Thu, 30 Oct 2025

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 First UK phones to get satellite connectivity in signal blackspots announced

Virgin Media O2 has partnered with Elon Musk firm Starlink to offer the service.

* Virgin Media O2 will offer UK customers automatic connectivity via satellite in places without phone signal with its new service, O2 Satellite.
* The service is set to launch in the first half of 2026 and will be an optional extra for a monthly fee.
* It will allow enabled smartphones to automatically switch to satellite coverage in areas where there is no terrestrial signal.
* Initially, the service will only support messaging, maps, and location apps, but not phone calls.
* O2 plans to trial this before launch and also test making calls via WhatsApp.
* The satellites will act like "phone masts in the sky" and can cover rural areas and places with poor connectivity.
* The move follows a partnership between Virgin Media O2 and Elon Musk's Starlink satellite business.
* Vodafone has previously used similar technology to make a live video call via satellite, but has not yet announced plans to roll out the service to customers.
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