Broadband free-for-all with O2's 'Flying Start'

O2 has announced it will offer eligible small businesses free access to landline and broadband services with its new programme 'Flying Start.'

Created for businesses between 1,000 to 2,000 employees, 'Flying Start' will offer current O2 business customers, with an existing mobile voice or landline contract, three to six months of free landline rental and broadband. New O2 customers will also receive three months of free services.

To gain access to 'Flying Start' benefits, firms must sign a 24-month contract with O2. The deal will run until the end of March.

Flying Start is an opportunity for businesses to test the benefits for themselves.

O2 hopes the offer will make small businesses more competitive and profitable by giving them a head start in 2012 with lower communication costs.

"Our research tells us that 98 per cent of customers make an average saving of 66 per cent with O2 Fixed Line so Flying Start is an opportunity for businesses to test the benefits for themselves, " said Claire Darley, head of small business sales at O2.

This has significant implications for the British economy, which is driven by 4.5 million small enterprises with an estimated annual turnover of 1.5 billion.

"Despite the tough trading climate, the small business community is an extremely exciting place to be and with 80 per cent of people in the UK working for businesses of between 10 and 50 people, it's also a vital component to the British economy," Darley said.

"Communications sits at the heart of day-to-day operations, and can make or break a successful business. From florists and cafes, to financial services, having the right technology in place is critical to ensuring that an organisation stays connected, agile and flexible, at all times."

O2 has been targeting smaller businesses with deals of late. Recently, the operator offered SMBs cut-price iPhone 4S phones on leasing contracts.