O2 has finished a major mobile network upgrade across Coventry, improving 4G and 5G coverage and capacity in over 2,000 postcodes. This means faster speeds, stronger signal, and better reliability for thousands of customers across the city—whether they’re streaming at home, navigating with maps on the go, or joining a video call for work.
It’s all part of O2’s wider Mobile Transformation Plan, which will see the company invest around £700 million in its UK mobile network this year alone.
Coventry’s Digital Future Is Accelerating
Coventry is no stranger to innovation. Once known as the heart of the British motor industry, it’s now carving out a new identity as one of the most connected cities in the UK. In fact, Coventry was crowned “Digital Council of the Year” in 2024 by Connected Britain—and it’s currently the top-ranked local authority in the West Midlands for full-fibre broadband coverage.
O2’s investment adds another powerful layer to the city’s digital infrastructure—enhancing mobile signal across homes, businesses, parks, transport hubs, and public venues.
What’s New: More Speed, Less Frustration
With mobile data use now more than double what it was five years ago, networks are under more pressure than ever. This new upgrade helps future-proof Coventry’s connectivity, ensuring locals and businesses can rely on solid service even during busy periods.
4G and 5G upgrades are now live in over 2,000 postcode areas—improving coverage, capacity, and reliability. Whether you’re video calling family, watching live football on your phone, or running a business from your laptop via mobile tethering, your experience on O2 should now be noticeably smoother.
5G Still Expanding — But Indoors Remain a Challenge
While outdoor 5G coverage in Coventry is strong in many areas, indoor coverage is still limited in places, especially inside older buildings or dense residential blocks. This is something O2 continues to work on, and future upgrades are planned to close those gaps.
As part of its strategy, O2 is also deploying small cell technology—a solution designed to boost capacity in busy zones like city centres, train stations, stadiums, and shopping areas.
O2 Preparing for the Next Generation of Mobile
Alongside expanding 4G and 5G, O2 is beginning to retire older technologies like 3G, which are now less efficient and outdated. By moving traffic to newer, faster networks, the company can offer better performance while also cutting energy usage—making this not just a technical improvement, but a greener one too.
And to strengthen its long-term position, O2 recently announced it has acquired 78.8 MHz of additional spectrum from Vodafone, bringing its total spectrum holding to nearly 30% of the UK’s entire mobile spectrum—a significant move that will support more powerful 5G deployment in the future.
Volt, Roaming, and Rewards: Extra Perks for O2 Customers
If you’re on O2, the upgrades are just part of the story. The network is the only major UK operator not to reintroduce EU roaming charges, which is a major win for travellers.
Plus, through its Priority rewards app, O2 customers can unlock weekly discounts, VIP ticket presales, competitions, and exclusive events. And if you’re also a Virgin Media broadband customer, the Volt bundle gives you even more—like double mobile data, roaming in 75 countries, and even broadband speed boosts at no extra cost. A customer on a 500Mbps broadband package, for instance, could be bumped up to Gig1 for free.
Local Leaders Back the Investment
Speaking about the upgrade, Dr. Robert Joyce, Director of Mobile Access Engineering at O2, said:
“With customers using more data than ever before, the improvements we’ve made at over 2,000 postcodes in Coventry will ensure local people and businesses can access reliable connectivity that is so essential in powering our customers’ digital lifestyles.”
Cllr Richard Brown, Cabinet Member for Finance at Coventry City Council, added:
“This investment improves our connectivity even further, with better mobile coverage when people are at home or moving around the city.”
What This Means for Coventry Residents
- Better 4G and 5G speeds in over 2,000 postcodes
- More reliable signal indoors and out (with more work to come on indoor 5G)
- No roaming fees in Europe for O2 customers
- Volt bundles and rewards for added value
- A future-ready network backed by £700 million in annual investment
