Virgin Media O2 to Enhance Connectivity at Major Events and Staycation Destinations this Summer

• Virgin Media O2 will be deploying temporary masts at 29 major events and festivals as well as in 12 of the UK’s most popular staycation destinations this summer
• These temporary masts will boost capacity in the busiest areas, helping to provide O2 customers with reliable connectivity wherever they are
• The operator will be powering the masts with environmentally friendly hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) for the first time, saving Virgin Media O2 300 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent

Virgin Media O2 will be deploying green-powered temporary masts at 29 festivals and special events and at 12 popular staycation destinations this summer, providing customers seamless and reliable connectivity, no matter where they are.

The temporary masts, known as Cells on Wheels (COWs), are designed to provide reliable and consistent mobile coverage in areas experiencing a surge in visitors, ensuring that O2 customers can stay connected while attending festivals, events or enjoying their holidays.

These COWs will be Virgin Media O2’s greenest yet, powered by a sustainable hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) solution. By switching to this more sustainable source of power, the operator will save 300 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, which is around the same as the annual energy use of more than 530 homes[1].

Virgin Media O2’s green COWs have already kicked back with Coldplay at Glastonbury, witnessed Lewis Hamilton’s win at Silverstone and rocked out with Robbie Williams at British Summer Time. They still have a very busy summer ahead, with revellers at Reading & Leeds and Latitude festivals set to benefit later this summer.

This initiative follows Virgin Media O2’s recent announcement that it had reduced Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 23% last year – equivalent to emissions caused by the annual energy use of almost 15,000 (14,883) UK homes – and is on track to meet its target to cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 60% by 2025.

Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2 said: “Whether they’re off to Carnival or Clacton, Boomtown or Bridlington, our greenest ever pop-up mobile masts will help millions of customers stay connected sustainably this summer.”

“We’re committed to delivering for our customers, communities and our planet – with these cells on wheels providing reliable connectivity and helping cut greenhouse gas emissions.”

ENDS

[1] Carbon equivalent savings are calculated using Ofgem’s average energy use statistics, based on a medium-sized UK home, and using 2023 Defra carbon conversion factors.