Cumbria, 21 October 2026 – People and businesses across Cumbria, including those in Carlisle, Barrow-in-Furness, Workington and Ulverston, can now access O2’s most advanced mobile network yet, after the operator switched on its next-generation 5G+ service for customers in the region.
More than 219,000 people* in Carlisle, Barrow-in-Furness, Workington and Ulverston, as well as others across Cumbria could now benefit from the next-generation network, which delivers faster speeds, better reliability and lower latency at no extra cost, helping customers to stay connected.
The 5G+ rollout will benefit communities across Cumbria, from Carlisle and West Cumbria to the Furness coast and the county’s market towns. The upgrades will help residents, local businesses and visitors stay connected, whether working, travelling or going about their everyday lives.
O2 continues to invest in expanding its 5G+ network
O2’s 5G+ network is available to customers with compatible devices at no extra cost. Unlike earlier versions of 5G, which relied on existing 4G technology, O2’s 5G+ service uses new “standalone” infrastructure to deliver faster speeds and lower latency mobile services.
These upgrades form part of Virgin Media O2’s £700 million Mobile Transformation Plan, which is delivering a major upgrade to the company’s network throughout 2026. The investment will enhance reliability, capacity and coverage across the country through new masts, small cells, 4G and 5G upgrades, automation and new spectrum deployment.
O2’s network has been crowned best network for coverage
Virgin Media O2 was named Europe’s most improved mobile network by independent benchmarking firm Umlaut Connect in 2025, reflecting significant gains in reliability, coverage and performance. The company was also awarded Best Mobile Network Coverage at the Uswitch Telecoms Awards for the second year running.
Professor Robert Joyce, Director of Mobile Access Engineering at O2, said: “Reliable mobile connectivity is vital to everyday life across Cumbria, helping local businesses thrive and keeping residents connected wherever they are. Whether people are working, travelling or speaking to loved ones, they need a network they can rely on.
“That’s why we’re continuing to invest in strengthening our network across Cumbria as part of our £700 million Mobile Transformation Plan. By bringing 5G+ to more customers across the county, alongside innovations such as O2 Satellite to help customers stay connected in harder-to-reach areas, we’re helping residents, businesses and visitors stay connected when it matters most.”
Customers can access 5G+ with a compatible device and plan, and by ensuring their SIM is up to date. Some customers may need to switch to a digital eSIM. Full details are available on the O2 website here: https://www.o2.co.uk/5g-plus
Alongside its 5G+ rollout, O2 is also helping customers stay connected in harder-to-reach areas through O2 Satellite. The satellite-to-mobile service is particularly relevant to rural counties such as Cumbria, where mountainous terrain and remote communities can make traditional mobile coverage challenging. O2 Satellite provides an additional layer of connectivity for eligible customers in areas without a terrestrial mobile signal.
Notes to Editors:
All towns and cities included in Virgin Media O2’s 5G+ programme rollout have at least 90% outdoor 5G+ coverage, these include: Carlisle, Barrow-in-Furness, Workington, Ulverston, Walney, Millom, Keswick, Seaton, Askam-in-Furness, Appleby, Arnside, Milnthorpe, Sedbergh and Longtown.
*219,000 population figure sourced from the latest available data held by ONS 2021 Census for Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness as well as Workington, Ulverston, Millom, Keswick and Seaton: https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E07000028, https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E07000027 and https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/datasets/townsandcitiescharacteristicsofbuiltupareasenglandandwalescensus2021
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