O2 goes on acquisition trail buying “Be” broadband and taking control of The Link
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Published:
Week 25
June 2006 -
Image Source:
Dixons Stores Group
News:
On Tuesday O2 set out its stall for fixed and mobile converged offerings in the U.K. with the acquisition of Be, a U.K.-based broadband provider, for £50 million.
The move will enable O2 to provide bundles of mobile and fixed broadband services to its 16 million users in the U.K., a product mix seen as increasingly essential as services converge, revenue from voice services dwindle, and operators face increasing competition from new providers.
A spokesman for O2 said the operator will continue to offer broadband under the Be brand this year and may explore the option of offering standalone broadband under the O2 brand later.
This was followed by the long rumoured buy-out of 60% of the Link retail group from The Dixons Stores Group (DSG) which was confirmed this morning at DSG’s results presentation.
