O2 brings faster, more reliable 5G to Manchester and surrounding areas

• O2 has switched on its next-generation 5G Standalone network in the city of Manchester and surrounding towns in Greater Manchester as part of its UK-wide rollout, now live in more than 500 locations
• Residents and businesses across Greater Manchester can now access faster speeds, improved coverage and reduced latency
• The investment forms part of the operator’s Mobile Transformation Programme to boost connectivity and reliability across the UK

People and businesses in the city of Manchester and key towns across Greater Manchester, including Bolton, Wigan, Rochdale, Oldham and Bury, can now access O2’s most advanced mobile network yet, following the switch-on of its next-generation 5G Standalone service in the area.

More than 589,000 residents across the city of Manchester will be able to benefit from the new 5G Standalone network, which is designed to deliver faster, more reliable mobile coverage and a stronger signal in more places, helping to support a smoother experience for residents and visitors.

O2’s 5G Standalone network is the largest in the UK and is available to customers with compatible devices at no extra cost.

Future-proofing Manchester in a boost for local people and businesses 

With 5G Standalone coverage available across Manchester and nearby towns, Greater Manchester is better equipped to support the pace and scale of one of the UK’s most dynamic regions.

A city that is shaped by major events, a thriving visitor economy, a large student population and a growing digital sector, Manchester places high demand on fast, reliable mobile connectivity. Dependable coverage is essential to help meet demand along transport routes and in the city centre during peak moments including daily commutes, matchdays and live music events.

The 5GSA upgrade is also expected to strengthen connectivity beyond the city centre. With thousands of daily journeys made by train, tram and bus, improved coverage can support key towns surrounding the city.

Unlike earlier versions of 5G, which relied on existing 4G technology, O2’s 5G Standalone service is built entirely on new infrastructure. Now live, this technology can improve mobile services for customers and help prepare Greater Manchester for future digital innovation.

This latest rollout builds on Virgin Media O2’s ongoing investment in connectivity across Greater Manchester, alongside the opening of its new North West HQ in the city centre. Recent upgrades to 4G and 5G mobile services, delivered across 2025, at 65 locations are improving coverage for more than 14,000 postcodes across Manchester.

Professor Robert Joyce, Director of Mobile Access Engineering at O2, said: “Our new 5G Standalone network is now live in Manchester and surrounding towns, providing an impressive upgrade for local people and businesses and creating new opportunities in and around the city. We are investing every single day to improve our mobile network and provide a more reliable experience for our customers, future-proofing our connectivity and paving the way for exciting innovations that lie ahead.” 

The rollout in Manchester and neighbouring towns forms part of O2’s wider UK programme to bring 5G Standalone to urban centres, towns, and communities of all sizes. Delivered through Virgin Media O2’s Mobile Transformation Plan, the focus is on expanding 4G and 5G coverage, deploying small cells to boost capacity in dense urban areas, and tackling persistent network pain points including along railway lines, at airports, on motorways, and in stadiums and arenas across the UK.

Last year, Virgin Media O2 announced that it had agreed a deal with Vodafone UK to acquire 78.8 MHz of spectrum, bringing the operator’s total spectrum holding to approximately 30% of UK mobile spectrum and materially enhancing the company’s network position. The operator is deploying this newly acquired spectrum across the country, which is expected to drive a better network experience for its customers.

O2 was recently recognised as the most improved mobile network across Europe in Umlaut Connect’s Mobile Network Test, an independent and comprehensive benchmarking report. It was also awarded Best Mobile Network Coverage at the Uswitch Telecoms Awards for the second year in a row, which recognised the scale, reach and reliability of O2’s mobile network.