O2’s business unit has launched a satellite service in the UK, which aims to bolster connectivity for rural parts of the country.. The launch of O2 Satellite for Business comes less than seven months after the carrier launched its O2 Satellite service.. – Getty Images. The telco claims its latest launch is the first in the UK that is dedicated to business customers, meaning that the carrier is now offering direct-to-device satellite connectivity to its corporate customers..
O2 made a point of highlighting the importance of its O2 Satellite for Business service for rural parts of the UK, noting that one in five registered businesses in England, of which there are more than 526,000, are based in rural areas.. According to O2, the launch of O2 Satellite for Business extends its landmass coverage from 89 percent to 95 percent across the UK.
The service doesn’t require additional satellite hardware or apps.. A number of services, which include messaging, maps, weather and location sharing through apps including WhatsApp, Messenger, Google Maps, Apple Maps, BBC Weather, and AllTrails, are supported.. “Businesses increasingly rely on always-on connectivity, but work doesn’t stop where mobile coverage ends.
That’s why we’re bringing direct-to-device satellite connectivity to our business customers, becoming the first UK business mobile network to do so,” said Jo Bertram, CEO at O2 Business.. “O2 Satellite for Business extends connectivity beyond the reach of traditional mobile networks, helping organizations stay connected in more places through the smartphones they already use every day. It’s another example of how we’re using technology to breathe simplicity into the way business works.”.
The service is available for compatible smartphones and at no extra cost with O2 Business Ultimate mobile plans, while customers on Plus plans can add O2 Satellite for Business for £2.50 ($3.38) per month (+VAT) on a 30-day rolling basis.. O2 added that the technology has already been proven during the recent major wildfire in Derbyshire, where O2 provided 100 satellite-enabled phones to Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service as crews tackled the blaze in an area with no traditional mobile coverage..
The company said that these phones were able to directly connect to satellites, enabling ground teams to stay in contact with colleagues, share updates and access important information across the affected area.. O2’s focus on satellite services follows the partnership the telco signed with Elon Musk’s SpaceX subsidiary Starlink to expand rural network coverage in the UK last year.
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