Vodafone has once again criticised O2's data network following a recent interview with O2 CTO Derek McManus.
The CTO told Mobile Today that the problem with creating robust networks to carry all the date generated by smartphones is an ongoing issue:
"'The capacity problem isn't going to go away. It's a positive challenge. How do you ensure you have coverage?"
Vodafone, fresh from being announced as the fastest network in the UK in a recent survey, sent a statement to TechRadar to press its own claims as the place for data:
"It's extraordinary to see that O2's CTO has admitted that network capacity is a problem that won't go away for them. We have robust and reliable capacity which is why even O2's customers recognise us as the best network," said Mairead Cullen, Head of Network for Vodafone in the UK and Ireland.
Smartphone demand
"We have seen a great demand for smartphones, including the iPhone, from customers who insist on an outstanding experience.
"Vodafone has continually invested in the UK's best network to make sure our customers are confident that they can make calls, send texts, download music or search the internet whenever they need to."
While Vodafone has invested in elements like Sure Signal to boost indoor 3G signal and has also been awarded British Standard Certification for the reliability of its network, there's no public data to show O2's customers have been moving to Vodafone.
O2 has one of the lowest churns (people leaving the network) in the industry, and Matthew Key of Telefonica O2 Europe previously said: "We are seeing absolutely no evidence of customers leaving us to go back to Orange or Vodafone who had previously come to us from them to buy an iPhone."
O2 declined to comment to TechRadar over Vodafone's statement.
The war of words shows no sign of abating, as all networks invest and develop infrastructure to maintain data to users.
O2 has recently completed a £30m investment in London networks in order to improve its service, and with T-Mobile and Orange merging in the near future (and 3 making continued efforts into data provision) the constant moaning of the British public about data failure could soon be a thing of the past.
Your comments (6) Click to add a new comment
tech89
March 20th 2010
6. I'm amazed people seem to think a phone network is supposed to be as fast as a broadband network.
It's the likes of smart phones that cause and suffer from the problem.
If your a dissatisfied smart phone user because of network outages/lack of capacity/not fast enough speed for you, then do the world a favour and get off the network.
It's a phone network that was primarily designed for calls and texts. Not the whole world wanting to browse on the move!
It's because of the surge in smart phones that Network operators have been struggling with the amount of investment required. I blame smart phone manufacturers! They've made a phone that can not be handled on today's networks. That's not smart, it's idiotic.
Alert a moderator
lewchenko
March 19th 2010
5. Every single one of the Network providers lie.
They show charts and maps saying coverage should be great where I live.... and then I find 0 or 1 bar to 2 max. Sometimes flipping between 0 and 1. Ive had Orange (current - rubbish), Vodafone (probably the best), O2 (rubbish), and T-Mobile (the worst by far).
And 3G.... pppppft. On my train journey to London you could only describe the service as 'Yo-Yo' it goes on / off so much. (Orange claim that my entire journey is covered... liars)
Alert a moderator
fatwallet
March 19th 2010
4. It's fine O2 spending that amount of money in London, but what about the rest of the country?
I live in Devon and where i live O2 is the best of the lot, Orange isn't great, T-Mobile is terrible, 3 pretty ggod but **** call centres in India, and lame handsets, Vodafone is good (But won't give me a contract (but that another story LOL).
I would like to see these signal boosters on O2 sometime so i could get 3G in my home.
Alert a moderator
carl_d
March 19th 2010
3. it may help if vodafone customer service knew what packages they operated for the iphone. not instilled with confidence by them to be honest. "dont know what visual voicemail is", and "yeah Im kinda sure you get wifi hotspot access on the sim only..."
and they charge an extra £5/m just to move over on a 30d rolling sim only deal
bobbins i say
Alert a moderator
andymac1966
March 19th 2010
2. I agree with the previous poster. Coverage where I live (Aberdeenshire) is very poor, and often lucky just to get a slow GSM signal - very rarely do I get 3G. Even in Aberdeen where there are areas with 3G or Edge, the speed is noticeably worse when compared to friends of mine using an iPhone on Voda. I'm only biding my time to see what Apple brings out in the Summer - or maybe I'll go for a Legend....
Alert a moderator
madjedi
March 19th 2010
1. I am with O2 and I think the coverage is terrible. I only went with them for th iphone 3gs but will be leaving when my contract is up in Decenber to probably go to Vodafone. I expect O2 only has a low churn rate because it has until recenty the only choice if you wanted an iphone.
Alert a moderator
Tell us what you think
You need to Log in or register to post comments