{"id":45669,"date":"2026-07-24T08:10:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T07:10:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/?p=45669"},"modified":"2026-07-24T09:46:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T08:46:27","slug":"virgin-media-o2-uk-suffers-broadband-decline-as-fttp-footprint-hits-9-million-premises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/07\/virgin-media-o2-uk-suffers-broadband-decline-as-fttp-footprint-hits-9-million-premises.html","title":{"rendered":"Virgin Media O2 UK Suffers Broadband Customer Decline as FTTP Footprint Hits 9M Premises"},"content":{"rendered":"

The latest Q2 2026 results from network operators Virgin Media<\/a> and O2<\/a> (VMO2) have today reported a fall in consumer broadband customers of -28,200 to total 5,417,900 (vs -5.3k in Q1), while their mobile base declined slightly to total 46.428m (down from 46.44m) and outdoor 5G<\/a>+ (5GSA) population coverage remains at 86%.<\/p>\n

The results confirm that Virgin Media<\/a> and nexfibre<\/a>’s combined UK broadband network now reaches a total of 18,811,600 Homes Serviceable<\/strong> (up slightly from 18,796,600 in Q1). The results also reveal that a total of 9 million Virgin Media<\/a> and nexfibre<\/a> premises (footprint) are now covered by full fibre (FTTP<\/a>) lines – using XGS-PON and RFOG technology, which is up from nearly 8.7m in Q1.<\/p>\n

NOTE:<\/strong> Virgin Media and giffgaff<\/a> are currently the only major retail ISPs on nexfibre<\/a>\u2019s open access full fibre network and both share some of the same parentage.<\/div>\n

As usual most of the above change is coming from Virgin Media’s ongoing efforts to upgrade existing Hybrid Fibre Coax<\/strong> (HFC) areas to FTTP<\/a>, which is currently in the process of being boosted by a complementary upgrade programme via nexfibre as part of the Netomnia<\/a> deal (here<\/a>). Nexfibre’s network, by itself, currently still accounts for around 2.6+ million FTTP<\/a> premises.<\/p>\n

Sadly Virgin Media has long stopped giving any solid figures for their Pay TV (video) base, but we do get these.<\/p>\n

VMO2 Q2 2026 UK Customer (Connection) Figures<\/strong><\/span>
\n5,417,900 Consumer Broadband \u2013 (up\/down from 5,446,100 in Q1)
\n46,428,700 Mobile inc. Wholesale \u2013 (up\/down from 46,446,500)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

On the financial front, VMO2 reported total revenue of \u00a32,398.9m in Q2 2026, which is up from \u00a32,390.1m last quarter.<\/p>\n

Lutz Sch\u00fcler, CEO of VMO2, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Our performance in Q2 is in line with our full year guidance. It reflects the continued navigation of a highly-competitive market backdrop, a focus on execution and transformation in our three operating areas \u2013 consumer, B2B and wholesale \u2013 and a relentless commitment to improving customer experience and building strong foundations for future growth.<\/p>\n

Underpinned by significant investment, we are making good progress against our long-term strategy with a fibre footprint reaching 9 million premises; the largest 5G<\/a>+ network in the country; the expansion of innovative new services like O2<\/a> Satellite<\/a>; a new wholesale partnership; and a clear transformation of our customer service, with faster issue resolution and significantly lower complaint levels.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Once again it’s important to highlight how VMO2’s figures for broadband customers no longer include their fixed business base (started last quarter), so we’re now only able to count their consumer base in the total. Otherwise, there’s not a lot to report while we wait for the outcome of VMO2\/nexfibre’s acquisition of Netomnia<\/a>, although network construction and other revenue decreased 95.9% in the quarter, reflecting the expected reduction in low-margin nexfibre construction activity. Consumer fixed ARPU also decreased 4.6% to \u00a346.56.<\/p>\n

Headline Figures (Official Summary)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Customers<\/strong><\/p>\n