Virgin Media O2 adds iPhone support to O2 Satellite on 28 May
Virgin Media O2 will enable O2 Satellite on supported iPhone models in the UK on 28 May 2026.
TL;DR
- Virgin Media O2 is expanding its O2 Satellite direct-to-device service to iPhones from 28 May 2026.
- Supported devices include the iPhone 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 ranges, plus iPhone Air.
- The service costs £3 per month for most contract customers and is included in O2 Ultimate Plan tariffs.
- Virgin Media O2 launched O2 Satellite in February 2026 using Starlink infrastructure and said it increased UK landmass coverage to 95%.
O2 Satellite gives subscribers satellite connectivity when no terrestrial mobile coverage is available. Virgin Media O2 said the service supports messaging and data in apps including Messages, Apple Maps, WhatsApp, Messenger, X and location services.
Virgin Media O2 said iPhone support would extend access to users in rural, coastal and remote parts of the UK where mobile coverage can be limited or unavailable. The operator also said satellite connectivity could help customers stay connected during network outages or natural disasters.
Virgin Media O2 launched O2 Satellite in February 2026 using Starlink infrastructure. D2D, or direct-to-device, means a satellite service that connects directly to a standard consumer device without a dedicated satellite terminal. The operator said the launch was the first D2D satellite mobile data service to go live in Europe and that the technology increased its UK landmass coverage to 95%.
Related questions
- Which iPhone models support Virgin Media O2's O2 Satellite service?
- How much does O2 Satellite cost for UK contract customers?
- What apps work with O2 Satellite when mobile coverage is unavailable?
- When did Virgin Media O2 launch O2 Satellite in the UK?
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