Original article ISPreview UK:Read More
Mobile operator O2 (Virgin Media) has today revealed that their Direct-to-Device (D2D) based O2 Satellite service (here), which for £3 extra per month enables normal Smartphones to connect to their mobile network via Starlink’s cell-focused broadband satellites, now also works on Google Pixel devices (phones).
Just to recap. The new service harnesses SpaceX’s global Starlink constellation in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to support a satellite based 4G mobile data (broadband) connection via part of the 1800MHz (B3) band, which enables connectivity in even some of the remotest parts of the UK. In addition, users also benefit from greater general resilience, at least when outside a building.
The new service, once applied, effectively boosted O2’s UK landmass mobile coverage from 89% to 95%, delivering a coverage uplift equivalent to an area around two thirds the size of Wales. The service is designed to complement O2’s existing mobile network, and customers will connect automatically when traditional cellular coverage is unavailable.
However, at launch in February 2026 it only supported a limited number of handsets, all of which were based off the Android operating system (mostly Samsung models). Since then they’ve added support for Apple’s iPhones, and they’ve now extended this to include Google’s Pixel phones (starting with the Google Pixel 9 onwards).
Chris Bournes, Commercial Director at VMO2, said:
“When we launched O2 Satellite, we wanted to make satellite connectivity available on the devices our customers already use every day.
The addition of Google Pixel devices is another important step forward and means even more customers can benefit from the reassurance of staying connected in places where traditional mobile coverage isn’t available.
As satellite technology continues to evolve, we’re excited to keep expanding access and bringing the benefits to more people.”
The service does, however, have some limitations and won’t work everywhere. For example, it will initially only being able to support text messaging and limited data connectivity across specific apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, Google Maps and more. But we expect all of this to improve with time.