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Ambulance driver using the secure O2 Airwave service
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| mmO2 plc is a leading provider of mobile communication services in the UK, Germany and Ireland. |
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We also provide secure communications for police forces and other public safety services in England, Wales and Scotland through O2 Airwave and a full range of fixed and mobile communications on the Isle of Man through Manx Telecom. The mmO2 Group was formed in 2001 through a demerger from British Telecom. In June 2003 we completed the sale of O2 Netherlands.
In the year to 31 March 2004, mmO2 recorded a pre-tax profit of £95 million. Turnover from continuing operations was £5,646 million (2003: £4,611 million). The Group employs 12,905 employees across its international operations.
In 2003/04 we saw our customer base exceed 20 million for the first time. We now offer global roaming services in 161 countries. We are a leader in mobile data services for use in business, leisure and entertainment. Last year a total of 11 billion text messages were sent and received across our networks.
The O2 brand
All the operating companies trade under the O2 brand name, with the exception of Manx Telecom. Today, two years into its new life, O2 has achieved brand awareness levels between 51 and 72 per cent in all markets.
The operating businesses
Our customer numbers in the UK and Ireland continue to grow, with the UK reaching 13.3 million at 31 March 2004, an increase of 10 per cent, and 1.39 million in Ireland, up by 11 per cent. Both have a good share of high-value customers, and growing revenues from data services.
O2 Germany's growth continued in 2003/04. It added nearly 1.2 million new customers, the majority of which were on higher value post-pay contracts, and significantly increased its EBITDA margin to almost 15 per cent.
O2 Airwave has a £2.9 billion, 19-year contract from the UK Government to supply secure communications to all police forces in mainland Britain. By 31 March 2004 O2 Airwave had rolled out services to 35 police forces with over 50,000 police officers.
During 2003/04 Manx Telecom was awarded a 15-year licence extension two years ahead of schedule.
Many of our customers, using our higher speed 2.5G service (GPRS), this year began to use mobile phones not only to make voice calls and send text messages, but to download games and music, watch video streams, surf the internet and send e-mails.
All our mobile businesses have also secured licences to offer a new generation of Universal Mobile Telephone Services (UMTS), or 3G, services which will offer more sophisticated data applications including high-resolution video.
Our strategy
Our main aim is to become an integral part of our customers' lives by providing relevant, highly usable services that they truly value through a range of tailored packages.
Achieving our strategic goals depends on our employees' performance and skills. We continue to concentrate on improving our capabilities in customer care and to develop our brand in dynamic ways that reflect our brand values – to be bold, open, trusted and clear.
1 EBITDA is our earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and exceptional items, excluding our share of operating profits and losses of our joint ventures and associates.
2 O2 UK £502 million; O2 Germany £391 million; O2 Ireland £52 million, O2 Airwave £243 million and other businesses £25 million.
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| MEASURING OUR PERFORMANCE |
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| We try to measure our performance in realistic and detailed ways. Are there things you would like to know more about? > |
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| Do we offer good value and choice? |
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| Manx Telecom employees staged a custard pie contest to support the Mighty Oaks Appeal, raising £3,500 towards the building of a new 12-bed hospice. |
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