Virgin Mobile has agreed a five-year deal with Vodafone UK which it says will include innovative new services, including 5G, to its mobile customers.

Virgin Mobile operates as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) which means it piggybacks off another mobile network. It’s used BT (which uses the EE network) since January 2017 but the deal comes to an end in late 2021, at which point Virgin Media’s mobile offering will transition to Vodafone.

Virgin Mobile 5G services are set to launch on the Vodafone network before the transition takes place.

The deal with Vodafone will run until 2026 and see Vodafone supply wholesale mobile network services, including both voice and data, to Virgin Mobile and Virgin Media Business.

Virgin Media will have full access to all of Vodafone’s current services and future technologies, such as Vodafone’s expanding 5G network, enabling new product advancements and benefits for its customers.

Lutz Schüler, Virgin Media CEO, said: “This agreement with Vodafone will bring a host of fantastic benefits and experiences to our customers, including 5G services in the near future. Twenty years ago Virgin Mobile became the world’s first virtual operator and this new agreement builds on that heritage. It will open up a whole new world of opportunity for Virgin Media as we focus on becoming the most recommended brand for customers and bring our mobile and broadband connectivity closer together in one package for one price.”

Nick Jeffery, Vodafone UK CEO, said: “We are delighted that Virgin has recognised the huge investments we’ve made, and continue to make, in building the UK’s best mobile network and our role in challenging the market with new commercial services. As a result, they have chosen us to work with them in the next phase of their development.

“This is an exciting deal between two great British brands. We are combining our strong heritage in innovation to create a world without limits for our customers through unlimited data offers and 5G.”