Quick Overview
O2 UK is operated by Virgin Media O2, a joint venture between Liberty Global and Telefónica. Vodafone UK is part of the global Vodafone Group. Both networks share similar price points and 4G coverage but differ in 5G rollout speed, MVNO relationships and roaming packages.
| Category | O2 | Vodafone |
|---|---|---|
| Parent company | Virgin Media O2 | Vodafone Group |
| 4G population coverage | ~99% | ~99% |
| 5G cities (approx.) | 80+ | 100+ |
| APN | mobile.o2.co.uk | wap.vodafone.co.uk |
| MVNOs | giffgaff, Tesco, Sky, Lycamobile | VOXI, Lebara, Talkmobile, UW |
| Loyalty programme | O2 Priority | — |
| Roaming | EU incl. on most plans | Roam-Free EU incl. |
Coverage & 5G
Both O2 and Vodafone achieve approximately 99% population coverage on 4G. For rural depth, both lag behind EE but are broadly comparable with each other. O2 has invested in rural connectivity through the Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme, extending its outdoor 4G reach in remote areas of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Vodafone leads O2 on 5G city count, covering 100+ locations vs O2's 80+. Vodafone's urban 5G performance — particularly on its 3.4–3.8 GHz n78 band — often achieves higher peak speeds in city centres. O2 uses 3.5 GHz spectrum for 5G and is expanding steadily, but Vodafone is currently ahead in deployment pace.
Data Speeds
4G average speeds are similar on both networks — typically 25–45 Mbps download in good coverage. On 5G, Vodafone tends to post marginally higher city-centre averages in independent benchmarks, though the gap narrows in mixed urban environments. Both networks offer solid upload speeds of 10–20 Mbps on 4G.
Plans & Pricing
O2 and Vodafone are closely matched on price. O2 SIM-only plans start from approximately £8/month and reach unlimited tiers around £25/month. Vodafone pricing is comparable, with tiered unlimited plans (Lite, Standard, Max) at different speeds and hotspot allowances. O2's Airtime Plan separates device cost from service cost on handset contracts, making upgrades more transparent.
O2's Priority programme gives customers early access to concert and event tickets, weekly freebies and exclusive discounts — a genuine perk that adds tangible value for people who go to live events.
APN Settings Compared
| Setting | O2 | Vodafone |
|---|---|---|
| APN | mobile.o2.co.uk | wap.vodafone.co.uk |
| Username | o2web (or blank) | wap |
| Password | password (or blank) | wap |
| MCC / MNC | 234 / 10 | 234 / 15 |
| MMSC | http://mmsc.mms.o2.co.uk:8002 | http://mms.vodafone.co.uk/servlets/mms |
| MMS Proxy | 82.132.254.1 | 212.183.137.012 |
| MMS Port | 8080 | 8799 |
Full guides: O2 APN settings · Vodafone APN settings
Roaming
Both networks include EU roaming on most pay-monthly plans. O2 Travel covers EU destinations using your UK allowance. Vodafone Roam-Free extends to a wider list of destinations including some non-EU countries. For frequent international travellers, Vodafone's roaming reach is broader.
MVNOs
O2 hosts an extensive MVNO ecosystem: giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile, Lycamobile, and Virgin Mobile (now Virgin Media O2). Vodafone hosts VOXI, Lebara, Talkmobile, and Utility Warehouse. Both networks offer genuinely cheap MVNO alternatives to their main brand.
⭐ Verdict
O2 wins on loyalty perks and MVNO variety — it's the better choice if you value Priority rewards or want a sub-brand like giffgaff. Vodafone wins on 5G city coverage and international roaming breadth. For pure connectivity in major cities, Vodafone has a slight edge; for value-add and ecosystem choice, O2 comes out ahead.