5G boost for Oxfordshire amid £700 million UK O2 project

O2 has switched on its upgraded 5G+ standalone network across Oxford, Banbury, and Didcot as part of Virgin Media O2’s Mobile Transformation Plan.

Up to 450,000 residents in Oxfordshire, spanning 495 towns, villages, and hamlets, stand to benefit from improved speeds, greater reliability, and reduced latency after the next generation network was activated on Thursday, July 16.

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Professor Robert Joyce, director of mobile access engineering at O2, said: “Our upgraded 5G+ network is now available across Oxfordshire, bringing faster, more reliable connectivity to one of the UK’s leading centres for innovation, education, and tourism.

“Whether exploring the county’s historic attractions, commuting between towns, or working within Oxfordshire’s science and technology sector, people rely on mobile connectivity more than ever.

“Through our Mobile Transformation Plan, we’re continuing to invest in our network to deliver a better experience for customers, while building the digital infrastructure needed to support future innovation.”

A mast used for 5G mobile coverage (Image: O2)

The upgrade supports Oxfordshire’s academic institutions and growing science and technology sectors, allowing businesses, students, and educators to remain competitive and connected, says the company.

The O2 5G+ network covers Oxford, Banbury, Abingdon, Bicester, Witney, Didcot, Carterton, Kidlington, Henley-on-Thames, Thame, Wantage, and Farringdon.

The improved coverage also aims to support visitor connectivity during the busy summer season.

In addition, O2 say it will underpin ongoing innovation and support economic growth in a region already recognised for its contributions to science, technology, and research.

Virgin Media O2’s Mobile Transformation Plan includes upgrades to masts, small cells, 4G and 5G infrastructure, automation, and spectrum deployment.

O2 shop in Woolgate Centre in Witney (Image: O2)

The company’s 5G+ network now reaches more than 85 per cent of the UK population with a further major upgrade planned for 2026.

Customers in upgraded areas such as Oxfordshire can access the 5G+ network at no additional cost, provided they have a compatible device and plan and an up-to-date SIM.

Some users may need to switch to a digital eSIM.

All cities, towns, and villages included in Virgin Media O2’s 5G+ programme rollout now have at least 90 per cent 5G+ standalone outdoor coverage.

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This announcement comes after a number of recent attempts to improve mobile coverage across Oxfordshire and the surrounding areas.

In 2025 this included a scheme designed at harnessing street lighting to improve connectivity.

The plan saw small cell technology integrated into street lighting to transform urban infrastructure into a scalable, multi-operator wireless network.

The project was a collaboration between Cornerstone, a mobile infrastructure services company, Signify, a lighting company, and Dense Air, a neutral host platform provider.