O2 bags £6.5 million deal to supply mobiles to TfL

Operator will supply Transport for London with range of tablets and smartphones as part of contract win

O2 has won a contract to supply Transport for London with tablets and smartphones that could be worth up to £6.5 million.

The operator said it will provide TfL with a “bespoke” mobile package that will include iPads and other devices as part of the three-year agreement.

Research from O2 claimed that providing staff with connectivity and access to online tools and information while they’re at work has helped the public sector save up to two million working hours per week.

O2’s MD of public sector business Billy D’Arcy said: “Equipping employees with digital technology can have a huge impact – not only in improving customer service, but also in significantly boosting productivity.

“We look forward to working with TfL over the coming years to ensure a smooth-running service which benefits the network’s passengers and staff alike.”

The announcement comes less than a month after O2 business director Ben Dowd exclusively told Mobile News that it was set to end Vodafone’s 30-year run as the biggest supplier of public sector mobile connectivity.

According to Dowd, O2 has quadrupled its share of the market, valued at more than £600 million (1.3 million connections), to more than 40 per cent in just three years.

To win the contract, O2 took part in a “competitive” tender process conducted jointly by TfL and the Greater London Authority.

TfL chief information officer Steve Townsend said: “This contract with Telefonica O2 will support our ongoing plans to equip staff with the modern technology needed for them to help and support customers as they travel on our network.

“The competitive procurement process for the contract was designed to provide high quality services whilst delivering value for fare and tax payers.”