21712 - SCTE Broadband Nov2022 COMPLETE v1

21 Vol. 44 No. 4 - November 2022 Issue industry news Virgin Media O2 announced a number of network initiatives and major upgrades across Scotland in August. Ivan McKee, the Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise visited a dig site in Glasgow to follow the process of laying fibre cables to reach new homes in the area. Virgin Media O2’s 5G coverage in Scotland presently covers 58 towns and cities – each with over 50% population coverage – including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Inverness and Perth. As part of this expansion, 37,000 postcodes across Scotland now have 5G coverage, with recent investment helping to expand the network by around a third in the last year alone. Newly deployed low band 5G spectrum is giving more people access to next generation network speeds and capacity and comes as studies show 5G could add £17bn to the Scottish economy, helping to create 160,000 jobs and 3,000 new businesses. The converged telecommunications company has also invested to upgrade its 4G network, the backbone of mobile connectivity around the country. Across Scotland, capacity has been boosted in over 33,000 postcodes, including Glasgow, Kirkcaldy, Stirling, Perth, Inverness and Edinburgh. These come as the company continues to invest more than £10 billion pounds to upgrade the UK and drive forward the Scottish Government’s commitment to make Scotland a “truly digital nation”. In a boost to rural communities, Virgin Media O2 has upgraded its mobile infrastructure to provide new services as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme. A recent example of the impact this is making is on the Isle of Gigha, where residents and businesses now have access to faster and more reliable 4G services, improved network capacity and an enhanced mobile experience. Last year Virgin Media O2 announced its intention to upgrade its fixed network to full fibre to the premises (FTTP) by 2028; and just last month its shareholders, Liberty Global and Telefónica, alongside investment firm, InfraVia Capital Partners, announced a major investment of approximately £4.5bn with the creation of a new fibre joint venture. Up to 7 million premises will be passed with a new wholesale full fibre network representing a significant commitment to the UK and a boost to the nation’s digital economy at a crucial time. Colin Rae, Head of Build for Scotland at Virgin Media O2, said: “Virgin Media O2 is driving forward the Scottish Government’s aspiration to make the country a world-class digital nation, turning ambition into action through continued investment to expand our gigabit network, 4G upgrades and 5G rollout. “We’re dedicated to bringing the best experience and seamless connectivity to all our customers across Scotland, from the remote Isle of Gigha and Scottish Highlands, to the major cities, as we continue to upgrade the UK.” VM02 Announce Major Scottish Network Upgrades For more information, see https://news.virginmediao2.co.uk/