Virgin Media O2 has signed a partnership with Elon Musk's SpaceX subsidiary Starlink to expand rural network coverage in the UK.

The multi-year partnership will see Virgin Media O2 use Starlink's LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite service.

Direct to cell service will be enabled in rural areas, where mobile coverage is sparse, and provided through O2 Satellite, the name given to the service.

Virgin Media O2 previously announced in April of last year that it would work with Starlink to provide network connectivity in remote rural areas of the UK.

Starlink's satellite-to-mobile constellation of more than 650 LEO satellites will deliver connectivity straight to devices using a portion of O2’s licensed mobile spectrum.

Virgin Media O2 noted O2 Satellite will span rural areas across the country, and will complement O2's existing mobile network. The service will switch on automatically in parts of the UK where there's no traditional mobile coverage available.

The telco said it aims to expand its landmass coverage in the UK to more than 95 percent within 12 months of launch.

Virgin Media said it's still conducting internal trials of the service, but expects to roll the service out to customers early next year.

"Starlink is a clear leader in this space, operating the world’s most advanced satellite constellation, which makes it the right partner to complement our existing coverage and support Virgin Media O2’s ambition to deliver reliable mobile connectivity across the UK," said Lutz Schüler, CEO of Virgin Media O2.

Earlier this year, Virgin Media O2 announced plans to invest £700 million ($955m) into its mobile network this year in an effort to improve its reliability, speed, and coverage across the UK.

The telco is currently switching off its 3G network and expects to complete the shutdown by the end of this year.

As for Starlink, this is the company's latest high-profile partnership with a telco. The company notably has strong ties with T-Mobile in the US, helping the carrier to launch its nationwide satellite service.