Virgin Mobile, the world’s first virtual mobile network, has re-appointed EE as its airtime and connectivity partner.
Unlike EE, O2, Vodafone and Three, Virgin Mobile doesn’t licence spectrum from Ofcom or own transmission sites, instead it bulk buys access to EE’s network which it uses to power its services.
The two companies first partnered for Virgin Mobile’s launch in 1999.
The Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) pioneered by Virgin has since been adopted by other brands such as Tesco Mobile.
Dana Strong , Virgin Media’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “Having worked together for over a decade, this partnership between the world’s first virtual operator and what is now Britain’s most comprehensive mobile network is moving into an exciting new phase.”
EE’s Gerry McQuade added: “We’re delighted that following a competitive industry tender, Virgin Media has again chosen to partner with EE and build on our longstanding and successful relationship.
“By choosing the EE network, Virgin Media will ensure its customers and around 14,000 employees continue to have access to the UK’s biggest and fastest mobile network.”