Virgin Media O2 has confirmed it will invest an additional £700 million ($936m) into its mobile network this year.

The investment is part of the telco's Mobile Transformation Plan, matching the figure it invested last year.

The investment will be used to boost the carrier's mobile capacity coverage across the country.

This will include the installation of more small cells and masts, noted Virgin Media O2, plus the transfer and subsequent deployment of new spectrum, the redeployment of spectrum into O2’s 4G and 5G networks, and the rollout of 1,000 Giga Sites nationwide.

As part of these upgrades, O2 will extend its 5G Standalone (5G SA) coverage to 87 percent of the UK population.

It comes after the carrier switched on its O2 Satellite service in partnership with Starlink last week, as part of plans to tackle not-spots across the UK. According to the telco, its satellite service boosts Virgin Media O2’s UK landmass coverage from 89 percent to 95 percent.

“Our Mobile Transformation Plan is all about building a network that customers can rely on wherever they are and whenever they need it," said Jeanie York, chief technology officer at Virgin Media O2.

"This £700m investment means we can keep improving performance in the places that matter most, from busy city centers and stadiums to railways, roads, and rural communities. By continuing to invest in new infrastructure, deploying additional spectrum, and embracing greater automation, we are creating the stronger, smarter network that our customers need.”

Virgin Media O2 noted that it has connected 2,000 mobile sites to its proprietary 10Gbps fiber backhaul network as the carrier aims to bring its mobile and fixed networks together.

The telco also pledged to provide stadiums and transport hubs with a network boost this year, through the use of its Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS).