MOTORISTS and passengers using some of the UK’s busiest roads should notice their mobile data running much faster from today.
O2 has switched on a huge coverage boost across more than 40 major UK motorways and A roads across the country.
The network provider has installed upgraded 4G kit along 311 sites and 338 new 5G builds.
O2 says the move will significantly enhance network performance and reliability for road users, enabling everything from navigation apps to streaming music on the go.
The improvements stretch across 590 miles of road in total – roughly the equivalent of driving from Exeter to Inverness.
They include the M1 (London–Leeds), M4 (London–Bristol), M6 (Coventry–Carlisle), M8 (Glasgow–Edinburgh) and M25 (London).
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The firm has plans to improve more major routes next, with the A14 (Rugby–Ipswich), the M20 (London–Folkestone) and the A75 (Gretna–Stranraer) on their list.
It comes as O2 has been busy stripping out its old 3G network, which is being discontinued across the UK.
The firm started deactivating 3G in April and most recently switched the service off in parts of Scotland earlier this month.
Bosses plan to complete the switch off by the end of the year.
The 3G is being replaced with faster, more reliable 4G and 5G.
Alongside the motorway connectivity boost announcement, Virgin Media O2 co-owner Liberty Global shared an update on Believ, an EV charge point operator it backs.
Believ is installing up to 30,000 new public charging points nationwide to expand its charging footprint.
“Connectivity underpins a huge part of the driving experience today, but particularly for EVs,” said Jeanie York, chief technology officer at Virgin Media O2.
“By optimising coverage on more than 40 motorways and A roads as part of our £700 million investment in our Mobile Transformation Plan, we’re helping make every journey safer and more reliable.
“Alongside Believ’s new charging points, this is about removing barriers so more people can make the switch to electric with confidence.”
Is the 3G switch off that big of a deal?
Analysis by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun
It’s unclear exactly how many people will be affected by the 3G switch off.
There wasn’t much noise after Three, EE and Vodafone ended 3G.
So, there will undoubtedly be some still using 3G-only phones but the numbers are probably very small.
Just because it may be a small figure doesn’t mean those people should be cast aside, especially if they’re not very tech-savvy or vulnerable.
So definitely look out for support communications from O2 – and speak to them if you’re unsure.
Image credit: Getty
