Virgin Media O2 has reached a significant milestone by launching its next-generation 5G Standalone network in 500 towns and cities across the UK. Now available to over 70% of the UK population, this deployment represents the country’s largest 5G Standalone rollout, covering 49 million people.
Customers in these areas will see improved mobile experiences with enhanced 5G coverage, increased speeds, and reduced latency. A standout feature of Virgin Media O2’s approach is that their 5G Standalone network is accessible at no extra cost to customers who have compatible devices and SIMs.
In all the locations where the network is deployed, at least 90% outdoor coverage is assured, providing a consistent and trustworthy user experience. This nationwide expansion was preceded by the significant increase in users with Standalone capable devices since the launch last year. Most flagship devices now support access to the network.
Unlike previous 5G services dependent on the 4G network for data, Virgin Media O2’s Standalone network is entirely built on advanced future-proofed radio infrastructure with a wholly cloud-based core. This not only improves network reliability but also extends coverage, setting the stage for advanced digital experiences. The 5G Standalone will enable pioneering use cases such as autonomous transport and remote healthcare solutions.
Earlier this year, Virgin Media O2 introduced Standalone for business customers, marking a pivotal step towards enabling future industrial innovations. In celebration of the rollout’s success, the historic town of Bakewell in Derbyshire became the 500th location to benefit from the service, commemorated with a giant Bakewell Tart.
Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2, emphasized the company’s commitment: “We are investing £2m every single day to improve our mobile network and provide a more reliable experience for our customers.” She added that their expansion efforts are about futureproofing the network and creating exciting opportunities for customer-centric innovations.
Kester Mann, Director of Consumer and Connectivity at CCS Insight, remarked, “Expanding 5G standalone coverage to 500 towns and cities is a significant milestone that will improve the mobile experience for millions of O2 customers across the UK.”
These network enhancements align with Virgin Media O2’s Mobile Transformation Plan. This year, they will invest around £700m in expanding 4G and 5G coverage, implementing small cells rollout in urban areas, and resolving network issues in critical locations such as railways and airports.
In a strategic move to enhance their network, Virgin Media O2 also acquired 78.8 MHz of spectrum from Vodafone UK, boosting their total to around 30% of the UK’s mobile spectrum.
The role of 5G Standalone in the UK economy will be a key topic at the upcoming Connected Britain 2025 event, where the mobile ecosystem will gather for discussions on the future impact.
