Virgin Media O2 UK Open Manchester HQ After Broadband and Mobile Boost

Network provider Virgin Media and O2 (VMO2) has today highlight how it’s making a “major investment” in the Manchester region through investments in its fibre optic broadband and 5G mobile networks, as well as the opening of a new multi-million-pound North West HQ building on John Dalton Street (just off Deansgate).

The new office in central Manchester will be home to approximately 1,100 staff, including customer service teams. This forms part of a 10-year agreement with the ‘Island’ building to take around 50% of the new site and is thus set to become their new HQ after VMO2’s existing lease at its Wythenshawe office comes to an end in early 2026. The ‘Island’ site is said to be a “net zero carbon workspace being developed by joint venture partners HBD (part of Henry Boot plc) and [the] Greater Manchester Pensions Fund“.

In recent years, the operator has also invested more than £100 million to expand its fixed broadband network in the region, with nearly 1 million homes and businesses in Greater Manchester now able to benefit from its gigabit speed network services (it’s unclear if that figure also includes some of nexfibre’s funding).

Over the past 12 months, O2 has also upgraded its 4G and 5G mobile broadband network at 65 sites across Greater Manchester (this also includes some small cell deployments in the busy city centre). This is said to be benefitting people with stronger signals and faster data speeds in more than 14,000 postcodes across the area.

Rob Orr, Chief Operating Officer at VMO2, said:

“Manchester is a thriving hub for innovation and creativity, and we’re proud to deepen our connection to the region with this significant investment. Our new North West HQ at Island will provide a modern, sustainable space for our people to collaborate and deliver for customers, while our continued upgrades to mobile and broadband networks ensure Greater Manchester remains at the forefront of digital progress. These investments reflect our long-term vision to support local communities, power the digital economy, and create a future-ready network for everyone.”