Mobile operator O2 (Virgin Media / VMO2) has pledged to extend their ultrafast 5G (mobile broadband) network coverage to reach 50% of the UK’s population in 2023 (not to be confused with geographic coverage). At the same time, they’ve also revealed that their 5G network already reaches 64% of London’s population.
The operator claims that their expanded footprint in London has largely come about as a result of the recently deployed low band 5G spectrum (i.e. the 700MHz band), which enables mobile signals to travel further. It’s claimed that VMO2 has the “largest share of this valuable spectrum amongst the major network operators“, although Ofcom’s auction results put them level with Three UK for 700MHz (here).
In other good news for Londoners, VMO2 has also upgraded 4G capacity in 41,228 postcodes across the city in 2021, and more than 241,000 nationally. The operator has also continued to expand its Wi-Fi network across the Tube, offering connectivity at more than 260 stations, representing 97% of the London Underground network. But the attraction of this may reduce as TfL deploys a new 4G/5G mobile network.
The company, which has committed to investing at least £10bn into UK fixed broadband and mobile improvements over the next 4-5 years, added that it delivered 5G to over 2,000 UK sites last year and now has 5G coverage in areas spanning 300 towns and cities. It has also promised to reach 50% of the UK’s population with 5G services in 2023, which is roughly what we’d expect to see from all of the major operators at this stage.
Jeanie York, VMO2’s Chief Technology Officer, said:
“Providing a 5G boost is part of our long standing investment in the capital and our mission to upgrade the UK through our ongoing investment in 4G, 5G, fixed broadband and innovative new services. We are taking a customer-centric approach to our mobile network strategy, which centres on optimising our network where our customers need them most.
This means focusing on densifying our coverage where are customers are going to feel the most benefit, such as busy urban cities like London, while also investing to extend coverage in less populated areas. And with our Volt proposition, we can offer 5G plus gigabit broadband together, giving Londoners the best connectivity in and out of their homes.”
We should add that Virgin Media’s gigabit-capable fixed broadband network currently covers more than 6 million Londoners and the operator has invested more than £200 million into broadband in the City in recent years. Put another way, they’ve extended their fixed line footprint in the city to reach 340,000 extra premises since around 2015/16 (Project Lightning).