Virgin Media O2 has switched on O2 Satellite, a service that uses SpaceX’s Starlink constellation to deliver mobile data and text messaging in areas of the UK where traditional cellular coverage does not exist.
The launch makes O2 the first mobile operator in the UK and Europe to offer satellite-powered data services, following Ofcom’s approval of the UK’s first licence for satellite-to-smartphone connectivity earlier this year.
O2 Satellite runs on Starlink’s Direct to Cell technology, which uses more than 650 low-Earth-orbit satellites to transmit signals directly to standard 4G-capable handsets using O2’s own licensed mobile spectrum rather than requiring specialist hardware.
The service pushes O2’s UK landmass coverage from 89% to 95%, adding connectivity across an area roughly two thirds the size of Wales that previously had no mobile signal on any network and no viable path to terrestrial infrastructure.
Customers connect automatically when they move beyond the reach of standard mobile towers, with no app download or manual switching required, placing it closer in function to T-Mobile’s T-Satellite service in the United States than traditional satellite phone products.
At launch, O2 Satellite supports text messages and data access across a defined set of apps including WhatsApp, Messenger, Google Maps, AllTrails, and BBC Weather, covering the core communication and navigation needs most relevant to users in remote or rural locations.
Device support and pricing
The service currently works on Samsung Galaxy S25 devices, specifically the standard S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, and S25 Edge, with broader manufacturer and device support confirmed as a near-term priority as the platform expands. There’s also support for the new Galaxy S26 series, including the Galaxy S26 Ultra with its fancy new privacy display.
Voice calls over traditional cellular are not supported at launch, though WhatsApp calls and Messenger audio function through the data connection, giving users internet-based voice options in areas where standard calls would otherwise be impossible.
O2 Satellite sits within a wider industry shift toward hybrid satellite and terrestrial mobile networks, with Vodafone separately testing direct-to-device connectivity in the UK through a partnership with AST SpaceMobile, which operates a smaller constellation than Starlink.
The service is available now as a £3 per month Bolt On for all O2 Pay Monthly customers, with Ultimate Plan subscribers set to receive it at no extra cost in the coming weeks.
