O2 UK extend 5G Standalone mobile broadband network across Derbyshire

Mobile operator O2 (Virgin Media) has this morning confirmed that they’ve switched-on their next-generation 5G Standalone (5G+) mobile broadband network across Derbyshire in England, which is said to reach more than 380,000 people in 368 towns and villages – delivering “faster speeds, better coverage and lower latency at no extra cost.”

The operator’s rollout of 5G+ first began in February 2024 (here) and aims to reach “at least 90% outdoor coverage” in every location they cover. The operator’s latest deployment across Derbyshire is currently said to benefit areas including Derby, Chesterfield, Long Eaton, Ilkeston, Swadlincote, Heanor, Buxton, Dronfield, Belper, Ripley, Matlock, Disley, Brookfield, South Normanton, Shirebrook, Staveley, Bolsover, Somercotes and Brimington (some of this went live a little while ago and is only now being confirmed).

The new 5G+ network is currently live across over 86% of the UK’s population. The technology offers a pure end-to-end 5G network 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. By comparison, early 5G networks used a Non-Standalone (NSA) approach, which was hobbled by being partly reliant upon older and slower 4G infrastructure.

Take note that Bakewell, which received 5G+ coverage in 2025, is not included in the 368 new locations announced. Otherwise, the new network is typically available to O2’s customers with compatible devices, although we still wish that mobile network operators would supply geographic coverage figures for their 5G+ network too. Population figures always sound good, but the reality is often very patchy.