Virgin Media O2 launched its 5G SA networks in London, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds and Cardiff, amongst others
Virgin Media O2 has introduced the activation of its 5G Standalone (SA) community in 14 cities throughout the U.Okay.
In a launch, the telco stated its 5G SA community is already obtainable in London, Manchester, Liverpool, Lincoln, Birmingham, Sheffield, Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, York, Belfast, Cardiff, Nottingham and Slough
The brand new community will probably be obtainable to shoppers with 5G SA appropriate SIMs and units at no further price, the service stated.
Virgin Media O2 stated its 5G SA will enhance community capability, minimize latency and help a large enhance within the variety of linked units. This new community deployment may even allow new use instances related to 5G, together with autonomous transport options, distant healthcare and totally robotic factories. It should additionally allow community slicing and pave the best way for Virgin Media O2 to supply devoted companies for companies like augmented actuality, gaming, superior robotics and different enterprise use instances.
Virgin Media O2’s cell community at the moment gives 5G protection to greater than 50% of the U.Okay. inhabitants.
Jeanie York, CTO at Virgin Media O2, stated: “The launch of 5G Standalone is the fruits of a multi-year program and is an actual leap ahead within the evolution of our cell community. Whereas it’s nonetheless early days, our customer-centric rollout will proceed all through 2024 with some shopper clients seeing the quick advantages together with elevated reliability and protection.”
Virgin Media O2 additionally famous will probably be persevering with its rollout of 5G SA to extra cities and cities all through the U.Okay. in 2024.
The telco just lately reported it had added a complete of 46,600 clients within the cell section final yr, whereas fastened and broadband subscribers grew by 31,300 and 63,800 respectively. The full cell base grew to 44.9 million in full yr 2023, with 211,200 web additions supported by development in contract and IoT segments and partially offset by wholesale and pay as you go, the service stated.
Virgin Media O2 had launched companies in June 2021 as a three way partnership between Liberty International and Telefónica within the U.Okay.
Liberty International and Telefonica had reached an settlement to merge their U.Okay. operations in a 50-50 three way partnership in Might of 2020. That very same month, the U.Okay.’s Competitors and Markets Authority (CMA) determined to permit the proposed merger between cell operator O2 and Virgin Media.