The service helps textual content messaging and information throughout key apps, bosses say.
Virgin Media gives ideas for storing the Hub router
Massive numbers of cellular customers will quickly be capable to ship messages from Britain’s most distant magnificence spots – however it’s going to price them an additional £3 a month.
In a landmark transfer, Virgin Media O2 has switched on Europe’s first satellite-to-smartphone information service, promising to raise its protection of the UK landmass from 89% to 95%. The brand new ‘O2 Satellite tv for pc’ service makes use of SpaceX’s Starlink community – the brainchild of billionaire Elon Musk – to beam sign on to extraordinary handsets when there is no such thing as a conventional cellular protection.
The corporate says the increase is equal to including protection throughout an space round two-thirds the dimensions of Wales.
At launch, the service helps textual content messaging and information throughout key apps (Picture: Getty) Tech information, evaluations and newest devices plus chosen gives and competitions Subscribe Invalid electronic mail
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At launch, the service helps textual content messaging and information throughout apps together with WhatsApp, Fb Messenger and Google Maps. It should initially work on Samsung’s newest Galaxy S25 gadgets, with extra handsets to comply with.
It’s out there as a £3-a-month bolt-on for O2 pay-monthly clients and will likely be included at no additional price for Final Plan customers.
Lutz Schüler, chief government of Virgin Media O2, mentioned: “This can be a defining second for UK cellular connectivity and an announcement of our intent to maintain innovating and guarantee our clients can keep linked irrespective of the place they’re. By launching O2 Satellite tv for pc, we’ve turn out to be the primary operator in Europe to launch a space-based cellular information service that, in a single day, has introduced new cellular protection to an space round two thirds the dimensions of Wales for the primary time.”
Which areas will profit?
Virgin Media O2 has not printed an in depth postcode map of the brand new satellite tv for pc footprint. Nevertheless, the uplift from 89% to 95% landmass protection suggests the largest positive aspects will likely be in:
- Distant elements of the Scottish Highlands
- Rural mid-Wales
- Nationwide parks such because the Lake District and Snowdonia
- Remoted coastal stretches in Cornwall, Devon and elements of East Anglia
- Offshore and crusing routes
Briefly, areas beforehand classed as cellular ‘not-spots’ – notably rural, mountainous and coastal areas – stand to learn most.
The service additionally acts as a resilience back-up within the uncommon occasion of a whole native community outage.
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Battle of the networks
The transfer intensifies the expertise arms race between Britain’s cellular giants. Rival Vodafone made the primary ever video name over satellite tv for pc from an space with no terrestrial protection in January 2025 and is planning a full satellite-to-mobile launch with its companion AST SpaceMobile.
In the meantime, within the US, T-Cell launched an analogous satellite-to-cell service final 12 months costing round $10 a month. The rollout follows approval from Ofcom for the UK’s first licence overlaying satellite-to-smartphone providers.
Baroness Lloyd, Minister for the Digital Economic system, mentioned: “This can be a main achievement for the UK and demonstrates management in next-generation connectivity.
“Being the primary in Europe to launch direct-to-device satellite tv for pc information providers places the UK firmly on the forefront of cellular innovation. O2 Satellite tv for pc is a lift for progress and connectivity and a powerful sign of the UK’s management within the world digital financial system.”
For walkers, climbers and sailors, the promise is easy: no extra observing a clean sign bar if you most want it. However in contrast to conventional protection upgrades, this additional peace of thoughts will come at a worth – £36 a 12 months for many who need to assure they’ll ship a message from Britain’s wildest corners.
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