I was on the phone to and ordered a curry!)

Overall, I love my little o2 dongle :)

And I would recommend anyone who wants to browse the internet to buy one. If you're looking to download films, I wouldn't buy a dongle from any ISP, it's not worth it. Report abuse

Add a review

Post a reply to this thread

 

 

Please describe your emotions in making this comment:


Powered by reCAPTCHA

Comments submitted entirely in capital letters, containing advertising or excessive swearing will be rejected; please try to be polite. The best comments are relevant, factual and balanced; think about all aspects of the package, such as speed, connection quality and customer service. We reserve the right to edit comments.