UK's O2 launches Europe's first smartphone satellite service

A view of a signage outside an O2 mobile phone store in Liverpool, Britain, October 8, 2024. REUTERS/Phil Noble

LONDON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Britain's ⁠Virgin Media O2 launched Europe's first satellite-to-mobile service on ⁠Thursday, bringing text messages, WhatsApp and Google Maps to ‌customers using regular smartphones in locations with no network connection for three pounds ($4.06) a month.

The company, owned by Telefonica and Liberty Global, said O2 Satellite, ​which uses SpaceX's Starlink network, would ⁠increase its coverage of Britain's ⁠landmass from 89% to 95%.