O2 UK has switched on its 5G mobile network in Belfast, Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Leeds and Slough. The network will be extended to reach a total of 20 towns and cities by end-2019 and to 50 by summer 2020. O2 is launching 5G on its Custom Plans, with unlimited data at the same price as its 4G equivalents. The 5G network infrastructure is being rolled out with Ericsson and Nokia.
The 5G network is launching in busy areas in these initial six locations, including high football areas around London Waterloo and Kings Cross, Haymarket in Edinburgh, Trinity Shopping Centre in Leeds, busy match-day hotspots around Twickenham and the Emirates Stadium, and Belfast South City centre.
O2 has agreed an exclusive partnership with MelodyVR and Oculus from Facebook to provide music fans with intimate access to gigs and musicians through VR technology. Tariffs are offered with 12 months subscription to MelodyVR and an Oculus Go VR headset.
The 5G custom plans (same price and data allowances as 4G custom plans, exclusive of monthly handset costs) are GBP 25, GBP 28, GBP 31, GBP 35 and GBP 40, with 5GB, 15GB, 30GB, 60GB and unlimited data respectively. All come with unlimited minutes and texts. The 5G Music custom plans, with VR bundle included, cost GBP 39 for 31GB, GBP 43 for 61GB and GBP 48 for unlimited data, with unlimited minutes and texts.
O2 UK is currently offering four 5G-enabled devices - the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, Galaxy Note10+ 5G, Galaxy A90 (5G), and Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 5G. Customers buying the new iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max on a 90GB, 120GB or unlimited tariff can claim GBP 100 off the device cost when they upgrade to the new Apple smartphone in 2020.
O2 will also make 5G available to businesses, with a range of tariffs to suit businesses of any size. SMB and enterprise customers can benefit from a 'no premium' 5G Access bolt-on, which can be added to their subscription without having to change the contract. More business tariffs will be announced in the coming months.
O2 has also confirmed several 5G business partnerships, including developing a smart ambulance with Samsung and Visionable; a 5G-powered live TV ad with ITN Productions; developing a 'smart factory' with Yamazaki Mazak; and working with Northumbrian Water Group to use 5G to transform operations. It will also launch new 5G Wayra innovation spaces across the UK to provide businesses with access to next-generation 5G test environments.
