O2 has signed a new deal with Virgin Media Business that provides it with access to the cablenet’s fibre-optic network for the next 10 years.
The Telefónica-owned business will take advantage of the increased capacity and speed ahead of the launch of 4G mobile services this summer. Virgin Media Business will connect base stations to its fibre network via a high-capacity Ethernet services that will deliver data at speed of up to 1Gbps.
George Wareing, director of mobile and broadcast at Virgin Media Business, said: “Backhauling data is absolutely critical to ensuring that mobile operators are able to provide customers with fast and reliable data services. Over the last two years we’ve secured mobile backhaul contracts with all four of the UK’s major mobile network operators.”
Earlier this month it was announced that O2 customers can access Virgin Media’s Wi-Fi network that has been installed at 120 London Underground stations.
O2 is having to build its own network of hotspots following the expiry of an agreement with BT on July 1st.
