How Virgin Media O2 Seeks to Transform UK Mobile Networks
With plans to supercharge network reliability, Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) is investing £700m (US$904.5m) as part of its Mobile Transformation Plan.
The telco company plans to invest roughly £2m (US$2.5m) a day into its mobile network. This large scale plans to ensure a consistent and reliable service across the UK in response to network demand reaching an all-time high.
This will include investment into new masts, small cells and 4G and 5G upgrades, which will be underpinned by additional spectrum deployment and increased automation. This is designed to offer customers a superior mobile network experience.
Likewise, the programme hopes to boost connectivity for customers in critical moments, including along railways, major roads, stadiums, city centres and ‘not-spots’.
Delivering superior network performance
This significant investment programme from VMO2 comes in response to mobile network demand surging in the UK, with traffic more than doubling in the last five years.
As a result, VMO2 is eager to provide customers with the best networks and services nationwide with the best experience possible.
Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2, adds: “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.”
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 a range of innovative solutions to address persistent network pain points.
By bringing its mobile and fixed networks closer together and using its own fibre network to connect mobile sites, VMO2 hopes to deploy new mobile infrastructure faster and with greater resilience.
Particularly in hard-to-reach locations, satellite technology will also be used to connect VMO2’s towers. This should offer a cost-effective way to tackle remote signal not-spots.
- Railways: Enhancing connectivity for VMO2 customers at stations and on trains
- 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
- Stadiums and Venues: Deploying Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) and dedicated networks to ensure uninterrupted connectivity for attendees at live events
For one thing, network hotspots like stadiums and transport hubs could benefit from more innovative partnerships and bespoke solutions. These include cutting-edge Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) designed to significantly increase throughput and customer experience in some of the most high-demand locations.
Connectivity at live events in particular ranks highly for the general public.
2025: The year of network evolution
In taking significant steps to evolve its mobile network, VMO2 will carry out major programmes to future-proof its networks, including deploying additional spectrum, harnessing AI and decommissioning outdated parts of the network.
This includes its 3G network, which will allow VMO2 to focus investment into more energy efficient and higher capacity future networks.
Likewise, the use of AI means that the telco can explore new ways to unlock efficiencies that will be reinvested to improve the network experience.
The telco has been examining how the UK can boost its connectivity for some time, having highlighted a crucial path towards technology reform in the UK policing sector in particular in 2024.
More broadly, the UK has been pushing for improved connectivity nationwide, with companies like VMO2 positioned to help deliver this transformation.
Currently, the country’s telecoms infrastructure is falling behind other major economies across Europe, with around 53% of UK residents experiencing connection issues in 2023. As a result, the UK government is eager to prioritise improvements to infrastructure in order to boost connectivity and reduce digital inequalities nationwide.
With this in mind, VMO2’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.
Jeanie adds: “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.”
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