Rollout reaches the North East
O2 has activated its next-generation 5G+ service across Newcastle, wider Tyneside and Sunderland. Up to 890,000 people in Newcastle and Tyneside plus more than 288,000 in Sunderland can now use the standalone network. Coverage stretches from the city centres and Quayside out to Gateshead, South Shields, North Shields, Tynemouth, Whitley Bay, Washington and smaller towns including Shiney Row and Houghton-le-Spring. All listed areas have at least 90% outdoor 5G+ coverage.
What customers need to do
The upgrade costs nothing extra for O2 customers with a compatible handset. Users must keep their SIM updated and some may need to switch to an eSIM. Full details sit on the O2 site. This follows the same pattern we saw when O2 lit up 5G+ across Northern Ireland earlier this month.
£700 million network plan
The work forms part of Virgin Media O2’s £700 million Mobile Transformation Plan for 2026, which adds masts, small cells, spectrum and automation across the UK. O2’s network was named Best Mobile Network Coverage at the Uswitch Telecoms Awards for the second year running and Europe’s most improved by Umlaut Connect in 2025.
Professor Robert Joyce, Director of Mobile Access Engineering at O2, said: “These upgrades mark another major milestone in the rollout of our network. By extending 5G+ coverage across Newcastle, Tyneside and Sunderland, we’re enabling more people to benefit from faster speeds, lower latency and a more reliable mobile experience. Through our £700 million Mobile Transformation Plan, we’re continuing to invest in the connectivity that communities and businesses rely on every day. This latest rollout brings our most advanced mobile network to communities across the North East, helping our customers stay connected when it matters most.”
Check your plan and device on our mobile phones hub to see if you can benefit straight away.
