O2 UK Expand 5G Standalone Mobile Broadband Network to Greater Manchester

Mobile operator O2 (Virgin Media) has today announced that they’ve switched-on their next-generation 5G Standalone (5GSA) mobile broadband network in the Greater Manchester area. The operator’s 5GSA network is now live across a total of more than 500 locations (70% of the UK’s population, or c.49 million people).

Just to recap. 5GSA networks are pure end-to-end 5G that can deliver ultra-low latency times, greater energy efficiency, better speeds (particularly uploads), network slicing, improved support for IoT devices, increased reliability and security etc. Existing 5G networks often use a Non-Standalone (NSA) approach, which is hobbled by being partly reliant upon older and slower 4G infrastructure.

O2’s 5GSA rollout first began in February 2024 (here) and usually aims to reach “at least 90% outdoor coverage” in every location they reach. The same should hold true for Manchester, where more than 589,000 residents across the city will be able to benefit from the 5GSA network. The rollout includes the city of Manchester and key towns across Greater Manchester, including Bolton, Wigan, Rochdale, Oldham and Bury.

Professor Robert Joyce, Director of Mobile Access Engineering at O2, said: “Our new 5G Standalone network is now live in Manchester and surrounding towns, providing an impressive upgrade for local people and businesses and creating new opportunities in and around the city. We are investing every single day to improve our mobile network and provide a more reliable experience for our customers, future-proofing our connectivity and paving the way for exciting innovations that lie ahead.”