Virgin Media has agreed a five year deal with Vodafone UK to bring new services, including 5G, to more than three million mobile customers.
The MVNO agreement, which runs until 2026, will see Vodafone supply wholesale mobile network services, including 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.
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 new agreement will open up a new world of opportunity for Virgin Media as we bring our mobile and broadband connectivity closer together in one package for one price.”
Nick Jeffery, Vodafone UK CEO, said: “We are delighted that Virgin has recognised the huge investments we’ve made, and continue to make, in the network and our role in challenging the market with new commercial services.”
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 wholesale agreement has also been struck between both parties in relation to the supply of network services by Virgin Media Business to Vodafone.