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The origins of the O2 network date back as far as 1985 when the UK government first issued two GSM (Global Standard for Mobile Communications) licenses. These were awarded to two companies, namely Vodafone and Cellnet.

O2 began life at this time as the Cellnet network. Right from the very start, Cellnet was at a disadvantage to its rival Vodafone because ownership was split between two companies: BT and Securicor. Unlike Vodafone - at that time, part of the Racal Group - Cellnet decisions needed to be passed by the boards of both companies for investment.

Nevertheless, both networks flourished and they set about creating an infrastructure based on the GSM standard at the 900 MHz frequency channel. By the early 1990s, each network had a customer base of around two million: the mobile boom had begun. Both networks were faced with unprecedented growth, consistently doubling their customer bases, year after year.

Eventually, Cellnet fell behind Vodafone due to its organisational constraints and the decision was taken to re-structure the network, this time with a higher level of share ownership for BT. As a result, BTCellnet emerged and, with decisions being made faster, BTCellnet attempted to narrow the gap with its rival, Vodafone.

Vodafone continued to develop a strong brand identity, while BTCellnet - by this time the second-largest network ahead of Orange and One2One - fell further behind. Further investment was sought from an investment consortium and the company was once again re-badged under a fresh brand: O2.

The O2 network went about establishing a brand identity under the slogan "its your O2, see what you can do". In addition, over 400 UK stores were re-branded as O2 and the company began investing heavily on the Internet.

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Apple iPhone 5 16GB black
Free
 Apple iPhone 5 16GB black deals on O2 On and On Internet The Works (24m)
O2 On and On Internet The Works (24m)
24m contract
£42.00 per month
 Unlimited
Minutes
 Unlimited
Texts
  • Unlimited minutes and Unlimited texts per month
  • Total contract cost over 24 months: £1,008.00
  • Free Handset
£42.00
 Buy the Apple iPhone 5 16GB black on O2 On and On Internet The Works (24m) from O2 Buy the Apple iPhone 5 16GB black on O2 On and On Internet The Works (24m) from O2
Samsung Galaxy SIII
Free
 Samsung Galaxy SIII deals on O2 600 (24m)
O2 600 (24m)
24m contract
£32.00 per month
 600
Minutes
 Unlimited
Texts
  • 600 minutes and Unlimited texts per month
  • Total contract cost over 24 months: £768.00
  • Free Handset
£32.00
 Buy the Samsung Galaxy SIII on O2 600 (24m) from O2 Buy the Samsung Galaxy SIII on O2 600 (24m) from O2
SIM Only SIM Card
Free
 SIM Only SIM Card deals on O2 SIM Only 300 (12m)
O2 SIM Only 300 (12m)
12m contract
£11.00 per month
 300
Minutes
 Unlimited
Texts
  • 300 minutes and Unlimited texts per month
  • Total contract cost over 12 months: £132.00
  • Free SIM Card
£11.00
 Buy the SIM Only SIM Card on O2 SIM Only 300 (12m) from O2 Buy the SIM Only SIM Card on O2 SIM Only 300 (12m) from O2
BlackBerry Curve 9320
Free
 BlackBerry Curve 9320 deals on O2 100 (24m)
O2 100 (24m)
24m contract
£14.00 per month
 100
Minutes
 Unlimited
Texts
  • 100 minutes and Unlimited texts per month
  • Total contract cost over 24 months: £336.00
  • Free Handset
£14.00
 Buy the BlackBerry Curve 9320 on O2 100 (24m) from O2 Buy the BlackBerry Curve 9320 on O2 100 (24m) from O2
HTC Windows Phone 8S blue
Free
 HTC Windows Phone 8S blue deals on O2 200 Internet Basics (24m)
O2 200 Internet Basics (24m)
24m contract
£17.00 per month
 200
Minutes
 Unlimited
Texts
  • 200 minutes and Unlimited texts per month
  • Total contract cost over 24 months: £408.00
  • Free Handset
£17.00
 Buy the HTC Windows Phone 8S blue on O2 200 Internet Basics (24m) from O2 Buy the HTC Windows Phone 8S blue on O2 200 Internet Basics (24m) from O2
Sony Xperia Tipo black
Free
 Sony Xperia Tipo black deals on O2 50 Internet Basics (24m)
O2 50 Internet Basics (24m)
24m contract
£11.00 per month
 50
Minutes
 Unlimited
Texts
  • 50 minutes and Unlimited texts per month
  • Total contract cost over 24 months: £264.00
  • Free Handset
£11.00
 Buy the Sony Xperia Tipo black on O2 50 Internet Basics (24m) from O2 Buy the Sony Xperia Tipo black on O2 50 Internet Basics (24m) from O2
Nokia Lumia 920 black
Free
 Nokia Lumia 920 black deals on O2 9999 Internet The Works (24m)
O2 9999 Internet The Works (24m)
24m contract
£37.00 per month
 Unlimited
Minutes
 Unlimited
Texts
  • Unlimited minutes and Unlimited texts per month
  • Total contract cost over 24 months: £888.00
  • Free Handset
£37.00
 Buy the Nokia Lumia 920 black on O2 9999 Internet The Works (24m) from O2 Buy the Nokia Lumia 920 black on O2 9999 Internet The Works (24m) from O2
LG Optimus L3 II black
Free
 LG Optimus L3 II black deals on O2 50 Internet Basics (24m)
O2 50 Internet Basics (24m)
24m contract
£11.00 per month
 50
Minutes
 Unlimited
Texts
  • 50 minutes and Unlimited texts per month
  • Total contract cost over 24 months: £264.00
  • Free Handset
£11.00
 Buy the LG Optimus L3 II black on O2 50 Internet Basics (24m) from O2 Buy the LG Optimus L3 II black on O2 50 Internet Basics (24m) from O2
Google Nexus 4
Free
 Google Nexus 4 deals on O2 On and On Internet The Works (24m)
O2 On and On Internet The Works (24m)
24m contract
£32.00 per month
 Unlimited
Minutes
 Unlimited
Texts
  • Unlimited minutes and Unlimited texts per month
  • Total contract cost over 24 months: £768.00
  • Free Handset
£32.00
 Buy the Google Nexus 4 on O2 On and On Internet The Works (24m) from O2 Buy the Google Nexus 4 on O2 On and On Internet The Works (24m) from O2
SIM Only SIM Card
Free
 SIM Only SIM Card deals on O2 SIM Only 50 Internet Basics (1m)
O2 SIM Only 50 Internet Basics (1m)
1m contract
£11.00 per month
 50
Minutes
 Unlimited
Texts
  • 50 minutes and Unlimited texts per month
  • Total contract cost over 1 months: £11.00
  • Free SIM Card
£11.00
 Buy the SIM Only SIM Card on O2 SIM Only 50 Internet Basics (1m) from O2 Buy the SIM Only SIM Card on O2 SIM Only 50 Internet Basics (1m) from O2
Monthly cost may rise in line with RPI
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