Virgin Media UK Says Goodbye to BT, Signs Vodafone for Mobile
.jpg)
Cable TV and broadband ISP Virgin Media UK (Liberty Global) has this week made the surprise announcement that their long-running Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) agreement with BT (EE) will be coming to an end. Instead, they’ve signed a new 5-year partnership deal for Virgin Mobile with rival operator Vodafone.
Previously there had been some speculation that Virgin Media might seek to swap their MVNO setup to use a different network, which was partly fuelled by the operator’s concern over BT’s earlier £12.5bn merger with EE (i.e. BT is now Virgin’s arch-rival in both the fixed-line and mobile space, not to mention TV). Despite this, in 2017 Virgin moved to extend their agreement with BT / EE, which is due to run until 2021 (here).
Under the new deal Virgin Mobile‘s services – covering around 3 million customers – will start to transition to the Vodafone network from the end of 2021 and there they will stay until 2026, although Virgin Media intends to launch their new ultrafast 5G (mobile broadband) products via Vodafone “in the near future” (i.e. ahead of the transition date).
At this point it’s worth considering that Vodafone and Virgin Media have been repeatedly linked with a future asset swap or possible merger in the United Kingdom, although until now none of their earlier talks have turned into anything concrete (except elsewhere in the EU). Despite that, any move to adopt Vodafone for Virgin Mobile would, of course, make a bigger agreement in the future a lot easier, if it were to ever occur.
Speaking of which, Virgin Media’s business division (VMB) has also struck an “extensive wholesale agreement” with Vodafone relating to the supply of various network services. We have asked for further details on this.
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.
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.”
Shifting MVNO platforms is a major task for any large operator and often results in some problems (e.g. TalkTalk’s past attempt to migrate from Vodafone to O2 was plagued by difficulties and they eventually abandoned mobile altogether). Nevertheless, such decisions often take a couple of years in advance (necessary for forward planning) and the move to rollout 5G will no doubt be another reason why Virgin Media may have reconsidered their existing agreement with BT.
As a full MVNO provider, Virgin Mobile has control over the products and services it offers, which among other things means existing customers will not need to change their SIM cards as part of this agreement and that’s an important point (saves a lot of hassle). Further details on product offerings and network transition will be provided in “due course.”
source ispreview
Industry: Telecommunications
Latest Jobs
-
- Infrastructure (Network / Security) Engineer | West London commutable | Permanent
- London
- Apply today
-
Infrastructure (Network / Security) Engineer | West London commutable | Permanent This is an in house opportunity. Looking for someone that has on prem / data center experience MUST be a currently hands on config, Install, upgrade, troubleshooting experience Routing, Switching, Network Security (firewall, IDS etc), Microsoft Active Directory / 365. VMWare Scripting / automation experience wanted. Python, Powershell etc Must be commutable to West London twice a week. Visa sponsorship not available. Apply today for more information Book a call via this link https://calendly.com/d/crqf-t28-7tb
-
- Identity & Access Management Architect
- Edinburgh
- Upto £95000 plus bonus and benefits
-
Location: Edinburgh | Hybrid Working | Permanent Are you an experienced Identity & Access Management professional with a passion for designing and implementing cutting-edge security solutions? We are looking for a Lead Architect, where you’ll play a key role in helping clients enhance their IAM capabilities, protect critical data, and navigate complex security challenges. About the Role As a Lead Architect, you will be responsible for shaping and delivering IAM strategies, designing robust security solutions, and driving long-term digital transformation. You’ll leverage your expertise to provide strategic guidance on areas such as: Identity Governance & Administration (IGA) Privileged Access Management (PAM) Access Management (AM) Entitlement Management Directories & Authentication Solutions You will have the opportunity to work with innovative technologies and frameworks, ensuring that businesses can securely manage access to critical assets while enabling growth. What You’ll Be Doing Providing subject matter expertise in IAM and leading transformation projects for clients Developing IAM roadmaps, operating models, and governance frameworks Driving innovation by integrating IAM capabilities into wider digital transformation strategies Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and stakeholders Designing and implementing scalable IAM solutions to meet business needs What We’re Looking For Proven experience in IAM strategy, solution architecture, or assurance Strong leadership skills with experience guiding technical teams Ability to work in a client-facing role, delivering clear communication and insights A technology-focused, innovative mindset with strong business acumen Willingness to work from our Edinburgh office 2-3 days per week
-
- Security Architect - Cloud - Consultancy London
- London
- N/A
-
Security Architect with a focus into Cloud (AWS, Azure or Google Cloud Platform) needed. You must have client facing consultancy experience. This mean you must have experience working with clients helping them to meet their security design needs. That could include working with existing internal teams to understand, review and mitigate / uplift existing Cloud Security designs, or perhaps helping clients set out / understand their current needs and deliver their cloud security strategy. (Or anything in between) Technical knowledge is of course essential but working with clients to understand and solve their Cloud Security design challenges is vital. You must obviously have a current history working as a cloud security architect. You will need to be commutable to London. Whilst a hybrid role the expectation is 3 days a week in the office / meeting clients. International relocation or Visa sponsorship isn’t available for this role. Apply on this page and arrange a call here https://calendly.com/d/crpz-m7j-wyx