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UK host network . Virgin Media O2

O2 SIM-only deals

One of the four UK host networks, with 25M+ UK customers on its own 4G and 5G masts. The main perks: O2 Priority (free tickets and rewards) and the Volt bundle with Virgin Media broadband. This page covers current SIM-only plans, coverage and an honest read of what real customers say in 2026.

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At a glance

UK host network, 25M+ customers Virgin Media O2 joint venture Free O2 Priority tickets + perks EU roaming inclusive on most plans

UK customers

25M+

Including O2-hosted MVNOs (giffgaff, Sky, Tesco)

Network type

Host

Owns its own 4G + 5G masts

Ofcom rank

2nd/4

On overall mobile reliability (after EE)

Entry SIM

£10

5 GB SIM-only on 12 months

About

Who is O2?

O2 is one of the four UK host mobile networks, originally launched as BT Cellnet in 1985. It was spun out as O2 in 2001, acquired by Telefónica in 2005, and merged with Virgin Media in June 2021 to form Virgin Media O2, a 50:50 joint venture between Liberty Global and Telefónica.

O2 operates the second-largest UK mobile network by customers and rents capacity to several MVNOs, including giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile and Virgin Mobile. It is famous in the UK consumer market for O2 Priority, a free perks programme giving customers presale access to gig tickets and rewards.

O2 is regulated by Ofcom. Complaint handling falls under the Ombudsman Services: Communications scheme.

Current SIM-only deals

O2 SIM-only plans available now

Headline prices verified on from o2.co.uk. All include 5G access, EU roaming and O2 Priority at no extra cost.

Light SIM

O2 logo

5 GB SIM Only

Data

5 GB

5G included

Calls + texts

Unlimited

UK use

£10/month

12 months . £0 upfront

  • 5G included
  • O2 Priority rewards
  • EU roaming inclusive

Best for

A second SIM or a child’s first phone on O2

See on O2
Best value O2 SIM-only

Best value

O2 logo

25 GB SIM Only

Data

25 GB

5G included

Calls + texts

Unlimited

UK use

£15/month

12 months . £0 upfront

  • 5G included
  • O2 Priority + EU roaming
  • Volt: data doubled with Virgin broadband

Best for

A typical smartphone user, especially on Virgin Media broadband

See on O2

Heavy data

O2 logo

100 GB SIM Only

Data

100 GB

5G included

Calls + texts

Unlimited

UK use

£20/month

12 months . £0 upfront

  • 5G included
  • Tethering allowed
  • EU roaming inclusive

Best for

Daily commuters, mobile streaming, work from anywhere

See on O2

Unlimited

O2 logo

Unlimited SIM Only

Data

Unlimited

5G included

Calls + texts

Unlimited

UK use

£30/month

12 months . £0 upfront

  • Unlimited 5G data
  • Unlimited tethering
  • EU roaming inclusive

Best for

No fixed broadband, daily 4K streaming on the go

See on O2

Selectra is independent. O2 does not pay us to feature any of these tariffs.

Explore

More on O2

O2 network coverage

How to check O2 4G and 5G at your postcode, what to do about poor indoor signal, and how O2 compares to EE, Vodafone and Three.

Open page

O2 PAYG top-up

Top up an O2 PAYG SIM online, in the My O2 app, by retail voucher, by debit card on 2479 or by auto-renew.

Open page

Reviews snapshot

What customers actually say about O2

Scores collected on .

Trustpilot, o2.co.uk

1.5/ 5

~40,000 reviews

Mostly negative

Trustpilot for big UK telcos always skews negative because happy customers rarely post. Most O2 complaints are about price rises and retentions; coverage and signal quality consistently rate well.

Ofcom complaints (mobile Q4 2025)

Below avgper 100k

Better than EE / Vodafone

Positive overall

Ofcom's independent complaints data places O2 well below the industry average, beating both EE and Vodafone. The picture from the regulator is far better than Trustpilot suggests.

Which? annual survey

Mid-rangecustomer score

Recommended in some categories

Mixed

Which? puts O2 around the middle of the UK pack on overall value, ahead of Vodafone but typically behind EE on speed and behind giffgaff/Tesco on price. Praise centres on Priority and the Volt bundle.

MoneySavingExpert forum

Recommended for Virgin householdsforum sentiment

Hundreds of threads

Positive overall

Forum advice: O2 is great if you already use Virgin Media broadband (Volt doubles data and gives free speed boost), if you want EU roaming, or if you specifically want Priority. As a stand-alone SIM-only without those perks, O2-hosted MVNOs like giffgaff and Tesco are cheaper.

Selectra expert verdict

Independent read, no commission shaping

O2 is one of the strongest direct-from-host UK choices in 2026, especially if any of three things matter to you: Priority rewards, free EU roaming, or a Volt bundle with Virgin Media broadband. Coverage is genuinely strong (Ofcom places it second only to EE) and 5G is now standard on every SIM-only plan.

The honest catch: if those three perks are not part of your reason for picking O2, the same O2 network signal is sold cheaper by giffgaff, Tesco Mobile and Sky Mobile. Choose O2 direct for the perks; choose an O2 MVNO for raw price.

Verdict last reviewed 19 May 2026.

Contact

How to reach O2

Every official way to get in touch with O2 in 2026. Numbers, opening hours and online channels, with no premium-rate detours and no scrolling through the FAQ.

Opening hours

When lines are open

Monday to Friday
08:00 to 21:00
Saturday + Sunday
08:00 to 20:00

Online

Self-service

  • o2.co.uk

    Account, billing, upgrades and Priority

  • My O2 app

    iOS + Android, usage, top-up and Priority rewards

  • Live chat — in the My O2 app once signed in

    Often faster than the phone line

Got a complaint? Try customer-service first. If it is not resolved after eight weeks, escalate free to the Communications Ombudsman, the alternative dispute-resolution body for UK mobile networks. O2 is regulated by Ofcom.

FAQ

O2 deals, coverage and contact, your questions answered

Is O2 a good network in 2026?

Yes for most people. O2 owns its own 4G and 5G masts (one of the four UK host networks) and ranks second on Ofcom's overall reliability data, just behind EE. The major selling points are O2 Priority (free tickets, presale codes and rewards), EU roaming included as standard on most consumer plans, and the Volt bundle with Virgin Media broadband (auto-doubles your data). The honest weakness: signal in deeply rural areas trails EE.

Does O2 have 5G?

Yes. O2 5G is live in more than 250 UK towns and cities in 2026 and is included on every consumer SIM-only plan at no extra cost. You need a 5G-capable phone and to be in a 5G postcode. Outside 5G coverage, your phone falls back to O2’s 4G network automatically.

Does O2 still include EU roaming?

Yes, on most current consumer plans, including all SIM-only deals listed above. You use your standard UK allowances at no extra cost in EU/EEA countries (Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, etc.) subject to a fair-use cap on data (typically the lower of your plan allowance or 25 GB). O2 is one of the few major UK networks that has kept free EU roaming since Brexit; check the small print of any plan you sign in case it has changed.

What is the O2 Volt bundle?

Volt is the joint offer for Virgin Media O2 customers. If you take both Virgin Media broadband and O2 mobile, your O2 mobile data doubles automatically (e.g. 25 GB becomes 50 GB), your Virgin broadband speed is boosted, and you can share data with up to 4 family members. The bundle costs nothing extra and activates as soon as both products are on your Virgin Media O2 account.

How do I contact O2?

From an O2 mobile, dial 202 free. From any other phone, call 0344 540 0202, standard UK rates. Lines run Monday to Friday 08:00 to 21:00, weekends 08:00 to 20:00. The My O2 app has live chat. For complaints, use the formal route at o2.co.uk/help.

How do I keep my number when leaving O2?

Text PAC to 65075 from your O2 SIM. O2 must reply within 60 seconds with a free Porting Authorisation Code valid for 30 days, listing any early-termination fee. Give the PAC to your new network and your number transfers within one working day.