O2 Business has introduced O2 Satellite for Business, positioning itself as the first mobile network operator in the UK to deliver direct-to-device satellite connectivity aimed at corporate users. The offering targets organisations operating in regions where conventional cellular networks fall short.
The satellite service activates automatically on compatible handsets once users venture beyond O2's terrestrial coverage footprint. The operator emphasises that no supplementary devices or software installations are required to access the functionality.
According to O2, the satellite layer will boost its UK coverage reach to 95% of landmass, up from the current 89%. Through compatible applications including WhatsApp, Messenger, Google Maps, Apple Maps, BBC Weather and AllTrails, users can send messages, access navigation, retrieve weather information and share their location.
The service operates across compatible devices from Apple, Google and Samsung. Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service has already deployed the technology operationally; during a significant wildfire incident, O2 furnished 100 satellite-enabled handsets to enable crew communication in an area lacking standard mobile infrastructure.
Businesses increasingly rely on always-on connectivity, but work doesn't stop where mobile coverage ends. That's why we're bringing direct-to-device satellite connectivity to our business customers, becoming the first UK business mobile network to do so.
Jo Bertam, O2 Business CEO
O2 Satellite for Business extends connectivity beyond the reach of traditional mobile networks, helping organisations stay connected in more places through the smartphones they already use every day. It's another example of how we're using technology to breathe simplicity into the way business works.
Jo Bertam, O2 Business CEO
Source: Mobile Europe
