TIDMVOD
Vodafone Group Plc
06 November 2019
6 November 2019
VIRGIN MEDIA AND VODAFONE STRIKE NEW MOBILE DEAL
Virgin Media has agreed a five year deal with Vodafone UK to
bring innovative new services, including 5G, to more than three
million mobile customers and provide further flexibility to grow
its mobile operation.
The new Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) agreement, which
runs until 2026, will see Vodafone supply wholesale mobile network
services, including both voice and data, to Virgin Mobile and
Virgin Media Business. Virgin Media will have full access to all of
Vodafone's current services and future technologies, such as
Vodafone's expanding 5G network, enabling new product advancements
and benefits for its customers.
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, at which point Virgin Media's mobile offering will transition
to Vodafone. Virgin Mobile 5G services are set to launch on the
Vodafone network before the transition takes place.
Lutz Schüler, Virgin Media CEO, said: "This agreement with
Vodafone will bring a host of fantastic benefits and experiences to
our customers, including 5G services in the near future. Twenty
years ago Virgin Mobile became the world's first virtual operator
and this new agreement builds on that heritage. It will open up a
whole new world of opportunity for Virgin Media as we focus on
becoming the most recommended brand for customers and bring our
mobile and broadband connectivity closer together in one package
for one price."
He added: "We've worked with BT to provide mobile services for
many years and will continue to work together in a number of areas.
We want our customers to have a limitless experience - it's now the
right time to take a leap forward with Vodafone to grow further and
faster."
Nick Jeffery, Vodafone UK CEO, said: "We are delighted that
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. As a result,
they have chosen us to work with them in the next phase of their
development.
"This is an exciting deal between two great British brands. We
are combining our strong heritage in innovation to create a world
without limits for our customers through unlimited data offers and
5G."
As a 'full MVNO' Virgin Mobile has control over the products and
services it offers, which means existing customers will not need to
change their SIM cards as part of this agreement. Further details
on product offerings and network transition will be provided in due
course.
A complementary and extensive wholesale agreement has also been
struck between both parties in relation to the supply of network
services by Virgin Media Business to Vodafone.
- ends -
For further information:
Vodafone UK Media Relations Virgin Media Press Office
Tel: 01635 693 693 press@virginmedia.co.uk
@VodafoneUKComms Tel: 0333 000 2900
@VirginMediaCorp
About Vodafone UK
Vodafone UK connects people, businesses and devices to help our
customers benefit from digital innovation. Our services span
mobile, fixed line, broadband and the Internet of Things (IoT). We
employ around 11,000 people across the UK, and operate more than
400 retail stores nationwide.
Having made the UK's first mobile phone call and sent the first
text, Vodafone has a history as a tech pioneer. In 2018 we made the
UK's first live holographic call using 5G, and were first to start
carrying live 5G traffic from a site in Salford, Greater
Manchester.
Today we serve over 18 million mobile and fixed line customers
in the UK, with 4G network coverage at 99%. Our customers voted us
the UK's Best Mobile Network at the 2018 Trusted Reviews Awards for
the second year in a row. To help deliver Gigabit UK, we are
rolling out full fibre broadband across 12 towns and cities in
partnership with CityFibre, reaching one million homes and business
by 2021.
Our ReConnect programme is supporting women and men back into
work after a career break, our IoT technology is working to create
a low-carbon society, and our free Digital Parenting magazine is
helping families across the UK to navigate the online world safely.
For two years running, we have been named one of the UK's 25 Best
Big Companies to Work For by the Sunday Times, and a Top 100
Employer by Stonewall.
We are part of Vodafone Group, one of the world's largest
telecommunications companies, with mobile operations in 24
countries, partnerships with mobile networks in 42 more, and fixed
broadband operations in 19 markets. As of 30 June 2019, Vodafone
Group had approximately 640 million mobile customers, 21 million
fixed broadband customers and 14 million TV customers, including
all of the customers in Vodafone's joint ventures and
associates.
For more information about Vodafone UK, please visit:
www.vodafone.co.uk
About Virgin Media
Virgin Media offers four multi-award-winning services across the
UK and Ireland: broadband, TV, mobile phone and landline.
Our dedicated, ultrafast network delivers the fastest
widely-available broadband speeds to homes and businesses and we're
expanding this through our Project Lightning programme, which could
extend our network to up to 17 million premises.
Our interactive TV service brings live TV, thousands of hours of
on-demand programming and the best apps and games to customers
through a set-top box, as well as on-the-go through tablets and
smartphones.
Virgin Mobile launched the world's first virtual mobile network
and offers fantastic value and innovative services with 4G
connectivity. We are also one of the largest fixed-line home phone
providers in the UK and Ireland.
Through Virgin Media Business we support entrepreneurs,
businesses and the public sector, delivering the fastest widely
available broadband speeds and tailor-made services.
Virgin Media is part of Liberty Global, one of the world's
leading converged video, broadband and communications companies.
Liberty Global connects 11 million customers through operations in
six countries across Europe, subscribing to 25 million TV,
broadband internet and telephony services. It also serves six
million mobile subscribers.
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the
London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct
Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United
Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution
of this information may apply. For further information, please
contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
END
NRAGIBDBXUGBGCL
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