Asda picks BT to deliver 4G mobile services - Mynewsdesk

Feb 15, 2017 12:20 GMT

Asda picks BT to deliver
4G mobile services
4G on its way for ASDA Mobile customers as it extends its MVNO partnership
with BT

BT today announced an extension to its Mobile Virtual Network Operator
(MVNO) agreement, using its EE network, with the UK supermarket chain
ASDA.

The new deal will include access to 4G services for the first time and will
allow ASDA Mobile customers to enjoy faster speeds on their mobile
devices from the spring.

The agreement is an extension of the previous five-year contract signed by
EE, now part of BT Group plc, in August 2014, and takes the exclusive
contract to the end of 2020.

EE’s 4G coverage today reaches almost three quarters of the UK’s landmass
and this will extend to 95 per cent of the country by 2020. ASDA Mobile
expects to switch its customers across from 3G to 4G services during the
spring.

Richard Phillips, VP of ASDA Mobile, said: “ASDA is delighted to extend our
partnership with EE as it allows us to provide faster speeds and easier top
ups for our customers.Combined with our award winning customer service
and excellent value, ASDA Mobile becomes an even more compelling
proposition for our customers.”

Gerry McQuade, CEO BT Wholesale & Ventures, said: “The strength and
breadth of the EE 4G mobile network and our ability to provide excellent
levels of customer service on a fully managed basis makes BT the ideal
partner for ASDA Mobile. We’re very proud to have helped them achieve
award winning levels of customer service and the move to 4G will only
make them a stronger force to be reckoned with in the marketplace. With
ASDA stores boasting a footfall of 19 million customers, we have a terrific
opportunity to help ASDA Mobile to significantly grow its business and
customer base.”

BT will deliver mobile voice and data services to hundreds of thousands of
ASDA Mobile’s customers on a wholesale basis via its EE 4G mobile
network. ASDA Mobile offers a range of great value Pay-as-you-Go and 30-
day bundle pricing options.

As well as delivering the underlying mobile infrastructure and services to
supply its customers, BT will continue to provide ASDA Mobile will a fully
managed customer service solution which includes first and second line call
centre services, registrations, top ups, billing services and a full mobile
network services portfolio in the UK and when roaming.

This fully managed service has allowed ASDA Mobile to achieve award
winning customer service levels over the past year, with the virtual operator
earning a Recommended Provider rating from Which?.

As part of the new agreement, BT will for the first time provide ASDA
Mobile with an automatic debit facility, which will allow PAYG customers to
set up an alert to notify them when their credit is running low and
automatically top up their credit by their chosen amount.

Enquiries about this news release should be made to the BT Group
Newsroom on its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK
dial + 44 (0)20 7356 5369 or email newsrooom@bt.com.

All news releases can be accessed at our web site.

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Notes to editors

About BT

BT’s purpose is to use the power of communications to make a better world.
It is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and
solutions, serving customers in 180 countries. Its principal activities include
the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and
international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home,
at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet products and services;
and converged fixed-mobile products and services. BT consists of six
customer-facing lines of business: Consumer, EE, Business and Public
Sector, Global Services, Wholesale and Ventures, and Openreach.

For the year ended 31 March 2016, BT Group’s reported revenue was
£19,042m with reported profit before taxation of £3,029m.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT
Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT
Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit www.btplc.com.

About Asda Stores Limited

Founded in the 1960s in Yorkshire, Asda is one of Britain’s leading retailers.
It has more than 165,000 dedicated Asda colleagues serving customers
across 606 stores, including 33 Supercentres, 336 Superstores, 33 Asda
Living stores, 204 Supermarkets, and we’ve 26 depots and 18 Stand Alone
Petrol stations. Its main office is in Leeds, Yorkshire and its George clothing
division is in Lutterworth, Leicestershire. More than 17 million people shop
at Asda stores every week and 98 per cent of UK homes are served by
www.ASDA.com. Asda joined Walmart, the world’s number one retailer, in
1999.

About Asda’s Price Guarantee

Asda’s Price Guarantee (APG), launched in 2011, gives customers the
reassurance that a basket of groceries will always be 10 per cent better
value than competitors, otherwise Asda will refund the difference. Powered
by MySupermarket.co.uk, the APG is the only independent, transparent
online grocery price-checker in the world.

About BT

BT’s purpose is to use the power of communications to make a better world.
It is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and
solutions, serving customers in 180 countries. Its principal activities include
the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and
international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home,
at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet products and services;
and converged fixed-mobile products and services. BT consists of six
customer-facing lines of business: Consumer, EE, Business and Public
Sector, Global Services, Wholesale and Ventures, and Openreach.

For the year ended 31 March 2016, BT Group’s reported revenue was
£19,042m with reported profit before taxation of £3,029m.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT
Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT
Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit www.btplc.com

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