02 February 2026
O2 (Virgin Media) has announced the activation of its next-generation 5G Standalone (5GSA) network in five key towns in Dorset, England—Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester, Swanage, and Christchurch. 
This rollout expands the operator’s 5GSA coverage to over 500 UK locations, covering approximately 70% of the population (around 49 million people).
The 5GSA network, part of O2’s broader £700 million Mobile Transformation Plan, first launched in February 2024. The company aims for at least 90% outdoor coverage in all new locations. Residents and businesses in the roughly 380,000 people living in these towns can now benefit from the ultra-low latency, higher speeds—especially on uploads—and improved reliability, security, network slicing, and support for IoT devices offered by 5GSA.
Unlike existing 5G networks that often rely on a Non-Standalone (NSA) approach dependent on older 4G infrastructure, the standalone version provides a fully end-to-end 5G experience, unlocking new possibilities for innovation and digital transformation.
Dr. Robert Joyce, O2’s Director of Mobile Access Engineering, stated: “Our new 5G Standalone network is now live in Dorset, offering a significant upgrade for local communities and businesses. We’re committed to continually improving our network to provide a more reliable, future-proofed connectivity experience and to pave the way for exciting innovations ahead.”
