May 24, 2023, 2:23 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Until now, O2 customers with a prepaid contract had to do without 5G. But now the network will soon be available to them as well. We reveal when the 5G activation will occur and which plans will benefit.
Starting June 6, the network operator O2 plans to activate 5G access for its prepaid customers. According to the provider, the switch will occur automatically and at no extra cost in current plans with the next renewal of the respective booked option. However, customers still using an old contract are excluded from the adjustment. O2 advises them to switch to a current 5G plan.
Overview
O2 activates 5G in Prepaid S, M, and L
Unlike Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone, O2 has not yet granted its prepaid customers access to the 5G network. The release of the fast data standard outside of contract terms is thus a long-overdue announcement. O2 told TECHBOOK: “The activation of 5G for our new O2 prepaid plans is a milestone in the further development of our core brand O2 in this segment as well. It is the right time to meet the changed expectations of our prepaid customers.”
All customers who have booked the Prepaid S, M, or L plan will benefit from the 5G activation. Although O2 is not changing the maximum speed of 225 Mbit/s downstream and 50 Mbit/s upstream, 5G brings other advantages such as lower latency and better network availability.
Last tariff adjustment only in April
At the beginning of April, O2 revamped its prepaid plans, offering them with more data volume but also at a higher price. The Prepaid S now offers 6 GB of data instead of 3.5 GB and costs 12.99 euros per month—3 euros more than before the change. With the O2 Prepaid M, customers get access to 12 GB of data (5.5 GB more) and pay 17.99 euros. The Prepaid L includes 18 GB and is available for 22.99 euros. O2 bills its prepaid plans every 28 days. New customers receive a 3-euro discount on the base price for the first four weeks.
Along with this tariff adjustment, O2 also increased the speed after throttling. Until the change, users could only continue surfing at 32 kbit/s upstream and downstream after consuming the inclusive volume. In early April, the network operator significantly increased the speed to 384 kbit/s, and now, with a slight delay, the move to 5G follows.
Also read: Major mobile network test 2023 shows significant differences in 5G coverage
Telekom Adjusts Mobile Plans: What Changes for Customers
What LTE, 5G, and HSDPA+ Reveal About Mobile Internet
The three prepaid plans compared
Users with old plans can switch
As mentioned at the beginning, the 5G activation only applies to O2’s current prepaid plans. Users of older plans are advised to switch to benefit from both 5G and the higher speed after throttling. Specifically for these customers, the network operator has launched a promotion offering the Prepaid M with 18 GB of data instead of 12 GB. The offer is valid until September 5 and will automatically renew with sufficient credit as long as customers do not cancel the option.