Virgin Media O2 has announced a significant step forward in its mobile network capabilities with the acquisition of new millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum, following Ofcom’s recent auction. This investment, valued at £13 million, secures 800MHz in the 26GHz band and 1,000MHz in the 40GHz band, positioning the operator to enhance its high-capacity 5G coverage in some of the UK’s busiest urban and commercial areas. The company aims to deploy this new spectrum in key locations such as airports, train stations, arenas, and major city centres, where mobile data demand is highest.

The mmWave spectrum acquisition represents roughly a third of the total available spectrum from the auction, underlining Virgin Media O2’s ambition to manage increasing mobile traffic while delivering fast, reliable connectivity. This development complements the company’s broader £700 million Mobile Transformation Plan for 2025, which focuses on expanding and future-proofing its 5G network infrastructure across the UK. These high-frequency airwaves are particularly suited for dense environments, enhancing network capacity and reliability where traditional communications infrastructure can struggle.

Prior to the spectrum acquisition, Virgin Media O2 conducted a successful trial of the mmWave technology under a temporary licence, reaching a record-breaking 4Gbps peak speed to a single device. While the availability of compatible devices with mmWave support remains limited in the UK market, Virgin Media O2 anticipates wider hardware adoption will coincide with its rollout plans, thereby maximising the impact of this ultra-fast connectivity. The company is also leveraging its extensive deployment of over 2,000 small cells—compact base stations typically installed on lampposts and buildings—to facilitate dense, high-capacity 5G coverage in crowded locations.

This strategic approach reflects a practical stance on mmWave technology's challenges: despite its exceptional speed capabilities, mmWave signals operate over shorter ranges and can be more costly to cover widely. Virgin Media O2 appears to be prioritising focused enhancements in high-demand areas, such as transport hubs and major event venues, rather than attempting broad nationwide mmWave coverage. This is supported by their recent activation of a “Giga Site” in Paddington, London, which combines low, mid, and high-band spectrum using Nokia’s dual-band massive MIMO technology. This site, capable of delivering more than 10Gbps throughput and supporting up to 2,000 simultaneous HD video streams, exemplifies the network’s ability to provide both broad coverage and ultra-fast speeds in targeted locations.

Virgin Media O2’s recent network milestones extend beyond mobile spectrum acquisition. The company has completed a nationwide upgrade of its broadband infrastructure, delivering average download speeds of 1,130Mbps—22 times faster than the national average and nearly two-thirds of the Government’s broadband speed ambitions, achieved four years ahead of schedule. This gigabit-speed network significantly strengthens Virgin Media O2’s position in the UK market, with a footprint more than twice the size of its nearest competitor. Such advancements lay the groundwork for future innovations including immersive services like the metaverse and cloud gaming, which demand high-capacity, low-latency networks.

The company has also trialled cutting-edge fibre optic technology capable of producing symmetrical data speeds of up to 400Gbps, highlighting its commitment to supporting increasing digital consumption driven by video streaming, remote working, and other bandwidth-intensive applications.

Taken together, Virgin Media O2’s investments in mmWave spectrum, small cell infrastructure, next-generation fibre optics, and national gigabit upgrades paint a comprehensive picture of a network evolving to meet the future demands of mobile and fixed connectivity. By focusing on high-density, high-demand environments with state-of-the-art technology, the operator is positioning itself to provide customers with trustworthy, reliable, and ultra-fast mobile experiences where they need it most.

📌 Reference Map:

Source: Noah Wire Services