O2 is offering millions of customers the chance to upgrade to 5G+ at no extra cost

Millions of O2 customers can now upgrade to 5G+ and experience the full power of O2’s industry-leading 5G Standalone network.

The upgrade is available to all O2 Pay Monthly customers with a compatible device, at no extra cost.

Once upgraded, customers can benefit from faster speeds and a more reliable connection in over 700 towns and cities across the UK.

More information on how customers can check if their device is compatible and, if required, switch to an eSIM to enjoy the upgrade can be found here: https://www.o2.co.uk/5g-plus

Millions of O2 customers can now enjoy faster, more powerful mobile speeds with the rollout of 5G+ across more than 700 towns and cities, available on O2 as standard and at no extra cost, unlike on other networks*.

The rollout of 5G+ means O2 customers with a compatible device and SIM (purchased from 2024 onwards or an eSIM) can experience the full power of O2’s 5G service, including enhanced coverage and faster speeds.

Those who have a compatible device but need to update their SIM to benefit from the free upgrade can do so by simply switching to an eSIM, at no extra cost, via O2’s website.

Benefits of 5G+ on O2’s network include:

Enhanced coverage in busy areas: More reliable performance designed to work better in high demand locations.

Improved phone battery life: Devices use less power as they no longer need to connect to both 4G and 5G networks simultaneously.

Lightning-fast speeds: On average around 50% faster than 4G.

To enjoy 5G+ on O2 customers need to be in a 5G+ area – now available in more than 700 towns and cities across the UK including Southend-On-Sea in England and Aberdeen in Scotland. Customers can check 5G+ availability based on their postcode here.

Christian Hindennach, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Media O2, said:
“Our 5G+ service is now available to millions of customers across the UK, and uniquely, it’s available to everyone on O2 across all Plans – unlike other networks.

“The upgrade boosts performance in busy areas, including major venues that host big crowds, benefiting both residents and visitors, and is another example of Virgin Media O2’s commitment to enhancing our network and delivering a more reliable experience. We’re investing £2 million every day to help our customers prepare for the next wave of mobile innovation.”

This 5G+ upgrade forms part of Virgin Media O2’s £700m investment in its mobile network this year to expand coverage, improve reliability and boost speeds. O2, which was recently recognised by Uswitch as the UK’s best network for mobile coverage for the second consecutive year, now offers one of the widest 5G+ footprints in the country, with more 5G+enabled areas available across the UK than ever before.

Customers who want to upgrade their SIM to get 5G+ on iPhone can do so by following these simple steps**:

Visit: https://www.o2.co.uk/5g-plus to check their device compatibility and update their SIM if required.
Convert the SIM to an eSIM: If a SIM swap is required, customers can go to Settings > Mobile Service, select the SIM or plan, and tap Convert to eSIM. If the device has multiple SIMs, they should choose which one to convert. After tapping Convert to eSIM again, they simply follow the on‑screen instructions.
Confirm the transfer: The iPhone will activate the new eSIM. This process usually takes a few minutes, and service may drop briefly. Once complete, an on-screen message will confirm that the eSIM has been set up and service is active again.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

*EE and Vodafone provide 5G+ to higher tiered customers only. All O2 customers, with an eligible device, can enjoy a free upgrade to 5G+.

** WiFi is required to activate a new eSIM. If a customer starts the process without WiFi, their phone will lose service and cannot reconnect until they join a WiFi network.

Customers with an Android device who want to upgrade to 5G+ will need to give O2 a call or pop into an O2 store and a customer advisor will help with their switch to an eSIM.

5G+ capable smartphones include: