Virgin Media O2 (VMO) has taken a significant step towards enhancing connectivity for rural businesses in the UK, unveiling a dual strategy of 4G network upgrades and the deployment of new 5G infrastructure across 55,000 rural postcodes. This move comes ahead of the festive shopping season, with VMO aiming to alleviate common connectivity challenges faced by small enterprises, including facilitating card and online payments during the crucial Christmas period.
Driving Economic Growth
The upgrades, strategically timed for the festive season, align with economic modeling by Cebr (Centre for Economics and Business Research) for Virgin Media O2. The research suggests that improving rural connectivity could contribute an additional GBP 16.3 billion to the UK economy and generate 108,000 new jobs. VMO’s initiative is poised not only to address immediate connectivity issues but also to foster long-term economic growth in rural areas.
Closing the Digital Divide
Virgin Media O2 recognizes the digital divide between urban and rural regions, particularly impacting sales during festive seasons. The connectivity challenges faced by rural shoppers, including difficulties in making card or contactless payments (42%), locating businesses online (45%), and limited online purchase options (23%), underscore the necessity for robust network upgrades.
Significant Network Enhancements
In the past year, VMO has rolled out high-speed 5G networks to over 30,000 rural areas and bolstered its 4G network across more than 34,245 postcodes in the countryside. These upgrades not only improve network capacity but also address the specific connectivity needs of rural communities. As part of the UK Government’s Shared Rural Network (SRN) program, VMO continues to make strides, expanding its 4G network to 50 additional sites and securing planning consent for work at 100 more sites.
