Virgin Media O2 switches on 5G SA in Manchester

Virgin Media O2 has activated its standalone 5G (5G SA) network in Manchester and surrounding towns, extending coverage to more than 500 locations across the region. The company says this switch-on is part of a broader national rollout that will take 5G SA to more cities, towns and key transport routes.

Unlike non-standalone 5G, which still depends on 4G infrastructure, 5G SA runs on its own core network, laying the groundwork for lower latency and more reliable connections over time. Virgin Media O2 is positioning the Manchester deployment as an early step in that nationwide upgrade, but has not detailed a specific timetable for full UK coverage.