O2 Gained 2300MHz Licence today and went live at 1PM with the Frequency

[darrengf]

Today o2 was granted the Licenece by Ofcom of 40MHz spectrum of the 2300MHz band.

At 1pm today, o2 switched on 60 Masts in London with the full 40MHz x 2300MHz spectrum.

Watch this space, More to follow.  O2 is no longer messing  around.  This will be massive for them.

By the end of April, o2are aiming to have 100 Masts enabaled in London

in 9 Months time o2 aim to have 1000 Masts nationwide.  So this is great news for everyone.

Chris Gilmore who works for O2 is a great guy and always gives great updates on what’s happening.

[Cleoriff]

Great to hear @darrengf For those in London. Hope they do the rest quickly. Thanks for the info...

[MI5]

[darrengf]

There going to go big with it @Cleoriff from my understanding and reading about it.

i think o2dont like being at the back of the queue when tests are done and possible going to lay the gauntlet down, but only time will tell.  But I know there aiming to use the full 40MHz spectrum and not just bits here and there, which is good.

Peter Clarke who is a very clever person has created a Theorretical speed o2 could achieve if the Spectrums are all used correctly for them.

957.99Mbps.  I know it’s theoretically but it would be an achievement if they can do that.

This was trailed last last year in Slough by O2.  8x8 Mimo which is fast.

[jonsie]

Exciting times ahead. Thanks for all the research and news on this @darrengf

[Cleoriff]

Yes. It's certainly good times ahead. Thanks again @darrengf

[owza57]

OK newbie question incoming. I think my phone supports 2300MHz (Pixel 2 XL) will I see an extra symbol indicating I've connected?

[jonnymk]

is there any indication on the coverage checker for where O2 have rolled out their 40MHz allocation on 2300MHz (TDD-LTE Band 40) ? For instance, has this expanded much beyond london? I have returned to o2 after a few years on "nothing anywhere" for coverage reasons but I do hope o2 start to improve 4G speeds.

[jonnymk]

No you will not see an extra symbol on your phone because the signal is still LTE, allbeit TDD. But see if you can find a debug/field test mode of some kind on Android, I'm curious. I know on the iPhone you can dial *3001#12345#* and tap on LTE->Serving Cell Info-> and then look for "40" under freq_band_ind; this means 2300MHz in the UK. I do hope O2 take the initiative to deploy this band with 4x4 or higher Massive MIMO in densely populated areas such as train stations, like a particular other large telco in the UK is doing on a different freq. band.

Also to confirm, the Pixel XL does indeed support TDD LTE Band 40 (O2's use of 2300MHz)

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@owza57 wrote:

OK newbie question incoming. I think my phone supports 2300MHz (Pixel 2 XL) will I see an extra symbol indicating I've connected?

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[jrhop123]

I probably know the answer but is there no one who can shed any light on when other locations may get the 2300MHz upgrade, in central Woking and Guildford, Surrey areas the speed is less than 0.5Mbps most days. However a short walk outside and I can get 20Mbps up and down. I am getting close to leaving for another network, but do genuinely like O2 as a network.