Virgin Media O2, on the O2 network

Virgin Mobile UK what happened

Q: What happened to Virgin Mobile UK?

Virgin Mobile stopped trading at the end of August 2023. Following the 2021 Virgin Media + O2 merger, the group stopped selling new Virgin Mobile SIMs and now sends new mobile customers to O2 or its sister brand giffgaff. Existing Virgin Mobile customers were moved across to the O2 network, with their account staying on the Virgin Media O2 system.

Q: How do I switch away from Virgin Mobile?

Text PAC to 65075 to keep your number, then give that code to your new network. The whole move usually completes within one working day. See our step-by-step guide to switching mobile provider for the full process.

Virgin Mobile UK closed to new customers at the end of August 2023. After the 2021 Virgin Media O2 merger, existing customers moved to the O2 network and new buyers are now sent to O2 or giffgaff. This independent guide explains what happened, what it means for your account, the Volt bundle and the best O2-network alternatives in 2026.

See O2-network alternatives Sign in to My Virgin

At a glance

Closed to new customers in August 2023 Existing accounts moved to the O2 network Volt bundle still doubles mobile data New buyers go to O2 or giffgaff

At a glance

Closed to new customers in August 2023
Existing accounts moved to the O2 network
Volt bundle still doubles mobile data
New buyers go to O2 or giffgaff

Legacy MVNO . O2 host

Status

Closed to new

No new Virgin Mobile SIMs sold since 31 Aug 2023

Parent

VMO2

Virgin Media O2 joint venture (Liberty Global + Telefónica)

Host network

Same 4G + 5G as O2 direct

Volt boost

2x data

Still active for Virgin Media broadband households

The short answer

Is Virgin Mobile still going in 2026?

Virgin Mobile UK stopped trading at the end of August 2023 and no longer sells new SIMs. The brand launched in 1999 as one of the world’s first MVNOs, but after the 2021 Virgin Media O2 merger the group folded mobile into O2 and its sister brand giffgaff. If you had a Virgin Mobile plan, your service runs on the O2 network and you keep using it; if you are shopping now, you buy from O2 or giffgaff instead.

Virgin Mobile started life on the One2One network (later T-Mobile, later EE), changed host several times, and most recently moved to the O2 network in 2021 as part of the Virgin Media O2 joint venture between Liberty Global and Telefónica. Its standout feature was the Volt bundle, which doubled mobile data for customers who also took Virgin Media broadband. Volt is still live for broadband households on eligible O2 plans.

Virgin Mobile was regulated by Ofcom, and complaints fall under the CISAS alternative dispute resolution scheme. For coverage on the same network, our O2 review and giffgaff review are the natural next reads.

Where to go now

The best Virgin Mobile alternatives on the O2 network

Virgin Mobile ran on O2 signal, so the closest replacements use the same network. These three O2 MVNOs and O2 itself give you identical coverage, usually for less.

O2

Direct from the host

Buy directly from the network that powered Virgin Mobile. Same O2 4G + 5G coverage, with O2 Priority perks and O2 Open discounts.

Best for

Anyone who wants the host network plus Priority extras

Read our review

giffgaff

Cheapest O2 SIM

O2-owned, runs on the O2 network and is usually the cheapest way onto O2 signal. SIM-only, no credit check, monthly goodybags you can change any time.

Best for

Lowest price on O2 coverage with no contract

Read our review

Tesco Mobile

Clubcard perks

Also on the O2 network. Clubcard holders earn points on the bill, and the Anytime Upgrade and capped-bill options suit families and first phones.

Best for

Clubcard households and family plans

Read our review

Sky Mobile

Data rollover

O2-network SIMs with Piggybank, which rolls unused data forward for up to three years. A natural pick if you already take Sky TV or broadband.

Best for

Sky customers who want to bank spare data

Read our review

Compare all UK mobile networks

For reference

The Freestyle plans Virgin Mobile used to sell

These tariffs are no longer on sale. They are shown as a record of the Virgin Mobile line-up at closure on 31 August 2023, to help legacy customers and to compare against today’s O2-network options.

You cannot buy these plans today. For live SIM-only deals on the same O2 network, see the alternatives above.

Light

Freestyle 5 GB

Data

5 GB

5G included

Calls + texts

Unlimited

UK use

£10/month

12 months . £0 upfront . at closure

5G included
EU roaming inclusive
Volt: 10 GB total with VM broadband

Was best for

A light second SIM, Virgin Media broadband households

Freestyle 25 GB

Data

25 GB

5G included

Calls + texts

Unlimited

UK use

£15/month

12 months . £0 upfront . at closure

5G included
EU roaming inclusive
Volt: 50 GB total with VM broadband

Was best for

A typical smartphone user on Virgin Media broadband

Heavy

Freestyle 100 GB

Data

100 GB

5G included

Calls + texts

Unlimited

UK use

£20/month

12 months . £0 upfront . at closure

5G included
Tethering allowed
EU roaming inclusive

Was best for

Daily streamers and tetherers

Unlimited

Freestyle Unlimited

Data

Unlimited

5G included

Calls + texts

Unlimited

UK use

£25/month

12 months . £0 upfront . at closure

Unlimited 5G data
Unlimited tethering
EU roaming inclusive

Was best for

No home broadband, daily 4K mobile streaming

Selectra is independent. Virgin Mobile did not pay us to feature these tariffs.

Reviews snapshot

What customers said about Virgin Mobile

Trustpilot, Virgin Media O2

1.5/ 5

~50,000 reviews

Mostly negative

Trustpilot for big UK telcos always skews negative. Most Virgin Mobile complaints are about price rises and the customer-service handover after the 2021 Virgin Media O2 merger, not signal.

Ofcom complaints (mobile)

7/ 100k

Industry average ~8

Mixed

Virgin Mobile historically sat slightly under the industry average on Ofcom data, better than EE (10) and Vodafone (10). The picture from Ofcom is significantly better than Trustpilot suggests.

Which? annual survey

Mid-rangecustomer score

Not Recommended

Mixed

Which? put Virgin Mobile in the middle of the UK pack. Praise for Volt and EU roaming; criticism for the service handover and price-rise transparency. Value-for-money score lower than O2 MVNO peers.

MoneySavingExpert forum

Legacy accounts onlyforum sentiment

Hundreds of threads

Mixed

Forum consensus: it only ever made sense if you had Virgin Media broadband for the Volt data boost. Now that new sales have stopped, threads point new buyers to giffgaff and O2 direct for O2 coverage.

Explore

More on Virgin Mobile and switching

Virgin Mobile login

Open page

How to switch mobile provider

Keep your number with a PAC code and move to O2, giffgaff or another network in one working day.

Open guide

Selectra expert verdict

Independent read, no commission shaping

Virgin Mobile is a closed chapter. New sales stopped in August 2023, so the practical question in 2026 is not “is Virgin Mobile any good” but “where do I get the same O2 coverage now”.

If you already have Virgin Media broadband, keeping your legacy plan for the Volt data boost still makes sense. For a fresh SIM on the same network, pick giffgaff for the cheapest O2 signal, O2 direct for Priority perks, Tesco Mobile if you have a Clubcard, or Sky Mobile for data rollover.

Verdict last reviewed 26 June 2026.

Contact

How to reach Virgin Media Mobile

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

By phone

Customer service

Opening hours

When lines are open

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

Online

Self-service

virginmedia.com/mobile
Account, Volt benefits and what happened to Virgin Mobile
My Virgin Media app
iOS + Android, billing and usage
Live chat — on virginmedia.com once signed in to My Virgin Media

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. Virgin Media Mobile is regulated by Ofcom.

FAQ

Virgin Mobile UK, the O2 move and switching, your questions answered

What happened to Virgin Mobile UK?

Virgin Mobile stopped trading at the end of August 2023. Following the 2021 Virgin Media + O2 merger, the group stopped selling new Virgin Mobile SIMs and now sends new mobile customers to O2 or its sister brand giffgaff. Existing Virgin Mobile customers were moved across to the O2 network, with their account staying on the Virgin Media O2 system.

Can I still buy a new Virgin Mobile plan in 2026?

No. New Virgin Mobile and Freestyle SIMs are no longer on sale. To get the same O2 coverage today, buy from O2 direct, the cheapest-on-O2 option giffgaff, or Tesco Mobile if you have a Clubcard.

What network did Virgin Mobile use?

Since the 2021 Virgin Media + O2 merger, Virgin Mobile UK ran on the O2 network, and legacy accounts still do. Coverage at your postcode is identical to a SIM bought from O2 direct. You can check it on the O2 coverage checker or read our guide to checking network coverage.

What is the Volt bundle and is it still active?

Volt is the joint offer for Virgin Media O2 customers, and it is still live for households on Virgin Media broadband. Take both broadband and an eligible O2 mobile plan and your mobile data doubles automatically, your broadband speed boosts to the next tier, and you can share data with up to 4 family members at no extra cost.

Does my legacy Virgin Mobile plan still include 5G and EU roaming?

Most plans signed before the brand closed kept 5G at no extra cost in any 5G-active O2 postcode, and EU roaming subject to a fair-use cap (typically 25 GB or your plan allowance, whichever is lower). Older plans signed before 2022 may exclude roaming, so check the details in My Virgin Media.

How do I switch away from Virgin Mobile?

Text PAC to 65075 to keep your number, then give that code to your new network. The whole move usually completes within one working day. See our step-by-step guide to switching mobile provider for the full process.