Last updated: 15th October 2024
O2 is not just a phone network, it offers mobile broadband services too. Although we do not compare O2 deals, we still want you to make an informed decision.
Its mobile broadband options connect wirelessly to the 4G or 5G network, so there are no line rental fees.
If you're a business, you can take advantage of Virgin Media and 02 joining forces to offer fibre broadband to your premises, as well as mobile broadband options too.
Let's start by looking at O2 broadband for personal use – for the home or when you're out and about. Then we'll tackle O2 business broadband.
O2 is one of the largest mobile network providers in the UK, and in 2021 it joined with Virgin Media to offer a combined range of connectivity services.
Virgin Media O2 lets customers benefit from reliable mobile network coverage, as well as superfast broadband and Wi-Fi.
Because of this merger, O2 no longer offers fixed broadband directly. However, there are still several O2 mobile broadband options to keep you connected wirelessly – it's ideal for while you're on the move or in an area with poor broadband connectivity.
Plus, if you have an O2 mobile contract and Virgin Media broadband at home, you can access lots of free benefits including double data and guaranteed Wi-Fi.
O2 mobile broadband products include:
You can still get O2 broadband through pocket hotspots. These little devices work like a router in your home, except there are no broadband cables going into them (just a power cable).
They connect to the internet wirelessly by 4G, and you can connect up to 32 devices to them – useful if you're moving house and want to get set up as fast as possible.
O2 offers monthly mobile broadband dongle contracts. Dongles are basically mini modems that are powered through a USB connection to your laptop or device.
When the dongle is attached to your device, you can get an instant connection wherever there's 4G network coverage.
They're a good option if you're only connecting one device, such as a laptop.
This travel router works like a Pocket Hotspot that can connect anywhere, anytime. It combines ultrafast download speeds with the convenience of a mobile hotspot.
So whether you're in your car or on a train, you can take the internet with you.
Attaching to your devices wirelessly, the mobile router comes as a 4G or 5G option that can connect up to 32 devices at once (on the higher specification option). Contracts are available for 36 months.
Do you have a tablet with a sim card slot? If so, you might want to consider an O2 data sim.
This can get your tablet online when there's no Wi-Fi available. You can get monthly, 12 or 24-month SIMs – data available from 2GB up to unlimited options.
With O2, you can choose from plans with a 5GB, 40GB, or 150GB monthly data allowance, but you can also choose to have unlimited data.
This means you can browse the internet, stream videos and play games as much as you want without having to worry about a data cap.
Because there's no limit, these plans are the most expensive option. So it might be worth trying a lower data cap first to see whether it's enough for your needs.
Plus, if you have Virgin Media broadband at home, you can get double data with the Volt benefits formats O2, so check if you can benefit from this offer.
Virgin Media 02 boasts 99% UK coverage and carries 35% of the country's broadband traffic.
It currently has 64,000 business connections and offers deals for 4G and 5G mobile broadband, fibre broadband or a combination of both for seamless connectivity to business customers.
There are internet solutions available for public, office and venue Wi-Fi.
Use Virgin Media and 02’s business tariffs and plans to keep your employees connected when using their mobile devices.
You can adjust the amount of data every 30 days depending on your company needs and tariffs can cover international calls from the UK. Choose between individual, shared or aggregated tariffs with contracts available for between 12 and 36 months.
O2 has teamed up with Virgin Media to offer customers high-speed fibre broadband that's paired with the O2 mobile network.
It offers a variety of tariffs to choose from depending on usage limits and maximum speeds. Packages are available for businesses ranging up to 250 or more employees. It's best to get in touch for an internet plan tailored exactly to your company's needs.
The fibre broadband service can be used with O2 mobile broadband to provide always-on connectivity for your business:
Constant Connect – lets you stay online with 4G broadband backup. If your broadband ever disconnects, a dongle plugged into your router will keep you online using O2’s 4G network.
Instant Connect – enables you to get online straightaway with an O2 4G dongle while you wait for your business broadband to be installed.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when comparing broadband deals:
Virgin Media and O2 have joined forces to bring you Volt – a package of benefits and rewards that households can get for free.
If you're an existing Virgin Media and O2 customer, you can get the following Volt benefits:
If you're an existing O2 customer, all you need to do is switch to Virgin Media broadband to access these extra benefits.
Instead of requiring a fixed cable or fibre connection to get you online, O2 mobile broadband uses the network's 4G and 5G coverage.
To access the broadband, you'll need to use a dongle, Pocket Hotspot or mobile router. Some will have a built-in O2 SIM card, while with others you'll need to insert the card yourself.
Just like a smartphone contract, the deals have a monthly data cap unless you choose a more expensive option with unlimited data.
Using mobile broadband is an easy way to stay connected when you're on the move. And it can be especially useful if you live in a rural area with no fibre broadband options.