Virgin Media O2 to Supercharge Network Reliability with £700m Mobile Transformation Plan

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.

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.

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be fit for the future, including deploying additional spectrum, harnessing artificial intelligence, and decommissioning outdated parts of the network, including the 3G network.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.

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.

Source