Big mobile upgrade for Newcastle and Sunderland
Key Points
- O2 has switched on 5G+ (5G Standalone) across Newcastle, Tyneside and Sunderland
- Up to 890,000 people in Newcastle and Tyneside and 288,000 in Sunderland are covered
- Every included town and city gets at least 90% outdoor 5G+ coverage
- 5G+ costs nothing extra with a compatible device and up-to-date SIM or eSIM
- The rollout is part of Virgin Media O2's £700 million Mobile Transformation Plan for 2026
O2 has switched on its 5G+ network across Newcastle, wider Tyneside and Sunderland, giving up to 890,000 people in Newcastle and Tyneside and more than 288,000 in Sunderland access to faster speeds at no extra cost.
Virgin Media O2 announced the rollout on Wednesday (16 September) as part of its £700 million Mobile Transformation Plan for 2026, which covers new masts, small cells, additional spectrum and 4G and 5G upgrades across the UK.
O2 5G+ is the operator’s name for 5G Standalone, which runs on a dedicated 5G core rather than leaning on 4G infrastructure as earlier 5G services did. The operator said the dedicated core supports faster speeds, lower latency and improved reliability, with new services to follow over time.
Customers pay nothing extra for 5G+ as long as they have a compatible device, an up-to-date O2 SIM or eSIM and are standing in a 5G+ coverage area. O2 lists compatible devices and set-up details on its 5G+ page.
Where the new network reaches
The rollout delivers at least 90% outdoor 5G+ coverage in every town and city included in the North East expansion.
Across Newcastle and wider Tyneside, coverage runs from Newcastle city centre and the Quayside out to Gateshead, South Shields, North Shields, Tynemouth, Whitley Bay and nearby communities.
Across Wearside, the network covers Sunderland, Washington, Shiney Row, Hetton-le-Hole, Houghton-le-Spring and the surrounding areas.
O2 said customers should expect faster speeds, lower latency and greater reliability than on earlier generations of mobile technology, although actual performance varies by location, device and network demand.
The extra capacity is aimed at busy locations, with O2 pointing to commuting, working, streaming and navigation as the everyday uses that benefit most.
“These upgrades mark another major milestone in the rollout of our network. By extending 5G+ coverage across Newcastle, Tyneside and Sunderland, we’re enabling more people to benefit from faster speeds, lower latency and a more reliable mobile experience,” said Robert Joyce, Director of Mobile Access Engineering at O2.
“Through our £700 million Mobile Transformation Plan, we’re continuing to invest in the connectivity that communities and businesses rely on every day. This latest rollout brings our most advanced mobile network to communities across the North East, helping our customers stay connected when it matters most,” Joyce added.
O2 said it will keep expanding and strengthening its 5G+ network throughout 2026 under the same plan, with the programme focused on the places and journeys where connectivity matters most while extending reliable coverage across the UK.
