Virgin Media O2 to supercharge network reliability with £700m Mobile Transformation Plan

• As part of its ongoing Mobile Transformation Plan, Virgin Media O2 is set to invest around £2m per day, equivalent to approximately £700m this year, into its mobile network
• Major investment will ensure a consistent and reliable service across the UK in response to network demand reaching an all-time high.
• Comprehensive investment in new masts, small cells and 4G and 5G upgrades is underpinned by additional spectrum deployment and increased automation, providing customers with a superior mobile network experience.
• The programme will boost connectivity for customers in the moments that matter, including on railways, along major roads, stadiums, city centres and historic ‘not-spots’.

Tuesday 11^th March 2025 – Virgin Media O2’s Mobile Transformation Plan will see the operator invest around £2m a day into its mobile network, equivalent to approximately £700m this year, to enhance reliability, speed and coverage. This major boost for the mobile network will deliver a step change in performance and help deliver the best possible experience for customers.

This significant investment programme comes in response to mobile network demand reaching an all-time high, with traffic more than doubling in the last five years.

The ongoing transformation programme includes major investments in cutting-edge mobile infrastructure and core network upgrades. The programme will be focused on expanding 4G and 5G coverage to historic ‘not-spots’ in rural and coastal areas, a dedicated small cells rollout to boost capacity in dense urban areas, and innovative solutions to address persistent network pain points including along railway lines, at airports, on motorways, and in stadiums and arenas.

By bringing its mobile and fixed networks closer together and using its own fibre network to connect mobile sites, the operator will improve the resilience and speed at which it can deploy new mobile infrastructure. In hard-to-reach locations, satellite technology will also be used to connect Virgin Media O2’s towers offering a cost-effective way to tackle remote signal not-spots.

Network hotspots such as stadiums and transport hubs will benefit from innovative partnerships and bespoke solutions including cutting-edge Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) designed to significantly increase throughput and customer experience in some of the most high demand locations.

2025 will see Virgin Media O2 complete major steps to evolve its mobile network

This year, Virgin Media O2 will carry out major programmes to evolve its mobile network to be fit for the future, including deploying additional spectrum, harnessing artificial intelligence, and decommissioning outdated parts of the network, including the 3G network. Decommissioning this legacy network will allow Virgin Media O2 to focus investment into more energy efficient and higher capacity future networks, and harnessing AI will enable the operator to unlock efficiencies that will be reinvested to improve the network experience.

Virgin Media O2’s Mobile Transformation Plan will focus investment into parts of the network that experience the highest levels of demand and areas where connectivity is most critical. Priority areas where the operator is looking to deliver significant improvements include:

• Railways: Enhancing connectivity for VMO2’s customers at stations and on trains, which poll as one of the top three locations where the public want to see improved connectivity
• Roads: Strengthening coverage along motorways and major routes, ensuring consistent service for the two thirds of Brits who rely on connectivity for GPS maps when driving
• Dense urban areas: Continuing to deploy small cells in cities across the UK, to boost capacity in some of the most high-demand locations
• Hard to reach remote locations: Tackling long term not-spots with innovative solutions such as satellite backhaul to connect some of the most difficult to reach areas of the UK
• Stadiums and Venues: Deploying Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) and dedicated networks to ensure uninterrupted connectivity for attendees at live events, which rank in the top 10 for the general public when it comes to desire for unfaltering connectivity

Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer, Virgin Media O2 said “Virgin Media O2 is committed to providing our customers with a reliable connectivity experience wherever they are. Our Mobile Transformation Plan combines the necessary financial investment with the latest technological innovation to make this a reality.”

“We’re not just upgrading infrastructure; we’re creating a platform for future innovation. This programme ensures our customers will continue to benefit from superior reliability as new technologies and demands emerge.”

The programme forms part of Virgin Media O2’s wider £2bn investment this year in its fixed and mobile networks and services to provide customers across the UK with the best experience possible.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

About Virgin Media O2

Virgin Media O2 launched on 1 June 2021, combining the UK’s largest and most reliable mobile network with a fully gigabit broadband network.

The company has more than 45 million UK connections across its award-winning broadband, mobile, TV and home phone services. Its fixed network covers more than half of the country (18.3m premises serviceable) alongside a mobile network that covers 99% of the nation’s population. The company is on track to bring 5G to all populated areas by end 2030 and already offers 5G outdoor coverage to more 75% of the UK population.

Virgin Media O2 is upgrading its fixed network to full fibre to the premises with completion in 2028. Its shareholders and investment firm InfraVia Capital Partners, through a joint venture called nexfibre, are investing approximately £4.5bn to build fibre to 5 million homes and businesses not currently served by Virgin Media O2’s network by 2026, with the opportunity to expand to an additional 2 million homes. As a wholesale customer of this network, Virgin Media O2’s total footprint will reach around 80% of the UK once build and upgrade work is completed.

Through Virgin Media O2 Business, the company plays a leading role supporting entrepreneurs, businesses, enterprises and the public sector with their digital transformation through a range of connectivity, security, cloud and tailor-made services. It is also the network of choice for mobile virtual network operators giffgaff and Sky Mobile, as well as managing a 50:50 joint venture with Tesco for Tesco Mobile.

The company is committed to using the power of connectivity to make its better for people and the planet, taking action to close the digital divide and building an inclusive, resilient, and low carbon economy. The business has set an ambitious commitment to achieve net zero carbon across its operations, products and supply chain by the end of 2040.

Virgin Media O2 is a 50:50 joint venture between Liberty Global and Telefónica SA, and one of the UK’s largest businesses. Virgin Media O2 is registered in England and Wales. Registration number: 12580944. Virgin Media O2 Limited, 500 Brook Drive, Reading, RG2 6UU.  

Investment metrics

£700m investment based on approximately £2m per day investment x 365. This investment is part of the 2025 expected guidance the company provided at full year 2024 results.

Polling data

Strand Partners’ specialist research team conducted a nationally representative online survey of 1,006 people between 19/02/2025 – 20/02/2025. The survey was representative by age, gender and NUTS 1 region. Strand Partners is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.