O2 confirms it is in merger talks with Virgin Media

[HEXUS]

The precise terms of the talks, or whether they will result in a merger, are not known.

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[ik9000]

This doesn't fill me with confidence. Erosion of mobile competition. With Virgin mobile going onto Vodafone how does this even work? Then there's the internet side. I haven't heard great things about 02 on that front.

[Zak33]

This will set a few pigeons up ...

last year Virgin mobile announced that they would move from EE to Vodaphone from 2021

"Virgin Media's mobile network will be powered by Vodafone's infrastructure from 2021, switching from the BT-EE network it has used for the past two decades. The world's first Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) launched in 1999 under the guise of Virgin Mobile and using what was then One2One's network"

[watercooled]

This doesn't fill me with confidence. Erosion of mobile competition. With Virgin mobile going onto Vodafone how does this even work? Then there's the internet side. I haven't heard great things about 02 on that front.

Why's that? There are 4 operators now and there would be 4 after a potential merger.

WRT the Vodafone thing, that could pose some challenges if they can't back out of the contract.

Either way, it's only 'talks' for now - similar talks happened with Vodafone a while back and nothing really came of it.

[Iota]

Virgin Mobile currently piggy backs on BT/EE mobile networks

Does it? It used to use EE, however they started switching to other hardware a couple of years ago and stopped using EE. Which is why I swapped my network to EE, because whatever Virgin Mobile were using was rubbish for signal where I live.

[watercooled]

Yes, Virgin Mobile are a virtual provider running on EE's network. However, I believe there are some limitations on things like VoLTE and the lower frequency bands, but I'm not sure if that still applies.

There are only 4 physical networks in the UK: EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. Anything else is an MVNO. However, EE/Three and O2/Vodafone do share cell locations to some extent e.g. sites, masts, antennas in some cases. But that does not mean coverage will be equivalent in all areas as the different operators may deploy different hardware, spectrum or have no presence at all.

[3dcandy]

Yes, Virgin Mobile are a virtual provider running on EE's network. However, I believe there are some limitations on things like VoLTE and the lower frequency bands, but I'm not sure if that still applies.

There are only 4 physical networks in the UK: EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. Anything else is an MVNO. However, EE/Three and O2/Vodafone do share cell locations to some extent e.g. sites, masts, antennas in some cases. But that does not mean coverage will be equivalent in all areas as the different operators may deploy different hardware, spectrum or have no presence at all.

VoLTE is now enabled on Virgin handsets. SIM only deals if you can get one are awesome but coverage isn't the best being a mvno

[Ttaskmaster]

More important than all of that - What's gonna happen to Sean Bean, though?
He's not going to die again, is he?

[3dcandy]

I'd post the link to him just saying that over and over again... but I imagine you'd be able to google it as fast as me

[uksnapper]

Virgin media is the worst costumer related service ever.
I was mugged by them,lost my landline Ive enjoyed for 40 years and not an offer of help

[watercooled]

Do you mean lost landline as in moved to their VoIP system where the phone connects to the router? This is the case in some areas now where they're phasing out the old phone networks, but they're not the only ones and even BT/Openreach are moving towards a VoIP-only service over the next few years which should allow them to free up a fair bit of space in the exchange.

Regarding support, if you've had no joy on the phone it can help to post on their forums. It's a community forum but after a while a moderator should take a look and in general I've found them to be quite helpful. Obviously the current situation might affect response times regardless though.

[3dcandy]

Virgin media is the worst costumer related service ever.
I was mugged by them,lost my landline Ive enjoyed for 40 years and not an offer of help

I raise your Virgin with TalkTalk....

[Output]

I raise your Virgin with TalkTalk....

There's just something about TalkTalk that made me not want to touch it with a ten foot bargepole ever since it was launched. I'm not really sure why, but maybe it was a matter of seeing them as the new AOL (as in the service that those clueless about tech are likely to choose when there are much better quality alternatives).

Obviously in the years since then, it seems to have become clear that I was right to stay away.

[3dcandy]

There's just something about TalkTalk that made me not want to touch it with a ten foot bargepole ever since it was launched. I'm not really sure why, but maybe it was a matter of seeing them as the new AOL (as in the service that those clueless about tech are likely to choose when there are much better quality alternatives).

Obviously in the years since then, it seems to have become clear that I was right to stay away.

Left my elderly mom without a phone line. Had to fight to get the number back, the same number she has had since 1979. Refused to talk to me only her because they knew she wouldn't understand. Threatened them with solicitor and got the best reply ever of "get in the q mate"

[Output]

Left my elderly mom without a phone line. Had to fight to get the number back, the same number she has had since 1979. Refused to talk to me only her because they knew she wouldn't understand. Threatened them with solicitor and got the best reply ever of "get in the q mate"

Wow, that just cements my dislike even further.

[uksnapper]

I wrote to them royal mail,and said wanted to move my landline to another provider.
I got no response but 30 days later was disconnected,broadband too.
I rang them from another phone and was told if I wanted to move the landline I would have to sign up for a 12 month contract and then move it as it could not be moved once disconnected.
Ive had run ins with them in the past where after signing up the price has been raised and been refunded for the term of the contract.

They have always been poor at communicating and not returning emails or calls.Customer service and Virgin media are not terms to be used together,unless one adds the word "dire"
I now have a 4G hub powered by a Smarty sim which gives me broadband for £ 10 a month,quite a saving.

Do you mean lost landline as in moved to their VoIP system where the phone connects to the router? This is the case in some areas now where they're phasing out the old phone networks, but they're not the only ones and even BT/Openreach are moving towards a VoIP-only service over the next few years which should allow them to free up a fair bit of space in the exchange.

Regarding support, if you've had no joy on the phone it can help to post on their forums. It's a community forum but after a while a moderator should take a look and in general I've found them to be quite helpful. Obviously the current situation might affect response times regardless though.