Fed up with losing your smartphone signal and not being able to keep in touch with friends and family? O2 reckons its latest update will end the nightmares of not being able to stay connected when heading off the beaten track. The UK network has just confirmed it’s the first in the UK to start rolling out satellite-powered mobile data. As the name suggests, this service doesn’t rely on phone masts with the signal sent via space instead.

O2 says that this Satellite technology will increase its coverage footprint from 89 per cent to 95 per cent of the country – that’s equivalent to an area around two-thirds the size of Wales.

It should hopefully mean fewer dead spots, especially in more rural areas where phones have previously shown no signal.

To make things seamless, the service activates automatically when customers move beyond traditional cellular coverage. There is no need to download an app or change how the phone is used.

At launch, customers can send text messages and use data across popular apps including WhatsApp, Messenger and Google Maps, with more devices, apps and capabilities set to follow.

So, how do you access this new update?

O2 Satellite is available as a £3 per month Bolt On for O2 Pay Monthly customers and will soon be included at no extra cost for customers on Ultimate Plans.

Right now, it only works with Samsung Galaxy S25 devices, but more phones should be added soon.

“This is a huge step forward for mobile connectivity in the UK,” said Lutz Schüler, CEO of Virgin Media O2.

“O2 Satellite means our customers can stay connected in places where phones have never worked before, giving them reassurance whether they are exploring the countryside, travelling along the coast or simply moving beyond traditional coverage.”

Here is the full list of devices and compatible apps

DEVICES: Samsung Galaxy S25, Samsung Galaxy S25+, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

APPS: AccuWeather, AllTrails, BBC Weather, Facebook Messenger, Google Find Hub, Google Maps

Google Messages, Google Personal Safety, Samsung Weather, WhatsApp, X, Yahoo Mail