Virgin Media O2 invests hundreds of millions to boost Scottish connectivity

London-headquartered Virgin Media O2 has today announced a number of network initiatives and major upgrades across Scotland. The announcement was marked by a visit from Business Minister Ivan McKee, who visited a dig site in Glasgow to follow the process of laying fibre cables to reach new homes in the area.

Virgin Media O2’s 5G coverage in Scotland now covers 58 towns and cities each with over 50 per cent population coverage including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Inverness and Perth. As part of this expansion, 37,000 postcodes across Scotland now have 5G coverage, with recent investment helping to expand the network by around a third in the last year alone.

These come as the company continues to invest more than £10bn pounds to upgrade the UK and drive forward the Scottish Government’s commitment to make Scotland a “truly digital nation”1.

With recent Virgin Media O2 research showing 84 per cent of Scots wouldn’t be able to access essential services like medical appointments without access to the internet and 85 per cent believing access to the internet is essential to living their life2, the company has pledged to further improve access to its next-generation services.

Since 2015, it has invested around £207m to expand its network and bring ultrafast broadband to more than 350,000 Scottish homes and businesses, and following upgrade works completed last year, all 1.2 million premises on its network – covering half of the population are now able to access gigabit broadband delivering speeds of 1.1Gbps.

Last year Virgin Media O2 announced its intention to upgrade its fixed network to full fibre to the premises (FTTP) by 2028; and just last month its shareholders, Liberty Global and Telefónica, alongside investment firm, InfraVia Capital Partners, announced a major investment of approximately £4.5bn with the creation of a new fibre joint venture.

Up to 7 million premises will be passed with a new wholesale full fibre network representing a significant commitment to the UK and a boost to the nation’s digital economy at a crucial time.

To minimise the environmental impact of its fibre rollout, the company has successfully trialled the use of recycled aggregate while working with Glasgow City Council to expand its broadband network in Cranhill, Glasgow. The success of the trial, which saw the sustainably sourced materials undergo on-site testing and monitoring, paves the way for more expansive use of recycled materials in future.

Business minister Ivan McKee, said: “Investment by Virgin Media O2 across gigabit-capable broadband, 4G and 5G mobile coverage is helping improve digital connectivity. This includes provision of 4G on a number of our Scottish 4G Infill programme sites and significant investment in 5G, with coverage added to more than 28,000 post codes over the past year, including in Edinburgh, Dundee, Inverness and Perth.

Colin Rae, head of build for Scotland at Virgin Media O2, said: “Virgin Media O2 is driving forward the Scottish Government’s aspiration to make the country a world-class digital nation, turning ambition into action through continued investment to expand our gigabit network, 4G upgrades and 5G rollout.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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