O2 claims its remote-controlled antennas can optimise service "in a matter of minutes," but the new network isn't just about short-term gains. It's currently able to monitor the performance of call, text and data traffic (all anonymous, of course) from two million O2 customers each day. The plan is that by November, it'll be able to analyse performance data for all 24 million customers, so in the long term, network quality can be improved where it's needed most. This'll all happen behind the scenes of course, but if you find your phone hopping onto ropey Costa hotspots a little less often, it might well be thanks to this new "intelligent network."

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