Brandwave

Lyca Mobile vs O2:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, O2 had more branded searches than Lyca Mobile among mobile networks in the United Kingdom. O2 had about 468,000 branded searches, while Lyca Mobile had 135,000. O2 made up 10.2% of all mobile network searches we track, and Lyca Mobile accounted for 2.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about mobile networks, O2 appeared in three of the five answers and Lyca Mobile in one. O2 was mentioned before Lyca Mobile in three out of four answers that named either.

Among mobile networks in the United Kingdom in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

O2, about 3 searches for every 1 for Lyca Mobile

O2 468K searchesLyca Mobile 135K searches

Who does AI mention more?

O2, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Lyca Mobile in 1

O2 in 3 of 5Lyca Mobile in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

O2, named ahead of Lyca Mobile in 3 of 4 answers

O2 first in 3Lyca Mobile first in 1

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Top mobile networks in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, O2 was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Lyca Mobile was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. O2 was listed before Lyca Mobile in three out of four answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Vodafone1st
  2. EE2nd
  3. Three3rd
  4. O24th
  5. SMARTY5th
  6. Lebara6th
  7. iD Mobile7th
  8. giffgaff8th
  9. Lyca Mobile9th
  10. VOXI10th
  11. +2 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Vodafone5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • EE4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Three4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • giffgaff3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Tesco Mobile3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • O23 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • iD Mobile3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Lebara3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • SMARTY3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Lyca Mobile1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+2 more

See every answer about mobile networks

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 22, 2026.

Is Lyca Mobile or O2 more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Lyca Mobile and O2 by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 mobile networks we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.

Lyca Mobile and O2 among mobile networks in the United Kingdom, by month

Share of searches by month for O2, Lyca Mobile. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthEEgiffgaffTesco MobileVodafoneO2SkyiD MobileVOXILebaraThreeLyca MobileSMARTY
Oct 202518.7%10%12.2%22.1%10.4%5.4%5.4%5.4%4.5%2.2%3%0.6%
Nov 202519.4%12.5%15.3%12.5%12.9%5.6%6.8%4.6%4.6%2.7%2.5%0.62%
Dec 202519.9%12.8%15.7%12.8%10.8%5.7%5.7%4.7%4.7%3.2%3.1%0.77%
Jan 202623%12.3%12.3%12.3%10.4%5.5%6.7%4.5%5.5%3.1%3.7%0.9%
Feb 202621.7%14%14%11.5%9.8%5.1%6.3%5.1%5.1%3%3.4%1%
Mar 202620.6%10.9%13.3%13.3%11.3%6%7.3%4.9%4.9%3.3%3.3%0.98%
Apr 202621.6%11.4%14%14%9.7%5.1%6.2%5.1%5.1%2.9%3.4%1.5%
May 202618.1%14.1%14.1%14.1%9.8%5.2%6.3%5.2%5.2%2.9%3.5%1.6%
Jun 202618.7%14.4%11.8%14.4%9.9%5.3%6.4%5.3%5.3%3.1%4.3%1.3%
Jul 202618.6%14.5%11.9%14.5%10.1%5.3%6.5%5.3%5.3%3.1%3.6%1.3%
Aug 202620.4%13%13%13%9%7.1%7.1%4.7%4.7%3.2%3.2%1.4%
Sep 202622.6%11.9%11.9%11.9%10.2%8%6.5%5.3%4.4%3%2.9%1.3%

How has the Lyca Mobile and O2 comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • O2 was ahead of Lyca Mobile in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Lyca Mobile’s share of searches among mobile networks in the United Kingdom moved from 3% to 2.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 135K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, O2’s share of searches among mobile networks in the United Kingdom moved from 10.4% to 10.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 577K to 468K.

How did search popularity change for United Kingdom mobile networks in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, O2 gained share of searches among mobile networks in the United Kingdom, from 9% to 10.2%.

  2. Lyca Mobile’s share of searches among mobile networks in the United Kingdom has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 4.3% to 2.9% in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Lyca Mobile’s and O2’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Lyca Mobile

1 branded search term

  • lyca mobile

O2

2 branded search terms

  • o2
  • o2 uk

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among mobile networks

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