Virgin Media O2’s new satellite-to-mobile service with Starlink comes as Ofcom grants the operator temporary E band access for UK gateways
Virgin Media O2 has signed a multi-year partnership with Starlink Direct to Cell to expand mobile coverage into rural and remote areas of the UK using low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The move is all the more interesting given EE had meant to have been discussing similar with Starlink for at least a year and more likely 18 months.
The new service, branded O2 Satellite, will begin offering messaging and data connectivity in the first half of 2026, with full rollout expected within 12 months of launch. It will automatically switch to satellite when users move out of terrestrial coverage, extending the operator’s reach to more than 95% of UK landmass.
The operator is the first in the UK to use Starlink’s satellite-to-mobile network, which currently comprises more than 650 satellites capable of connectivity straight to devices using a portion of O2’s licensed mobile spectrum. Virgin Media O2 said the service would give customers “reassurance and peace of mind when in remote areas”. The operator is already using Starlink’s broadband satellite constellation to accelerate its Shared Rural Network (SRN) rollout.
CEO Lutz Schüler added: “Starlink is a clear leader in this space, operating the world’s most advanced satellite constellation, which makes it the right partner to complement our existing coverage and support Virgin Media O2’s ambition to deliver reliable mobile connectivity across the UK.”
One byproduct of offering the service is that operators can open it to customers on their competitor’s networks and T-Mobile US, KDDI and One New Zealand have already done this in various ways. Provided a customer has an unlocked phone with eSIM capability, it is suddenly an interesting option.
E Band for satellite
The announcement follows Ofcom’s decision this week to grant Starlink temporary licences to operate gateway earth stations in the 71–76 GHz and 81–86 GHz E band at three UK sites – Morn Hill in Hampshire, Wherstead in Suffolk, and Woodwalton in Cambridgeshire. The gateways form part of Starlink’s non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) network, linking the satellite constellation to terrestrial internet infrastructure.
Ofcom said the authorisations, which expire on 31 December 2028, would help alleviate capacity constraints and improve service quality for UK users. The regulator noted that the E band, traditionally used for fixed wireless links, offers “high capacity and low latency” connections suitable for newer satellite technologies.
To protect other spectrum users, Ofcom has introduced coordination zones of up to 25 km around each gateway and applied strict technical limits to prevent interference with fixed wireless and passive Earth observation services in adjacent bands.
While the E band authorisations are temporary, Ofcom said it intends to consult on a long-term licensing framework for satellite gateways after the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27) and that the current arrangement “does not prejudge” the outcome. Still, with the licences running until the end of 2028 – and with Starlink now firmly embedded in UK infrastructure plans through its deal with Virgin Media O2 – it seems clear where the trajectory is heading.
