Virgin Media down concerns are now tied to a date: Virgin Media O2 will start switching off its 2G network in Summer 2029. The change sits inside its Mobile Transformation Plan. Most customers are expected to carry on without action, but some businesses and connected devices will not.
Jeanie York and £700m
Jeanie York, the Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2, said the company is investing £700m this year to transform its mobile network. “We’re investing £700m this year to transform our mobile network and ensure it can keep pace with growing consumer demand.”
She also said: “As we look to the future, we’ll be switching off the old 2G network so we can double down on providing all customers with the reliable and efficient 4G and 5G mobile services they expect.” The practical takeaway is simple for households and many phone users. The burden shifts to older equipment and business systems, not to every handset on the network.
Virgin Media O2 2G switch-off
Virgin Media O2 recently joined other mobile network operators in signing a voluntary government-led 2G Switch-off charter. It completed its 3G switch off in late 2025. Earlier this year, it became the first UK mobile network to launch a direct-to-device satellite service, and O2 Satellite is available now.
The company says the 2G network carries less than 0.5% of all data on its mobile network. It also says 2G already is closed for international roaming. That leaves a narrow slice of traffic on a network layer that still uses more than 10% of total cell site energy consumption, while 4G and 5G networks are 10 times more efficient than older 2G equipment.
O2 Business and IoT devices
The affected users include O2 Business customers and customers of giffgaff, Tesco Mobile and Sky Mobile that use the Virgin Media O2 network. Organizations using IoT devices on that network also need to act before summer 2029. York said: “While most customers won’t need to take any action at all, some businesses might need to start planning for this now.”
Virgin Media O2 said it will communicate with customers directly and support them before the switch-off takes place. For people and businesses still relying on 2G hardware, the real task is equipment review, not waiting for the cutoff date to arrive.
