Whatever happened to Cellnet?
Cellnet was a mobile network operator in the United Kingdom that was initially launched in 1985. It was a joint venture between British Telecom (BT) and Securicor. However, over the years, Cellnet went through a series of changes and rebranding efforts. Here is a brief timeline of its transformation:
Cellnet (1985-1999): The brand name Cellnet was used from its launch in 1985 until 1999. It was one of the earliest mobile network operators in the UK and initially utilized the analog TACS (Total Access Communication System) network.
BT Cellnet (1999-2002): In 1999, British Telecommunications (BT) acquired full ownership of Cellnet and rebranded it as BT Cellnet. This change aimed to align the mobile network with BT's broader telecommunications services.
O2 (2002-present): In 2002, BT spun off its mobile division and rebranded BT Cellnet as O2. The rebranding was part of a global initiative to unify the mobile telecommunications operations of BT and mmO2 (a mobile operator acquired by BT). The name O2 was chosen to symbolize the potential of "oxygen" in the wireless world.
O2, as the successor of Cellnet, became one of the major mobile network operators in the UK. It continued to grow its customer base, expand its network coverage, and introduce new services and technologies. O2 offers mobile voice, data, and broadband services to both consumers and businesses in the UK.
In 2021, O2 announced a merger with Virgin Media, forming a new company called Virgin Media O2. This merger brings together O2's mobile network with Virgin Media's broadband, TV, and fixed-line services to create an integrated telecommunications provider in the UK.
While the Cellnet brand name no longer exists, its legacy lives on through its transformation into O2, which remains a prominent player in the UK mobile telecommunications market.
