It is financial results day for O2 as well. Interestingly, the ISP (which is also the parent company of Be Broadband) has reported that its fixed line (home) broadband base fell significantly by 15,800 to now stand at 602,000.
Interestingly, Orange has reported that it had its subscriber base increase by 1,000 in the previous quarter.
Broadbandwatcher admits, a fall was expected but perhaps not that steep. It’s wise to assume that many factors contributed to this dip; it was a hard time for the ISP.
Some of you might remember issues with viewing websites due to some technical glitches, when some users reported it took days for the services to go back to normal. Another reason is likely to be the provider’s fibre optic broadband delay. The firm confirmed it would roll out fibre only next year.
Having said that, a lot of positives things happened to O2 such as Be Wholesale partnering up with Timico as well as QiComm. Also, the ISP was leading the way when it came to broadband advertising as it was one of the first ISPs to stop parading up-to speeds as main package selling feature.
Telefonica (the parent firm of O2 and Be) issued a statement where it commented mainly on mobile telephony:
“In the first half of 2012, Telefónica UK regained commercial traction, with improving momentum in the second quarter despite a highly competitive market. Mobile service revenue evolution stabilised for a second consecutive quarter, on the back of contract customer base growth and the strong performance of data revenue.
“Telefónica UK’s total access base stood at 23.3 million at the end of June 2012 (+2% year-on-year), primarily driven by the strong growth in the contract mobile base and positive fixed telephony growth.”
Broadbandwatcher is certain that good things will happen as soon as O2 hops on the fibre bandwagon.
