O2 boosts 4G capacity with new fibre optic network

O2 is bolstering its 4G mobile data capacity courtesy of a UK-wide core fibre optic network provided and managed by global bandwidth infrastructure services firm Zayo.

The mobile operator has signed a 15-year agreement for the network, which uses infrastructure acquired from Geo that incorporates 19 connectivity points across the country and stretches from Salisbury to Glasgow.

Under the deal, O2 will be able to access the flexible capacity needed to cope with the increasing demand for data that has arisen from the rollout of 4G superfast mobile connectivity.

More than 260 urban areas and half of the UK population have been passed by O2's 4G deployment.

Several towns and cities across the country – including Slough, Croydon, Newcastle and London – will be incorporated in the fibre optic network.

Adrian Di Meo, Chief Technology Officer for O2, said: "Deploying high-capacity core fibre is essential when faced with this increase in data traffic, and the resilience and reliability of our network is important for customers."