UK mobile operator O2 plans to increase its network infrastructure investment by up to 25% in 2011 to support the growing demand for capacity, CEO Ronan Dunne has said.
Speaking to the Press Association after posting Q3 results yesterday, Dunne said the…
UK mobile operator O2 plans to increase its network infrastructure investment by up to 25% in 2011 to support the growing demand for capacity, CEO Ronan Dunne has said.
Speaking to the Press Association after posting Q3 results yesterday, Dunne said the group currently ploughs £1m a day into its network.
However, the rapid take-up of smartphones in the UK is placing mounting pressure on O2’s existing infrastructure and spectrum.
“There’s big investment in creating the digital dividend, so to speak, for customers,” said Dunne.
“There will be a combination of new infrastructure, new sites and deploying new technology.”
Strong smartphone sales helped increase revenues at O2, a subsidiary of Spanish giant Telefonica, by 5.6% to E5.3bn in the nine months to September, compared with the corresponding period last year. This was on OIBDA of E1.3bn, compared with E1.2bn for 2009.
