O2 problems in London network

Not so long time ago we wrote about Vodafone mobile network problems and here we go with O2 London network problems. O2 customers in London have periodically been unable to make or receive  calls, or download material to their handsets, because the network was clogged up by smartphones.

According to The Financial Times O2 has apologised to customers who could not make phone calls because the mobile operator’s London network was overwhelmed by bandwidth-hungry smartphones.

Problems start in second half of 2009. iPhone and others smartphones customers ramped up their use of applications that repeatedly pull data off the Internet at short intervals.

“Where we haven’t met our own high standards then there’s no question, we apologise to customers for that fact,” said Mr Dunne. “But it would be wrong to say that O2 has failed its customers en mass.”

He added that “any short-term blip” in O2’s “network reputation” would be “more than addressed” by three solutions to the difficulties.

O2 has been working with Nokia Siemens Networks, its infrastructure supplier, on software modifications that will ensure it can better manage the combination of voice and data traffic on its network.

Second, it is installing 200 additional mobile base stations in London, which will increase the traffic load the network can bear.

And third, O2 is liaising with handset manufacturers, including Apple and Research In Motion, maker of the BlackBerry, to learn about applications that could place heavy demands on the network.

Mr Dunne said, O2’s network performance in London had begun to improve in December

S: FT