If you happen to have one of the latest Samsung Galaxy phones in your pocket and use the Virgin Media O2 network there’s good news. The popular provider has just announced that it’s switching on a new 5G Standalone service in certain cities which should make accessing fast data much more reliable.
Unlike standard 5G – which relies on older 4G technology to work – 5G Standalone is totally new and offers much better and more advanced connectivity.
Virgin Media O2 also says it’s more efficient, can increase network capacity and cut latency which will help improve things such as gaming and using augmented reality devices such as the upcoming Vision Pro.
Sadly, not all devices are able to access the 5G Standalone signal just yet but those with most Galaxy phones in their pockets should see a boost.
Here’s the full of list of phones that can access 5G Standalone
Samsung S24 • Samsung S24+ • Samsung S24 Ultra • Samsung Galaxy S23 FE • Samsung Galaxy S23+
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra • Samsung Galaxy A34 5G • Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 5G • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 5G • Samsung Galaxy S22 • Samsung Galaxy S22+
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra • Samsung Galaxy S21 5G • Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G • Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G • Sony Xperia 1 V • Sony Xperia 5 V • Samsung Galaxy S23 • Netgear M6 • Samsung A25
Apple’s iPhone is not currently able to connect to this technology although that could change in the future.
Here’s the full list of areas where Virgin Media O2’s 5G Standalone will be available from today:
Manchester • Liverpool • London • Lincoln • Birmingham • Sheffield • Glasgow • Newcastle Leeds • York • Belfast • Cardiff • Nottingham • Slough
Speaking about the launch of this new service, Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “The launch of 5G Standalone is the culmination of a multi-year programme and is a real leap forward in the evolution of our mobile network. While it’s still early days, our customer-centric rollout will continue throughout 2024 with some consumer customers seeing the immediate benefits including increased reliability and coverage.
“This new technology will future proof our mobile network for years to come and paves the way for exciting customer led innovations in the future.”
If that’s got you thinking about upgrading check out our full Galaxy S24 review. We’ve also got a full rundown of the best phones of 2024.
