Drivers on some of Britain's busiest motorways, including the M1, M6, and M25, are set to experience a significant improvement in their journeys due to a major connectivity upgrade rolled out this week.
Network Boost for Electric Vehicle Future
The project, led by telecoms giant Virgin Media O2, has optimised mobile coverage on over 40 motorways and A roads across the country. This initiative is a key part of boosting Britain's electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, making the switch to electric transport more viable for millions of drivers.
The enhanced connectivity is crucial for modern EVs, which rely on stable internet connections for real-time navigation, battery management, and accessing live information about charging points.
Extensive Upgrades and New Infrastructure
The scale of the upgrade is substantial, involving significant physical work across the nation's road network. The improvements include:
- A 4G boost for 311 existing sites.
- The construction of 338 brand-new 5G sites.
These enhancements are designed to dramatically improve network performance and reliability for all road users. Key road corridors that have benefited from the upgrade include:
- The M1 (London to Leeds)
- The M4 (London to Bristol)
- The M6 (Coventry to Carlisle)
- Scotland's M8 (Glasgow to Edinburgh)
This rollout is a central component of Virgin Media O2's £700 million Mobile Transformation Plan.
Partnerships Paving the Way for EV Adoption
The connectivity push is being complemented by a parallel expansion of the physical charging network. Believ, a UK charge point operator, is installing up to 30,000 new public charging points nationwide. Many of these will be in areas where O2 has recently boosted mobile coverage, creating a seamless experience for EV drivers.
Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2, stated: "Connectivity underpins a huge part of the driving experience today, but particularly for EVs. By optimising coverage on more than 40 motorways and A roads... we're helping make every journey safer and more reliable. Alongside Believ's new charging points, this is about removing barriers so more people can make the switch to electric with confidence."
Guy Bartlett, CEO at Believ, echoed this sentiment, calling it "a brilliant example of private industry coming together with the shared purpose of helping drivers make a seamless transition to electric vehicles." He added that the enhanced connectivity gives drivers "even more reason to feel confident and excited about switching to EVs."
This joint effort is backed by a substantial financial commitment from Liberty Global, which has invested £300 million into Believ to support the deployment of the 30,000 new public chargers, signalling a strong private sector push to accelerate the UK's EV revolution.
