Virgin Media O2 trials new approach to boosting mobile coverage

Virgin Media O2 has successfully trialled a new approach to boosting mobile services by leveraging its existing fixed network infrastructure along with new smart poles. This innovative solution could help boost mobile coverage across local areas in the UK.

The trial, conducted in collaboration with shareholder Liberty Global, involved installing compact smart poles adjacent to Virgin Media's fibre network cabinets. These poles, significantly smaller than traditional mobile phone...

18 March 2024 | 5G

Virgin Media O2 launches UK’s first 2Gbps residential broadband 

Virgin Media O2 has become the first major UK broadband provider to launch a residential 2Gbps service, dubbed Gig2, and introduce symmetrical download and upload speeds across all speed tiers as an optional add-on for customers.

The new blisteringly fast Gig2 broadband service, which offers speeds more than 28 times faster than the UK average, is enabled by XGS-PON full-fibre technology and builds on Virgin Media's existing 1Gbps Gig1 service.

Gig2 will be available...

7 February 2024 | Broadband

Virgin Media O2 launches free ad-supported streaming TV channels

Virgin Media O2 has joined forces with renowned entertainment networks to introduce a selection of new Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) channels.

The new FAST channels will be seamlessly integrated into Virgin Media's Electronic Programming Guide (EPG), intermingling with its existing linear channel lineup. However, unlike traditional TV, the FAST channels will curate program schedules based on a single show or theme, offering an alternative and personalised viewing...

28 July 2023 | Operators

VMO2 selling its towers biz stake could net it over £1B

Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) has begun the process of offloading at least 50 percent of its stake in Cornerstone, the UK’s largest telecoms towers company.

The sale of its entire stake could raise more than £1.5 billion if successful, with the total value of Cornerstone estimated to be around £3 billion.

The sale has been sent to potential bidders and VMO2 has appointed Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan to oversee the process. If the stake sale goes ahead, VMO2 will use the cash...

21 April 2023 | Networks

First operator goes live on ‘pioneering’ mobile infrastructure

The first operator has gone live on “pioneering” mobile infrastructure that will host multiple telcos.

EE has joined a connectivity pilot led by Freshwave that will deliver enhanced 4G and 5G coverage to users along Queen Victoria Street in London.

James Hope, Director of Mobile Radio Access Networks at EE, said:

“High capacity, super-fast connectivity is essential for consumers and businesses today, with demand for data and low-latency networks...

20 December 2022 | 5G

RootMetrics: EE maintains UK mobile network performance lead

The latest UK Mobile Performance Review from RootMetrics finds that EE remains the operator to beat.

EE earned the top spot across all seven of RootMetrics’ performance categories: Overall Performance, Reliability, Accessibility, Speed, Data, Call, and Text. The operator took home 109 of 112 RootScore Awards in major metropolitan areas.

Patrick Linder, Sr. Director of Marketing and Communications at RootMetrics, said:

“As the UK’s hunger for data...

19 January 2022 | 5G

Virgin Media O2 humiliates rivals by not reinstating EU roaming fees

Virgin Media O2 is taking a playbook once written by rival Three and will buck the trend of reinstating EU roaming charges.

Gareth Turpin, Chief Commercial Officer of Mobile at Virgin Media O2, said:

“We’re starting the year by giving our customers some certainty: we will not be reintroducing roaming fees in Europe for customers on O2 or Virgin Mobile.

Unlike all the other major mobile networks who are bringing back roaming fees, we will not be following suit....

10 January 2022 | Networks

Virgin Media O2 completes its gigabit upgrade across 15.5M premises

Virgin Media O2 has completed its gigabit upgrade across its entire network of 15.5 million premises.

The most recent switch on delivered gigabit speeds to an additional 1.1 million homes. Any customer on the company’s Gig1 plan can now access ultrafast speeds with an average download of 1,130Mbps—22 times faster than the national average.

While such speeds are excessive for most of today’s applications, the network will speed up things like increasingly large game...

7 December 2021 | Broadband

Virgin Media O2 expands National Databank to tackle data poverty over Christmas

Following a successful three-month trial, Virgin Media O2 is expanding its National Databank across the UK to tackle data poverty over Christmas.

A shocking 1.5 million homes in the UK are currently without internet access. This “digital divide” limits opportunities all year round, but it’s especially bleak around Christmas.

Lutz Schüler, Chief Executive Officer at Virgin Media O2, said:

“With many millions of people still facing digital exclusion, now...

12 November 2021 | Operators

Over 90% of Virgin Media O2’s network is now gigabit-ready

Virgin Media O2’s network is now over 90 percent gigabit-ready, putting the ISP on track to upgrade its entire footprint by year-end.

The provider’s latest switch-on connected a further 1.6 million homes in towns and cities including Lincoln, Bath, Lancaster, Fife, Huddersfield, Ipswich, Slough, and Salisbury.

14.3 million premises are now able to access the gigabit network’s average download speeds of 1,130Mbps.

Lutz Schüler, Chief Executive Officer at...

9 November 2021 | Broadband