Use O2? Your phone just unlocked one of the biggest upgrades to 5G signal ever, and it won't cost a penny

5g masts virgin media o2

With its new 5G Standalone network, Virgin Media O2 has stripped out all 4G infrastructure from the next-generation signal — boosting the performance of mobile internet, especially in crowded areas

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VIRGIN MEDIA O2 PRESS OFFICE

Aaron Brown

By Aaron Brown


Published: 18/09/2025

- 09:52

Updated: 18/09/2025

- 17:41

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Future-proofed 5G Standalone network is available today

If you have an O2 SIM card tucked inside your phone, you're about to get a major 5G upgrade.

Virgin Media O2 has flipped the switch on its next-generation 5G network, unleashing faster speeds and better coverage across 500 towns and cities in the UK.


O2 says its bolstered network — dubbed 5G Standalone — should reach around 49 million people today.

That's more than 70% of the UK population, encompassing both major cities and smaller towns, like Bakewell in Derbyshire. Provided you've got a compatible smartphone in your pocket and a relatively recent SIM card, you're likely to be able to take advantage of this upgraded service right now.

Best of all, it won't cost you an extra penny. Yes, Virgin Media O2 has decided not to charge extra to access its 5G Standalone network, which no longer relies on any of the existing (and rapidly ageing) 4G infrastructure.

That means you'll enjoy a more reliable connection, faster speeds in crowded areas — like a football stadium or a concert, better coverage indoors, and even improved battery life, since your handset shouldn't have to spend as much time hunting for a signal.

This major expansion of 5G Standalone is part of Virgin Media O2's Mobile Transformation Plan, which will see the brand invest around £700 million to future-proof the network this year alone. The company is spending £2 million every single day on improvements across the UK.

The investment covers expanding both 4G and 5G coverage, rolling out small cells in busy urban areas, and fixing network trouble spots along railway lines, at airports, on motorways, and in stadiums. With this rollout, Virgin Media O2 now operates Britain's biggest 5G Standalone deployment.

Virgin Media O2 is the latest mobile network to launch a dedicated all-5G network. EE was the first to introduce this future-proofed technology last summer, with Vodafone following soon after.

Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2, said: "We are investing £2m every single day to improve our mobile network and provide a more reliable experience for our customers.

"By expanding our 5G Standalone network to 500 towns and cities and 70% of the population, we are continuing to deliver on that and are excited about the opportunities the new network will bring. This customer-centric rollout is about futureproofing our network and will pave the way for exciting customer-led innovations that lie ahead."

virgin media o2

Virgin Media O2 is one of the four largest mobile networks in the UK

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VIRGIN MEDIA O2 PRESS OFFICE

The latest announcement follows news that Virgin Media O2 has 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 bolstering its position in the UK.

There are several Mobile Virtual Network Operators, known as MVNOs, which offer a range of pay-monthly deals and SIM plans but don't own the masts themselves, that rely on Virgin Media O2's network and therefore will see a boon from these announcements.

That list includes big brands like Giffgaff, Sky Mobile, and Tesco Mobile.

Commenting on the latest news, Director of Consumer and Connectivity at CCS Insight, Kester Mann said: “Expanding 5G standalone coverage to 500 towns and cities is a significant milestone that will improve the mobile experience for millions of O2 customers across the UK.

"Not only will it support faster speeds and ensure more reliable connections, but it also paves the way for the introduction of innovative services in the future, particularly for the enterprise market."

Get unlimited 5G data from O2

For £24.99 a month, O2 subscribers can enjoy unlimited 5G data — so you can stream endless YouTube videos, playlists from your favourite music streaming service, and make video calls without worrying about connecting to a Wi-Fi network. If you're travelling abroad, O2 offers 25GB to use in the EU. There's also 3 months of Disney+ Standard or Amazon Prime, and you'll enjoy early access to tickets via O2 Priority

O2 SIM Card
$27.60 $24.99
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