Virgin Media has agreed a five-year MVNO deal with Vodafone UK to bring innovative new services, including 5G, to more than 3 million mobile customers.
Vodafone will supply wholesale mobile network services, including both voice and data, to Virgin Mobile and Virgin Media Business. Virgin Media will have access to Vodafone’s current services and future technologies, such as Vodafone’s 5G network.
The new Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) agreement with Vodafone runs until 2026. Virgin Media’s current MVNO agreement with BT Enterprise, which has been in place since January 2017, will come to an end in late 2021. Virgin Mobile 5G services are set to launch on the Vodafone network before the transition takes place.
Lutz Schuler, CEO of Virgin Media, said: “This agreement with Vodafone will bring a host of benefits and experiences to our customers, including 5G services in the near future.”
Nick Jeffery, Vodafone UK CEO, said: “Virgin has recognised the huge investments we’ve made, and continue to make, in building the UK’s best mobile network and our role in challenging the market with new commercial services.”
Virgin Mobile said existing customers will not need to change their SIM cards as part of this agreement.