It’s Official!
Virgin Media O2 launched on 1 June 2021. They are the corporate brand of the 50:50 joint venture between Liberty Global and Telefónica SA, and are one of the UK’s largest businesses combining the UK’s largest and most reliable mobile network with a broadband network offering the fastest widely-available broadband speeds.
Representing the biggest UK merger in a decade and the largest UK telecoms deal ever, the new joint venture starts at a time when connectivity has never been more critical and as the UK recovers and rebuilds from the global pandemic. New CEO Lutz Schüler sets out a vision to ‘upgrade the UK’ through investment in fibre and 5G infrastructure, innovation, and a seamless mix of the best products and services in the market.
Speaking at the launch of the new company, Lutz Schüler, CEO of Virgin Media O2, said:
“With the fastest broadband and most reliable mobile network in the UK today, Virgin Media O2 is the complete package.
“We are ready to shake up the market and be the competitor the country needs at a time when choice has never been more important. Through investment and innovation in cutting-edge infrastructure and future technology, we will connect more people to the things they love, support communities across the country, help businesses to grow, and power the UK economy.
“With no limit to our ambition, we’re here to upgrade the UK – and our mission starts today.”
The Future of Connectivity
As connectivity powers the nation through the pandemic and into the future, Virgin Media O2 will bring together next-generation gigabit broadband and 5G services while expanding its network reach across the country. This includes delivering gigabit broadband speeds across the entire network footprint by the end of 2021. the company will continue to cement its leadership status in reliability and quality mobile coverage by utilising its increased spectrum holding and bringing 5G services to new areas across the nation – including around 200 towns and cities by the end of June.
The company has committed to invest at least £10bn over the next 5 years in the UK. This investment will see the business contribute even more to the Government’s connectivity targets – upgrading infrastructure in more parts of the country and bringing greater choice and competition to many areas that need it most.
More for You
Business customers are set to benefit from a richer suite of products and collective expertise from Virgin Media O2 Business. This includes a variety of managed connectivity services and flexible working capabilities, security, data insight, 5G private networks and cloud solutions. It comes as many organisations undergo a permanent shift to hybrid working models, playing a central role in the expected economic ramp up over the coming year.
Virgin Media O2 will also put customer service at the heart of its offerings with increased investment in digital tools and more customer care roles in the UK.
Good for the World
Virgin Media O2 is committed to using the power of connectivity to supercharge communities across the UK, taking action to close the digital divide and helping to build an inclusive, resilient, and low carbon economy. As part of this commitment, the business confirmed its ambition to achieve net zero carbon operations (scopes 1 & 2) by the end of 2025.
