O2 has revealed that customers will be able to stay connected via satellite to avoid dreaded signal “not spots” plaguing parts of the country.
The major network provider is set to become the UK’s first to launch such a service after partnering with Elon Musk’s Starlink.
The new offering, called O2 Satellite, will launch in the first half of 2026.
It’ll initially offer messaging and data.
There are plans for “further improvements” to follow, eventually allowing calls.
Virgin Media O2 says it aims to bring landmass coverage in the UK to more than 95 per cent of the country in the 12 months following launch.
BILL BLOW
How O2 customers can avoid £30 bill rise and cancel for free
WAY TO GO-2!
O2 gives out major mobile data boost to millions of customers at no extra cost
Musk‘s Starlink is the world’s biggest satellite internet constellation with more than 650 satellites in low-Earth orbit for mobile.
The firm has already teamed up with networks in other countries including Australia and the US.
“Starlink is a clear leader in this space, operating the world’s most advanced satellite constellation, which makes it the right partner to complement our existing coverage and support Virgin Media O2’s ambition to deliver reliable mobile connectivity across the UK,” said Lutz Schüler, CEO of Virgin Media O2.
But O2 Satellite won’t be free.
There will be a monthly fee for those who want to use it, BBC News reports.
Rival Vodafone has previously announced that it is working on bringing satellite connectivity to its customers.
Boss Margherita Della Valle made a call using the tech to an engineer in a remote mountain region of Wales “which had never had a phone signal” back in January.
The firm – which recently merged with Three – invested in AST SpaceMobile in 2018.
But it only has six satellites currently in orbit, with plans to have between 45 and 60 in orbit by 2026.
Speaking of the O2 announcement, Telecoms Minister Liz Lloyd said: “This partnership demonstrates exactly how private sector innovation can deliver real benefits for people across the UK, supporting our mission to drive growth and ensure no community is left behind.
“Whether you’re running a farm in Cumbria or hiking in the Cairngorms, you’ll soon have the peace of mind that comes with reliable coverage.”
