en.Wedoany.com Reported - Virgin Media O2 has expanded its O2 Satellite direct-to-device (D2D) service to support Google Pixel phones, enabling Pixel users to access satellite connectivity in areas of the UK not covered by traditional mobile networks, which is particularly useful when traveling through remote regions or experiencing unexpected outages.
Launched earlier this year, O2 Satellite allows customers to connect directly to satellites using their standard smartphones, but was initially limited to a small number of compatible devices. The rollout of this direct-to-device service increases Virgin Media O2's UK land area coverage to 95%, expanding coverage by an area roughly equivalent to two-thirds the size of Wales. The service is available as a £3 per month Bolt On add-on for standard monthly plans, and is free for Ultimate plan customers, supporting functions such as messaging apps and location services in mobile signal dead zones.
Chris Bournes, Commercial Director at Virgin Media O2, said that when launching O2 Satellite, the goal was to bring satellite connectivity to the devices customers use every day. Adding Google Pixel devices is another important step forward, meaning more customers can stay connected where traditional mobile networks cannot reach. Francois Mahieu, UK and Ireland General Manager for Devices and Services at Google, added that partnering with Virgin Media O2 to bring O2 Satellite to Google Pixel users reflects that Pixel phones are designed to be practical and reliable devices, and users of O2 Satellite can stay connected even in the most remote parts of the UK.
Other European mobile operators have already taken the lead, with Kyivstar partnering with Starlink and Orange partnering with Skylo, but O2 Satellite is the first satellite-based direct-to-device service, having included some data services as early as February. The service initially supported only one of the four models of the Samsung Galaxy S25, expanded to support iPhones last month, and now Pixel models can also join.
Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, has proposed this week extending the 2GHz mobile satellite service (MSS) licenses of Viasat and Echostar by a further three to five years. These two satellite operators currently use the band to provide services such as in-flight Wi-Fi and LoRaWAN IoT connectivity, with the current authorization set to expire in May next year. Ofcom has launched a consultation seeking views on plans to grant new licenses to Viasat and Echostar covering a transition period of three to five years, stating that this would prevent disruption to current services and ensure continued use of the spectrum after the existing authorization expires, while also hoping to introduce greater flexibility for other entities to access the spectrum during the transition period, thereby achieving optimal spectrum utilization and supporting innovation.
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