From 1 June 2021, the UK’s favourite mobile network operator and the UK’s fastest major broadband provider will join forces. This is exciting news for our O2 customers. Virgin Media and O2 will be one of the biggest businesses in the UK, with 46 million+ broadband, mobile, phone and home subscribers and 18,700 employees. It is welcome statement of positivity for customers, communities, and businesses all over the country.
What does this Mean for Customers?
For now, nothing will change for our O2 customers and the O2 network service, billing and contractual agreements will remain exactly as they are. The merger can only mean better connectivity for customers, as well as bringing more choice and value. Virgin Media O2 is preparing to offer converged broadband, entertainment, and mobile services in one place later this year. Together, this enables us to supercharge businesses, both big and small to help the country get back on its feet.
A National Connectivity Champion
Chief executive Lutz Schueler, who formerly led Virgin Media, today said the merged company was the “complete package” as he vowed to shake up the UK telecoms market. “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,” he said. “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.” Schueler added that Virgin Media O2 would play a key role in upgrading the UK through new gigabyte broadband and 5G services, as well as expanding its existing network across the country.
The company has committed to investing at least £10bn in the UK over the next five years. Much of this will be focused on meeting the government’s connectivity targets. Ministers have pledged to roll out superfast connections and eliminate so-called signal ‘hot spots’ in rural areas as part of a major levelling up agenda. The firm said it will deliver gigabyte broadband speeds across its network by the end of the year and deploy fibre to millions of additional homes.
A Network of Opportunity
Furthermore, as they work towards becoming a national connectivity champion, Virgin Media O2 plans to create thousands of new jobs and apprenticeships along the way. “With the fastest broadband and most reliable mobile network in the UK today, Virgin Media O2 is the complete package,” said Lutz Schuler, chief executive of the merged company. Reports have said that the merger of their UK operations will bring 4,000 new jobs and up to 1,000 apprenticeships. This follows Virgin Media’s recent announcement to launch its “Essential Broadband” service this Autumn. The plan will support households facing financial difficulty and uncertainty by providing affordable broadband to those receiving Universal Credit.
This really is a very exciting time for mobile and connectivity.
Active Digital is proud to be a direct partner of O2 and as such, our customers can benefit from the billions which is being invested into making Virgin Media O2 a powerful force to be reckoned with. We can’t wait to see what happens next. To find our more, please contact one of the expert team at Active Digital using our live chat or call 01892 893000.
