O2 to launch 5G in Edinburgh this October
Edinburgh is one of four cities where the service will be rolled out
Last updated 25th Jul 2019
Edinburgh will be one of the first places in the UK for O2 customers to benefit from the networks new 5G service.
The UK's second biggest mobile phone operator has revealed it will roll out its 5G network in October this year.
As well as the Scottish capital, the super-fast service will also be switched on in Belfast, Cardiff and London first, with 20 towns and cities able to use 5G on the network from 2019.
Mark Evans, chief executive of Telefonica UK - O2's parent company - said: "5G rollout will be prioritised in the areas where customers need the network the most, such as transport hubs and venues.
"Alongside O2's work to build a 5G economy in partnership with British industry, we continue to focus on improving 4G mobile network connectivity as one of the UK's most powerful opportunities to strengthen the economy and improve the lives of British people.''
The news comes as the company revealed revenues in the UK jumped 5.1% in the year to £2.98 billion with underlying profits up 6.4% to £919 million in the six months to June 30.
Bosses revealed that the O2 network was used by 33.3 million customers in the period, including via its services available on giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile and Lycamobile. O2's direct customer numbers is 25.4 million, the company added.
The number of customers in the UK on phone contracts has fallen in recent years, with users preferring to buy expensive handsets outright, before buying a sim card.
But O2 said net contract sign-ups were 41,000 in the period, accounting for 67% of its total mobile base. By comparison, there were more pre-pay sign-ups - with a net increase of 45,000.
On Wednesday, O2 also revealed a partnership with Vodafone to share masts and antennas to speed up their respective 5G rollouts and take on bigger rival EE.
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