Telefonica O2

O2 UK is a 100% subsidiary of O2 Europe, which in turn is completely held by Telefonica. O2 offers mobile and broadband services in the UK, catering to both residential and business customers.

O2 was formed as a result of the demerger from British Telecom of its former mobile business, BT Cellnet in 2001. BT Cellnet became O2 and was later bought by Telefonica Spain in an all cash deal worth USD 31.6 billion on 31 October 2005. The parent company continued to retain the existing brand of O2.

On 26 January 2011, O2 announced its plans to deploy a public Wi-Fi platform in the UK offering Wi-Fi access free of charge to users. O2 aims to create a scaled Wi-Fi platform by replacing its existing 450 Cloud hotspots and eventually growing the Wi-Fi platform with strategic partnerships.

O2 launched its broadband service, O2 Broadband, on 15 October 2007. It further strengthened its broadband portfolio by introducing business packages on 1 May 2008. The operator also launched packages for regions falling outside its LLU network.

By June 2008, O2 had 1,070 unbundled exchanges covering over 57% of the UK population. Earlier, in June 2006, O2 acquired Be Unlimited, which has developed an extensive LLU network and provided the platform for O2 Broadband.