Be Smart

UK carrier O2, currently Apple's partner in the country for the iPhone, have been threatened with a £40m ($79m) fine by telecoms regulator Ofcom for failing to meet a 3G licence roll-out requirement last year.  The clause, which obliged any UK carrier with a 3G licence to build a network catering for at least 80-percent of the population by the end of December 2007, was intended to prevent spectrum buyers from picking up the rights but failing to produce a viable network; O2's four rivals, each with their own licence, have all met the 80-percent minimum.  O2 itself has 3G coverage for 75.7-percent of the population.

Ofcom has given the network up until June to meet the target, otherwise they will be subject to a fine potentially reaching £40m and a subsequent four month reduction.  O2 are seemingly unconcerned by the challenge, however:

"O2's strategy has been to roll out our 3G network in areas where there is the most demand, providing high quality, in-building coverage in those areas. We have rolled out our 3G network to over 75% of the population. Where we do have coverage it has consistently provided the best quality. We also have one of the larger 3G customer bases" O2 statement

Some have speculated that the delay in 3G was caused by the carrier concentrating on building an EDGE network suitable for the iPhone, although this has not been confirmed.

[via Pocket-lint]