O2 has today announced the second phase of its plans to work with fixed resellers with the launch of the Joined Up Communications Wholesale Partner Channel programme.

In August last year, O2 launched the Joined Up Communications Channel Partner Programme with three partners becoming aggregators and offering a white label mobile service to their fixed line customers.

This new programme, for wholesale partners, continues the company’s strategy of building close relationships across all channels and will see up to 20 of the best fixed line partners sign a mobile relationship to trade exclusively with O2 at a wholesale level, offering both O2’s mobile services and fixed broadband. Broadband services will be provided by BE, a wholly owned subsidiary of O2, and partners have committed to putting a substantial amount of their wholesale broadband business through O2.

In order to make the most of this initiative a number of wholesale partners have already signed up including – Actimax, Performance Telecom, Executel, Peach Telecom, ICS, Comtact, Sears Communications, 2 Circles, IP Intergration, Universal Telecom , Talk Straight, Modern Communications and Ardencomm. A number of other partners are in negotiations and the will be announced in the coming weeks.

This is a landmark step by O2, and the programme will allow fixed line operators to offer O2’s mobile & fixed broadband services as part of a complete communications package to their customers.

Partners will benefit from elements of current O2 partner programmes along with a direct relationship with that will allow them to own and bill their own customers with a range of O2 mobile and data products and services.

Some of the benefits that partners will receive include:

  • Specialised business training & development
  • Access to channel marketing resources and online marketing toolkit to deliver messages in a positive manner

Maggie Kennedy, Head of Partners at O2, said: ‘Since we announced our JUC Channel Partner programme we have already seen a substantial growth in the reseller market. This new programme for wholesale partners will continue our journey to become the operator of choice for all types of services in the channel.’

John Massey of Actimax said: ‘In a continually changing market O2 is our preferred option to break into a new area of the market and work together with to grow our portfolio to include mobile and increase earning potential for Actimax. Last year we made it clear that O2 had got it wrong with the offer they had delivered to the market, however, it is refreshing that they listened and made the changes that we asked for, I look forward to working with a network directly’.

Darren Scott-Healey, Managing Director of Peach Telecom, said: ‘We’re delighted to have secured this relationship with O2. We have always focused on innovation, speed of delivery, unmatched customer care, great value, and tempting offers. These are the fundamental ingredients of creating a strong customer experience which gives us the edge and keeps us in our leading position. The relationship is a fantastic opportunity which will complement and enhance our existing offering to our 5000 strong SME customers.

‘My team will be working closely with O2 to ensure that our business customers are able to access all the benefits that the O2 Network can bring. We have some major long-term plans as we look to expand our business and strengthen our customer relationships. Our growth has been down to listening to customer’s requirements and fitting the solution around their needs. ‘

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