- Virgin Media O2 mmWave Spectrum Trial Achieves Record Speed of 4Gbps on a Single Device
- High-frequency spectrum improves mobile performance in dense urban and commercial areas
- More than 2,000 small cells support high-speed 5G coverage in busy areas
Virgin Media O2 has confirmed the acquisition of new millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum following the latest Ofcom auction, marking a £13 million investment to expand its high-capacity 5G coverage.
The operator intends to deploy the technology in the UK’s busiest urban and commercial areas, focusing on airports, train stations, arenas and large urban centers where network demand peaks.
The purchase of Virgin Media O2 secures around a third of the total available spectrum, allowing the company to handle significant mobile traffic as data demand continues to rise.
Expansion of 5G high-speed coverage
The new spectrum, comprising 800 MHz in the 26 GHz band and 1,000 MHz in the 40 GHz band, will play a key role in improving capacity and reliability in high-density environments.
Ofcom says these frequencies have been allocated to 68 city areas with the highest mobile data usage, including London, Cardiff, Belfast and Glasgow.
The investment builds on Virgin Media O2’s existing standalone 5G footprint, the largest of its kind in the UK, and is part of its £700m mobile transformation plan for 2025.
The operator said the new high-frequency waves will strengthen its mobile infrastructure and also support new data-intensive applications that require both speed and low latency.
“This new investment… fits perfectly with our strategy to transform our mobile network and provide our customers with a trustworthy and reliable mobile connectivity experience, wherever they are,” said Lutz Schüler, CEO of Virgin Media O2.
Prior to the acquisition, Virgin Media O2 conducted a live test of the mmWave technology under a trial license.
During the trial, the company recorded a peak speed of 4Gbps on a single device, a record for its network.
Although there are currently only a limited number of compatible devices in the UK market, Virgin Media O2 expects wider adoption of the hardware to align with its rollout schedule.
The company’s expanded deployment of more than 2,000 small cells is also expected to complement mmWave coverage.
These compact installations, typically mounted on streetlights and buildings, enable dense, high-capacity 5G networks in busy areas where traditional base stations struggle to maintain performance.
Virgin Media O2’s approach appears practical rather than headline-driven, as mmWave technology offers exceptional speed but operates over shorter ranges, making large-scale coverage more complex and expensive.
Its use will likely remain focused on dense urban areas and critical transportation hubs.
By combining the new spectrum with existing infrastructure, including the recently launched ‘Giga Site’ in Paddington, capable of delivering speeds in excess of 10Gbps, the company is aiming for incremental, targeted improvements rather than nationwide upgrades.
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