VMED O2 UK Limited, trading as Virgin Media O2, is a British mass media and telecommunications company based in London, England. The company was formed in June 2021 as a 50:50 joint venture between Liberty Global and Telefónica through the merger of their respective Virgin Media and O2 UK businesses.
It is one of the largest entertainment and telecommunications operators in the United Kingdom, with around 47 million customers in 2021.
As of December 2022, Virgin Media and O2 UK have separate consumer websites and brandings. They are after different markets. Virgin Media is focusing on broadband, TV and phone services while O2 is focusing on mobile. They have introduced their joint venture 'Volt', where consumers get rewarded for having both an O2 Pay Monthly plan with Virgin Media broadband. Notice to cancel a mobile virtual network operator deal previously formed between Virgin Mobile and Vodafone (made prior to the Virgin and O2 merger) was given in the company's Q2 2021 financial results, and was completed in 2022.
On 11th January 2023, Virgin Media O2 announced that they will discontinue Virgin Mobile and move customers to O2. They believe they will complete the migration by the end of the year.
On 24 July 2023, it was announced that Virgin Media O2 was reducing roles of up to 2,000 members of staff by the end of 2023.
In August, Virgin Mobile closed down for new and upgrading customers redirecting users to O2 or Giffgaff.
In September 2023, it was announced Virgin Media O2 had acquired the UK-regional broadband business, Upp.
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2021 establishments in England
British companies established in 2021
Mass media companies established in 2021
Telecommunications companies established in 2021
British brands
British subsidiaries of foreign companies
Cable television companies of the United Kingdom
Companies based in London
Joint ventures
Liberty Global
Mobile phone companies of the United Kingdom
O2 (UK) Telecommunications companies of the United Kingdom Telefónica Television networks in the United Kingdom Virgin Media Virgin Media O2