After launching their first commercial 5G Standalone (SA) based mobile broadband network for consumers in February 2024 (here), mobile operator O2 (Virgin Media) has today expanded the service’s availability to include large enterprise, public sector, and SME (business) customers on eligible tariffs.
Just to recap. 5GSA networks are pure end-to-end 5G that can deliver ultra-low latency times, greater energy efficiency, better speeds (particularly uploads), network slicing, improved support for IoT devices, support for Voice over New Radio (VoNR or Vo5G) and increased reliability and security etc. Most existing 5G networks use a Non-Standalone (NSA) approach, which is hobbled by being partly reliant upon older and slower 4G infrastructure.
The move today means that “business customers in 500 towns and cities across the UK” will now be able to access this major upgrade (up from c.300 in Nov 2024), although we should caveat that related availability within those locations is usually limited. But you can normally find it in busy parts of Manchester, Liverpool, London, Lincoln, Birmingham, Sheffield, Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, York, Belfast, Cardiff, Nottingham and Slough etc.
Jo Bertram, MD of Business and Wholesale at VMO2, said:
“The switch on of our next-generation 5G Standalone network will make reliable, fast, on-demand connectivity a reality for our business customers. For the UK to capitalise on the benefits AI and the latest tech developments bring, high-quality network infrastructure is essential. Our 5G Standalone network provides a foundation for new services like Private Networks and Network Slicing, meeting the connectivity needs of businesses today and in the future.”
Sadly, the announcement doesn’t include any details on either packages or prices, but businesses will need a compatible device in order to benefit from this service.
UPDATE 9:39am
O2 has informed us of some additional details, which is that 5G Standalone is available to business customers on the ‘Unlimited’ and ‘Sharer’ tariffs, inclusive of aggregated tariffs, using compatible devices and SIMs. Basically, it’s no extra charge for business customers on those tariffs.