Virgin Media O2 has upgraded mobile connectivity along 590 miles of motorways and A roads, aiming to improve navigation, charging access and breakdown support for drivers, particularly those running electric vehicles.
Coverage has been strengthened on key corridors including the M1, M4, M6 and Scotland’s M8, with the operator delivering a 4G boost to 311 sites and rolling out 338 new 5G locations. The work forms part of the company’s £700 million mobile transformation plan.
Jeanie York, chief technology officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “Connectivity underpins a huge part of the driving experience today, but particularly for EVs… we’re helping make every journey safer and more reliable.”
The improvements coincide with a national expansion of public charging infrastructure from Believ, the Liberty Global-backed CPO installing up to 30,000 new charge points. Many of these locations align with areas where O2 has strengthened mobile coverage, enabling more reliable access to maps, charger locations, payment apps and live updates.
New polling highlights the growing importance of connectivity for EV drivers: 76% cite “signal anxiety” as their top concern — higher than the 68% who worry about range.
Believ CEO Guy Bartlett said the collaboration shows “private industry coming together with the shared purpose of helping drivers make a seamless transition to electric vehicles”.
As signal strengthens, so do the benefits of connected driving. Consult FleetWise's 100 Trusted Brands list where names like Geotab and Quartix showcase the best of telematics.