WhatsApp with zero bars: O2 turns on iPhone satellite service in the UK
Key Points
- Virgin Media O2 will switch on its O2 Satellite service for iPhone users in the UK from Thursday (28 May).
Virgin Media O2 will switch on its O2 Satellite service for iPhone users in the UK from Thursday (28 May).
The expansion adds iPhone support to the service that launched earlier this year, automatically connecting compatible smartphones to satellite when traditional cellular coverage is unavailable.
Users will be able to send messages and use data across apps including Apple Messages, WhatsApp, Messenger, Apple Maps and Google Maps in areas that have historically been mobile not-spots.
O2 Satellite is the first direct-to-device satellite service to launch in Europe.
iPhone compatibility runs back to the iPhone 13 and 13 mini, covering every model in the 14, 15, 16 and 17 ranges, plus the iPhone Air.
The supported apps list extends beyond messaging to include AccuWeather, AllTrails, Apple Compass, Apple Fitness, Apple Music, Apple Weather, BBC Weather, X and Yahoo Mail.
O2 Satellite is available as a Bolt On at £3 per month for Pay Monthly customers and is included at no extra cost for Ultimate Plan subscribers.
Virgin Media O2 said the service has pushed its UK landmass coverage to 95%, a coverage uplift equivalent to an area around two thirds the size of Wales.
Beyond filling rural, coastal and remote gaps, the operator said the service also adds a layer of resilience in the event of a cellular outage or natural disaster.
“Earlier this year, we made history with the switch on of O2 Satellite,” said Chris Bournes, Commercial Director at Virgin Media O2.
“Expanding the service to iPhone users is a major step forward in making this new, groundbreaking technology accessible to more customers. Whether you’re hiking, travelling or in a remote part of the UK, O2 Satellite helps ensure you can stay connected when you need it most.”
