Virgin Media O2 has launched O2 Satellite, becoming the first UK mobile operator to switch on direct-to-device satellite connectivity, using Starlink Direct to Cell to provide coverage in areas with no terrestrial signal.
The operator said the service lifts O2’s UK landmass coverage from 89% to 95%, connecting customers automatically when they move into “not-spots” and providing an additional layer of resilience in the event of a local network outage.
At launch, O2 Satellite supports messaging and data across a limited set of apps, including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Google Maps, with broader compatibility expected over time. The service is initially available on selected Samsung devices, led by the Galaxy S25 range.
Virgin Media O2 CEO Lutz Schüler described the move as a “defining moment” for UK mobile connectivity, while Starlink said the partnership will enable data, voice and video through apps in remote areas where terrestrial coverage is unavailable.
O2 Satellite is available immediately as a £3-per-month (€3.44) bolt-on for O2 pay monthly customers, and Virgin Media O2 said it will be included at no extra cost for Ultimate Plan customers “soon”.
The launch follows Ofcom’s approval of the UK’s first licence variation enabling satellite-to-smartphone services in mobile spectrum bands, with the new direct-to-device regulations coming into force on 25 February 2026.
Virgin Media O2 CEO Lutz Schüler described the move as a “defining moment” for UK mobile connectivity, while Starlink said the partnership will enable data, voice and video through apps in remote areas where terrestrial coverage is unavailable.
