In an effort to handle the growing number of iPhone 4 and 3G dongle users, O2 UK has doubled its infrastructure capital expenditures as it migrates subscribers across to the refarmed 900MHz spectrum.
This move follows permission by the UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, that has allowed O2 and Vodafone to refarm their existing 2G 900 MHz spectrum for 3G services.
O2 UK has confirmed that it is now spending an average of £2 million (€2.35 million) per day on deploying more 3G capacity within the 900 MHz band to improve data throughput, but claimed that 2G users using the same spectrum would not be impacted by this move.
"As part of our financial results we announced that we'll be increasing investment in our national mobile network by up to 25 per cent this year," O2 said in a statement. "Part of this investment will be realised through the migration to 900 MHz spectrum, which was formally agreed by Ofcom last week".
Vodafone claimed that its policy was to consistently make infrastructure investments to stay ahead of the competition. "We are ready for the introduction of 3G on our 900 MHz network and we will use it to improve the service for all our customers," Vodafone stated.
For more:
- see this Mobile Today article
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