Virgin Media O2 has announced a deal with Elon Musk’s Starlink to bring satellite-based connectivity to rural areas across the UK.
The deal will provide coverage in previous rural ‘not spots’ by automatically connecting phones via satellites when no standard mobile signal is available.
Scheduled to launch in the first half of 2026, the new service, O2 Satellite, will initially offer messaging, maps and location services, with further improvements, such as voice and video calls, to follow.
Virgin Media O2 has said the deal could see over 95% of the UK landmass covered within 12 months of launch.
The service will connect to Starlink’s network of around 650 satellites, a satellite-to-mobile constellation in low-Earth orbit (LEO), delivering connectivity directly to compatible devices using a portion of O2’s licensed mobile spectrum.
Lutz Schüler, CEO of Virgin Media O2, said Starlink was the “clear leader” to partner with by offering a satellite-enabled service and supporting its ambition...