O2 Broadband: Review – summary
By Ben Robinson on Sunday, January 27th, 2008 at 8:49 AM PST In Convergence, O2
As I mentioned when I joined IntoMobile, occasionally I will be writing commentary or editorial on various areas within Mobile. Today it’s the turn of O2 (NYSE: TEF), with their Broadband offering – yes, those tentative steps towards convergence are occurring apace within the industry (as you might or might not know, O2 bought Be – an ADSL2+ Broadband provider).
I actually ordered O2 Broadband about 2 weeks before Christmas – the idea being that whilst I was off from work (and having a baby!), that it would be less inconvenient – however, I was concerned that being the Xmas period, there were going to be problems with logistics (activation, and equipment delivery) – I need not have worried…..
The equipment, and the activiation both occurred within days of each of other – in fact the only reason I didn’t get the router on the same day as activiation, is because I decided to move the delivery date.
“Move the delivery date?” I hear you say – yes, O2’s delivery of the router, and also the notification of activation of my line were both managed by text message. And not just one-way text either, but interactive – by this I mean you could respond to the delivery date SMS, and choose another date! I can’t say how good it is to see a company taking this part of the broadband experience seriously – and O2 get major kudos for getting this part right!
I should probably mention at this point too, that I had a previous BB (Broadband) provider – so in actuality, I was porting my account via a MAC code. Nevertheless, O2 managed this perfectly too, and my line was activated on the 27th December.
Now, on to the router setup and usage……..
On unpacking the box that arrived via courier, I found the router, instructions, and ADSL filter – the usual stuff if you’ve ever had BB before. This all got plugged in, and shortly afterwards I was upstairs on my PC, checking out the admin interface to the router, to see if I was connected (just a note here that my router is connected to the PC via Homeplug wiring – that’s LAN over Powerline – which will probably form the subject of another post….).
All was looking good – in fact in my haste to plug everything in, I didn’t install the CD that came with the router. On reading the instructions, I found it didn’t matter, because it looked like all the installation CD did was install AV (Anti-virus) protection, and also modify some settings (I’ll come to this later).
I tested internet and email, and was quick to notice outgoing emails were not going anywhere – that being the case, a quick call to UK-based customer services, and it confirmed some interesting points I’d missed when signing up:
- O2 require you to use their SMTP servers to send email – this is one of things that gets set up if you install their CD (which I hadn’t done, as I noted previously)
- O2 are currently blocking Skype – which is kinda obvious when you consider their core business
The second point wasn’t a major issue for me since I don’t use Skype, but it’s something worth bearing in mind if you are a user. The first was an issue however, because I pay to have my own domain (along with email) hosted on the interweb. However, a very reasonable chap from customer services explained that it’s because O2 are trying to manage SPAM in and out of the network.
I did explain that I needed access to my email server, and he said that for this to happen, there was a £5/month surcharge for a static IP address (and the associated routing to hit my interweb email server). Fair enough I thought, a company trying to proactively manage SPAM, I’m happy to work with that!
So, what’s the service been like since then? In short:
- the router stays connected to BB really well
- the customer service people are very helpful and easy to get hold of
- the charges are reasonable
Overall then, a MUCH better experience than my previous provider, who shall remain nameless! As I said before, it’s so refreshing to have a GOOD experience with service provision in the UK today, and as a result O2 are the first to get a rating on my new scoring system:
Score: O2 Broadband gets 5 stars out of 5 – excellent all round!
(Subnote: O2 Broadband, being ADSL2+, is capable of supporting up to 20Mb or so – however this is dependent not on their infrastructure, but mainly on the cable in ground – so I currently receive 2Mb, which isn’t the fastest – however, given this is out of O2’s control, I have not factored it in to the rating, as it would have been unfair)
Ben
Ben,
I have Be* broadband, which runs on the same network as the O2 broadband (O2/Telefonica purchased Be a year or two ago).
The Be service has no Skype restriction, and no traffic restrictions. They do insist that you change your outgoing mail server, but I don’t see why this is a problem if you have your own domain. I can send mail fine from my own domain from Be’s network with their SMTP server. Also, Be don’t charge extra for a static IP address if you take the 24Mbps service (£18 per month).
I moved from Pipex a few months ago and I’ve been pretty impressed. The only problem is that the ADSL modem can be a bit flaky, but not annoyingly so.
Hmmmm, I ported from Be to O2 a couple of months ago, because, as an 02 mobile customer, I would save half of my monthly BB costs. O2 BB charge £7.50 for an O2 mobile customer on 2MB service.
The service has been excellent. The problems I have had were to do with setting up the additional services, like forwarding emails from my o2.co.uk account to my mobile via MMS. This is a free service from O2, along with address book syncing. The UK based Customer Support are excellent guys, with a great response everytime.
This servcie really is hard to beat. Not as cheap as the ‘free’ services, but then it actually works and is supported by some UK techs.
PS I use Skype with no problems. Dunno why CS have told u it is blocked, as it’s not in the T&Cs and a restriction like this would have to be, I’m sure.
Hi all,
@Graeme: I choose not to use O2’s server because I pay for another one anyway, and I know I can call up any time and have it sorted if there is an issue. BTW the O2 broadband is only £12.50, including the static IP address, so good value. I think perhaps we have the same router
)
@sboy2010: I haven’t tried to set up the free forwarding of emails, so it’s interesting to hear your feedback. I agree re: the service working! As I said in the story re: skype, I don’t really use it, so it being blocked (or not as you have commented) isn’t an issue for me – but great that you can confirm it works!
Cheers guys,
Ben
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Hi Ben,
Nice to read your reviewing of the O2 broadband! Thanks!
I totally agree with your opinion on the points and the given 5 stars. However I can confirm that Skype is NOT restricted and there is also no restriction to use the O2’s SMTP server. I did not install the CD. Simply logged through the browser on the web admin control panel to the router and got the WiFi key as I connect wirelessly to it.
My impression of the O2 customer service is great too!
The only problem I had was that initially my router couldn’t stay more than 10-15 min connected. I called the support and they reduced something on the line which they said would cut off 100 kbps and I agreed. Since then I enjoy a very stable connection and my speeds just below 16 mbps which is GREAT!
Highly recommended!
You were with NTL/Virgin weren’t you.
Never choosing them again, the router needs resetting twice a day and you can’t even buy your own with the way they run it. And the internet slows down to a crawl at peak times. I tried to complain but I’ll have to pay 70p per minute for the privilege and I tried to complain via email but they never responded.
Can you confirm the Skype restriction ? Is it Skype-to-Skype or Skype-to-landline?
Also about the SMTP server. Do you mean running your own server or connecting to an outside SMTP server?
I use Google’s server – is that blocked too? Very weird.
Hi Orestis,
I’m afraid I don’t know the details re: skype, it’s just what the O2 CS informed me – above however, Anton says he has had no issues…
As regards SMTP server, I mean using an SMTP server that is hosted elsewhere on the internet – it’s blocked unless you get a static IP address, as I have. I don’t use googlemail, perhaps one of the readers can confirm about whether there are issues with that.
If you are considering getting O2 Broadband, I’d give the CS a call and get the info from the horse’s mouth, so to speak
Cheers
Ben
Thanks
The SMTP restriction seems really weird, usually ISPs block *outgoing* traffic from *local* port 25, to block spambots and zombies.
I’ve never seen an ISP block outgoing traffic *to* remote port. Not a big deal I suppose, if you can set their own SMTP hassle free and mail doesn’t get flagged as spam. (Tip: you should add an SPF record to your DNS entries to avoid your email being tagged as spam)
In fact this will make you mail look like spam.
Most ISP’s will block incoming traffic if the server does not match up with the sender’s domain.
Has anyone tried port 587 ?
I spoke to O2 support today and they claimed that port was not being blocked.
Also they mentioned another SMTP server relay.02broadband.co.uk
And I can also confirm that Skype is not blocked (I called the O2 support on 08002300202 via Skype!!
I just connected to o2 at home this weekend.
Good points :
- Very fast, especially after Virgin Media.
- Easy router setup….literaly plug it, put WEP key in lappy, bobs you uncle. No cd full of garbage you don’t need being installed to your machine. No techy router stuff.
Bad Points :
- My company uses its own email servers on its own machines at its own domain. If I want to send email from home i have to change the SMTP server address to relay.o2broadband.co.uk
I have never had this restriction anywhere, and use the laptop to send/recieve email everywhere. After i leave the o2 Wifi range, i have to change the SMTP server back again to get it to work elsewhere. Major pain it the butt, email should just work as it does everywhere else.
I believe skype does work on o2, It better as i need it 24/7 for work. it would be a major drawback it it didn’t work.
So on the whole I thing i would give O2 4/5 until they sort the email server restriction out.
You needn’t pay for the static IP address. Just use relay.o2broadband.co.uk as your SMTP server and it should work.
Yep for non o2 email domains you can use relay.o2broadband.co.uk also inputting username and password in outgoing server settings or smtp.o2.co.uk with username and password but also ticking box that asks if my outgoing server is authenticated.
Hi Ben,
I am using O2 broadband for the last 1 and ½ years. I am very frustrated that they block port 25. I am an IT consultant and I need to do tests on port 25 and of course, I can not do so. And other people that want to use their own SMTP server would have the same problem.
As you mention in your article they block port 25 on accounts with dynamic IP addresses and if you want to use it, you must upgrade to static for £5.00 extra every month!
They claim this is for anti-spam security! Big rubbish!!! Even that I pay for a dynamic IP address they have assign to me the same IP address for ever. They do this, just to make extra money. The only reason that I stay with them is because at the moment is the cheapest ISP for an 8Mbs service, afer the discount.
Hey Guys
Been an O2 BB customer for a while and initially did have some problems with speed etc…but I have to say that the Tech Support staff are fantastic and tried and tested everything to resolve the issues. Even changed the equipment in the exchange (Lift & Shift etc I think it is called), a couple fo times. Finally one day my speed jumped from 1meg to over 6Meg. Brilliant.
With regards to the SMTP servers and Skype. I use Skype on a daily basis for video conferencing and never have had any issues at all. Works perfectly…for hours at a time.
SMTP – Again I dont understand why anyone has had issues with this or has been charged extra for this service. I have private email addresses for work and personal use and it works great. The outgoing email server for O2 that I use is: relay.o2broadband.co.uk. Never had a problem with it. I know in certain places it is stated to use smtp.o2.co.uk but as far as I know that server is purely for your O2 email account.
Hopefully that helps.