The service helps textual content messaging and knowledge throughout key apps, bosses say.
Virgin Media gives suggestions for storing the Hub router
Giant numbers of cellular customers will quickly have the ability 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 knowledge service, promising to carry 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 abnormal handsets when there isn’t any 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 knowledge throughout key apps (Picture: Getty) Tech information, critiques and newest devices plus chosen gives and competitions Subscribe Invalid electronic mail
We use your sign-up to offer content material in methods you have consented to and to enhance our understanding of you. This may increasingly embrace adverts from us and third events primarily based on our understanding. You may unsubscribe at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage
At launch, the service helps textual content messaging and knowledge throughout apps together with WhatsApp, Fb Messenger and Google Maps. It can 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 prospects and will probably be included at no further price for Final Plan customers.
Lutz Schüler, chief government of Virgin Media O2, mentioned: “It is a defining second for UK cellular connectivity and a press release of our intent to maintain innovating and guarantee our prospects 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 knowledge 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 revealed 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 most important positive factors will probably 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 profit most.
The service additionally acts as a resilience back-up within the uncommon occasion of an entire native community outage.
Associated articles
Battle of the networks
The transfer intensifies the know-how 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 associate AST SpaceMobile.
In the meantime, within the US, T-Cell launched an analogous satellite-to-cell service final yr costing round $10 a month. The rollout follows approval from Ofcom for the UK’s first licence masking satellite-to-smartphone companies.
Baroness Lloyd, Minister for the Digital Financial system, mentioned: “It is 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 knowledge companies places the UK firmly on the forefront of cellular innovation. O2 Satellite tv for pc is a lift for development and connectivity and a powerful sign of the UK’s management within the world digital economic system.”
For walkers, climbers and sailors, the promise is straightforward: no extra looking at a clean sign bar while you most want it. However in contrast to conventional protection upgrades, this further peace of thoughts will come at a value – £36 a yr for individuals who wish to assure they’ll ship a message from Britain’s wildest corners.
Guarantee our newest headlines at all times seem on the high of your Google Search by making us a Most popular Supply. Click on right here to activate or add us as your Most popular Supply in your Google search settings.
Leave a Reply