Drastic difference in coverage from Virgin Mobile

[EmmaLFC]

I was switched from virgin mobile to o2. When I was on virgin I had excellent data & call coverage but on o2 the data is often slow & calls drop out, people can't hear me etc. Why is it such a different experience if VM piggybacked on o2?

[MI5]

@EmmaLFC 

It shouldn't be any different so you may need a new sim if you haven't had one already.

Pop into your local O2 store with photo ID or Call 202 from your O2 mobile or 0344 809 0202, 0800 902 0217 or 0800 032 1402
When it comes to the reason you are calling, stay silent for 15 seconds and you will be taken to the keypad options.
Press 2 for Everything Else
Press 5 for More Options
Press 7 for Anything Else which will put you though to someone.
Say 'Upgrade', 'Lost/Stolen', or 'Fraud' if the suggestion above doesn't get you through.
Best time to call is 8 am.
You can also reach O2 via social media:
Facebook (https://o2uk.co/O2CFB), Twitter (https://o2uk.co/O2CTW), or Instagram (https://o2uk.co/O2CIG)

[Enlli]

Has your SIM been changed or have you still got the Virgin one. In some cases Virgin's Belgian programmed SIM cards refurse to play nice

I would go into an O2 Shop with photo ID and get it replaced.

[EmmaLFC]

Thanks both. I still have the VM sim, will get it changed ASAP!

[Cleoriff]

@EmmaLFC 

Virgin didn't 'piggyback' from O2. It was linked with Vodafone

The two networks (Virgin and O2) merged in June 2021

So you obviously had better coverage with Virgin.

A few guides to help

Guide: How can I sort out my network issues? 

Guide: Do you have poor coverage / signal Indoors? This may help Explain / resolve it 

https://www.o2.co.uk/help/virgin-mobile-to-o2 

You may need to change your sim

[madasaf1sh]

@Cleoriff 

Before Virgin Moved to o2 properly they used the following networks 

1. EE  then onto 2. Vodafone then as an MVNO on o2 and now onto o2, most customers on VM have been through all 3 networks 

😀

As @Enlli has said and is know around the industry the Belgian Sims do not play well with the been moved to an MNO, so always better to get a new sim... 

😀

[EmmaLFC]

Spoke to o2 on the phone, they said they can't send me a sim because there is no option to send me a 4g one. Will have to go to the shop next week.

[Cleoriff]

@madasaf1sh 

When I was posting (slowly with my old arthritic fingers) no-one else had posted on the thread. 😂

I got this from Google:

"Virgin Mobile's service piggybacks on Vodafone. Coverage on Vodafone is excellent. Its 4G covers 99% of the population, and its budding 5G network currently covers 100+ towns and cities"

I did edit my post to add about changing the sim.

Only then did I see  the 'whole forum' had posted before me 😂🤣

[jonsie]

As far as I'm aware a 5G sim is back compatible to 4G

whereas the opposite is true if needing 5G

O2 are talking nonsense and obviously a severe lack of training for customer support

Call them again and see if you can speak to someone a little further up the intelligence scale

[madasaf1sh]

To be honest @Cleoriff 

That is me usually with the damn pop up on the site, and I lose interest, and then finally get rid of it, and post, to see loads of posts before mine posted 🤣🤣😂