Virgin Media O2 launches with plans to upgrade the UK

Virgin Media O2 launches today, representing the biggest UK merger in a decade and the largest UK telecoms deal ever. 

The new joint venture between Liberty Global and Telefónica opens at a time when connectivity has never been more critical, as the UK recovers and rebuilds from the global pandemic.

The new business becomes one of the UK’s largest, with 47m connections across broadband, mobile, TV and home phone, and offers connectivity services, applications, and digital solutions to tens of thousands of UK businesses and public sector organisations. It employs around 18,000 people and reported equivalent revenues of £11bn last year. 

Virgin Media O2 is already the nation’s largest gigabit broadband operator and will deliver these speeds across its entire network by the end of the year. Building on the success of its existing fibre network expansion activity, the business is planning to go further and faster by deploying fibre to millions of additional homes across the country. A variety of options, including potential partnerships, are currently being worked on to achieve this.

Coupled with this, the company will continue to cement its leadership status in reliability and quality mobile coverage by utilising its increased spectrum holding and bringing 5G services to new areas across the nation – including around 200 towns and cities by the end of June.  

While there is no change to existing services today, plans are also well underway to offer seamless broadband, entertainment, and mobile services all in one place, under one roof, later this year. 

Virgin Media and O2 share a strong track record in driving positive change for people, communities, and our planet. The company is committed to using the power of connectivity to supercharge communities across the UK, taking action to close the digital divide and helping to build an inclusive, resilient, and low carbon economy.

As part of this commitment, the business today confirms its ambition to achieve net zero carbon operations (scopes 1 & 2) by the end of 2025.

“With the fastest broadband and most reliable mobile network in the UK today, Virgin Media O2 is the complete package” said CEO of Virgin Media O2, Lutz Schüler.

“We are ready to shake up the market and be the competitor the country needs at a time when choice has never been more important. Through investment and innovation in cutting-edge infrastructure and future technology, we will connect more people to the things they love, support communities across the country, help businesses to grow, and power the UK economy. With no limit to our ambition, we’re here to upgrade the UK – and our mission starts today.”