OptiWi-fi signs deal with O2 at Mobile World Congress

26 Feb 2014

Irish Wi-Fi optimisation player OptiWi-fi has signed a pivotal deal with O2 Wi-Fi to deploy network bandwidth optimisation across O2’s UK and Ireland network of 6m users.

From 2014, UK and Ireland Wi-Fi users will be able to enjoy faster and more reliable Wi-Fi even at the busiest O2 Wi-Fi and Bitbuzz hotspots, thanks to OptiWi-fi’s congestion optimisation platform.

The demand for anywhere/anytime reliable connectivity from any device is rapidly increasing. Consumption of bandwidth-hungry applications and the number of devices per capita are also increasing.

As a result, mobile network operators are resorting to offloading their excess data traffic to Wi-Fi in order to ease the strain on their limited capacity mobile networks.

The resulting strain causes a decline in the quality of user experience – this varies from poor/dropped connections and slow downloads to an inability to connect.

“Today, users are demanding increasingly high levels of data on our network, streaming HD videos at airports and venues, watching sports news at stadia while at a match,” said Adrian Cunliffe, head of Wi-Fi, Telefónica UK.

“They expect to be able to access enriched and data-heavy content on their Wi-Fi-enabled devices. OptiWi-fi’s unique patented technology ensures we will offer the UK’s best Wi-Fi experience to users at our many Wi-Fi hotspots at McDonald’s, Costa, Debenhams, Fuller’s pubs, House of Fraser, All Bar One, Café Rouge and the busiest streets of central London.”

OptiWi-fi’s technology

OptiWi-fi’s patent-protected congestion optimisation platform provides Wi-Fi operators’ with full visibility of bandwidth performance. It also delivers autonomous, dynamic and real-time optimisation of their network.

This enables Wi-Fi operators to identify and remedy issues on their network at congested hotspots, before they impact user experience.

Mark Burke, CEO, OptiWi-fi said, “We have already proven that our unique technology delivers tangible results in terms of existing bandwidth optimisation with Bitbuzz in Ireland. It is now time to show the world, starting in the UK and Ireland and at Mobile World Congress 2014, that Wi-Fi can work in very busy congested venues.”

Michael Moriarty, manager HPSU Financial and Enterprise Software, Enterprise Ireland, said OptiWi-fi is exactly the type of innovative and export-focused high-potential start-up (HPSU) company that Enterprise Ireland is keen to support.

“The OptiWi-fi solution is meeting an urgent and growing need of mobile operators and Wi-Fi providers for solutions to improve Wi-Fi quality and increase carrier capacity. The partnership with (O2 owner) Telefónica UK is an exciting one and an opportunity for OptiWi-fi to roll out its technology to the entire UK market. Enterprise Ireland will continue to work in partnership with them in further developing their international growth.”

Coffee shop Wi-Fi image via Shutterstock

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com