O2 switches on new 5G+ network across the Black Country & Birmingham
O2 has switched on its next-generation 5G+ network across the West Midlands.
People and businesses across the West Midlands can now access O2’s most advanced mobile network, following the launch of its 5G+ (standalone 5G) service.
The service has been switched on in 47 large towns and cities, 79 smaller towns and 597 rural villages in the region.
The upgrade means faster data speeds, lower latency and more consistent coverage – especially in busy urban areas and hard‑to‑reach rural locations.
It will come at no extra cost for customers with a compatible device.
Up to five million residents across five counties including Herefordshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, the West Midlands and Worcestershire, will be able to benefit from O2’s next-generation 5G+ network.
Unlike earlier versions of 5G that relied on 4G infrastructure, O2’s 5G+ standalone network is built on dedicated 5G technology.
This allows the network to handle more users at once, respond more quickly to demand, and deliver a more consistent experience in busy locations such as city centres, transport hubs and major events.
These upgrades form part of Virgin Media O2’s £700 million Mobile Transformation Plan, which will deliver another major upgrade to the company’s mobile network in 2026.
The investment will enhance reliability, capacity and coverage across the UK through new masts, small cells, 4G and 5G upgrades, automation and new spectrum deployment.
Professor Robert Joyce, Director of Mobile Access Engineering at O2, said: “From the biggest cities to regional towns and rural communities, this upgrade will help people in Birmingham, Coventry and across the Black Country to stay connected wherever they live, work or travel.
“Combined with investment as part of our Mobile Transformation Plan, O2 is upgrading connectivity across the country and ensuring customers get a faster, more reliable mobile experience.”
O2’s rollout across The West Midlands includes
- Birmingham
- Coventry
- Cannock
- Dudley
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Solihull
- Stratford-Upon-Avon
- Royal Leamington Spa
- Rugby
- Warwick
- Wolverhampton
- West Bromwich
Full details available on the O2 website here: https://www.o2.co.uk/5g-plus
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