O2 5G+ switched on across Northern Ireland – Full list of 32 towns and cities
Key Points
- O2 switched on standalone 5G+ across five cities and 404 towns and villages in Northern Ireland on 3 September 2026
- More than 800,000 residents can access the network at no extra cost with a compatible device and plan
- All 32 named locations have at least 90% outdoor 5G+ coverage
- The rollout is part of Virgin Media O2's £700 million Mobile Transformation Plan
- Some customers will need to update their SIM or switch to an eSIM
O2 has switched on its 5G+ network across five cities, 22 large towns and 382 smaller towns, villages and hamlets in Northern Ireland, putting the service within reach of more than 800,000 residents at no extra cost.
Virgin Media O2 announced the switch-on on Thursday (3 September) as part of a UK-wide rollout of the network, which it said delivers faster speeds, better reliability and lower latency than its existing 5G service.
The coverage stretches from Belfast, Derry, Lisburn and Armagh to smaller coastal towns including Ballycastle and Portrush, and every town and city included in the programme has at least 90% outdoor 5G+ coverage.
The operator calculated the 839,557 population figure using the latest Office for National Statistics data for Belfast, Derry City and Strabane, Lisburn and Castlereagh, and Newry, Mourne and Down.
Every Northern Ireland location covered
O2 said the rollout across Northern Ireland includes the following towns and cities:
- Belfast
- Derry
- Lisburn
- Newry
- Armagh
- Newtownabbey
- Bangor
- Lurgan
- Ballymena
- Carrickfergus
- Newtownards
- Portadown
- Coleraine
- Antrim
- Omagh
- Larne
- Banbridge
- Dungannon
- Enniskillen
- Strabane
- Limavady
- Cookstown
- Holywood
- Downpatrick
- Craigavon
- Ballymoney
- Ballyclare
- Bushmills
- Portrush
- Kilkeel
- Ballycastle
- Newcastle
How 5G+ differs from standard 5G
Earlier versions of 5G relied on existing 4G infrastructure to carry part of the connection, while O2’s 5G+ service runs on new standalone equipment that handles the full connection independently.
O2 said this standalone design is what allows the network to deliver higher speeds and lower latency, and the company describes it as the UK’s largest 5G standalone network.
The Northern Ireland switch-on forms part of Virgin Media O2’s £700 million Mobile Transformation Plan, which is adding new masts, small cells, 4G and 5G upgrades, automation and new spectrum across the UK during 2026.
“This upgrade marks another major milestone in the evolution of our network,” said Robert Joyce, Director of Mobile Access Engineering at O2. “By extending 5G+ coverage across all six counties of Northern Ireland, we’re enabling more people to benefit from faster speeds, lower latency and a more reliable mobile experience.”
“From cities like Belfast and Lisburn to more remote locations along the Antrim Coast, Portrush, or Ballycastle, our focus is on delivering high-quality coverage that helps our customers in Northern Ireland stay connected when it matters most,” Joyce added.
How to connect to 5G+
Customers need a compatible device and plan to use 5G+, and O2 said they should also check that their SIM is up to date.
Some customers will need to move to a digital eSIM to access the service, and O2 has published full compatibility details on its 5G+ page.
The switch-on follows the opening of The O2 Belfast on 1 July, which gives O2 Priority customers presale access to newly announced shows before general sale.
