iPhone 5S And 5C Won’t Be Compatible With O2 4G For Weeks

O2 has confirmed the iPhone 5S and 5C will run on its recently-launched 4G network, but not for a couple of weeks, meaning customers who sign up for its expensive 4G tariffs will have to wait until they can use the full range of benefits they are entitled to.

Apple’s new handsets were unveiled to the public earlier this week, but only EE and Vodafone’s 4G services were mentioned as compatible. O2 said its LTE network is compatible, but it is waiting on an update from Apple.

“As the network that first brought iPhone to the UK, we’re proud to continue to innovate with our iPhone offering,” said Ronan Dunne, CEO of Telefónica UK. “Customers who purchase their iPhone from us get complete peace of mind that they can always be at the leading edge of technology.”

O2 4G iPhone 5S

“iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c are both 4G ready devices that will be enabled to run on our 4G network within the coming weeks – this will happen when new settings are ready to be sent by Apple and we will inform customers when they are available,” added O2.

Until then, O2 customers who elect to be “at the leading edge of technology” with the operator will have to use their allowances on the 3G network, although they will receive a discount on their first month’s bill.

“Customers who buy iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C on a 4G tariff before this update happens will get £5 off their bill for one month,” said O2. “Until the update, customers can still use all the data that comes with the 4G tariff and enjoy enhanced versions of O2 Tracks and Priority Sports on our 3G network.”

Expensive phones

This is just as well, given the considerable cost of O2’s iPhone tariffs. The iPhone 5S 16GB will be available for £111.99 on O2 Refresh, with price plans costing £37 a month for unlimited calls, texts and 1GB of 3G data and £47 a month for 5GB of 4G data.

The iPhone 5C costs £29.99 with a £32 a month contract, which provides 600 minutes, unlimited texts and 750MB of 3G data and £99.99 with a £42 a month deal, which also gives unlimited texts, calls and 5GB of 4G data.

O2 says more price plans will be made available nearer the launch date, but the news is unlikely to help the operator in is battle to compete with EE, which has a ten month head-start, and Vodafone, which also launched its LTE service last week, offering free Sky Sports Mobile TV or Spotify Premium to customers.

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