Virgin Media O2 Daisy shakes up UK business telecoms market

A new heavyweight has entered the business telecoms market of the UK with the launch of Virgin Media O2 Daisy.

Born from the merger of Virgin Media O2’s business division and the Daisy Group, the pitch is to become the sole telecoms partner a UK business will ever need.

For any business owner or IT manager tired of juggling different suppliers for their mobile, broadband, cloud, and security needs, this could make you pay attention. O2 Daisy is setting itself up as a one-stop shop, aiming to untangle the web of vendors that so many companies find themselves trapped in. The promise is one point of contact, one bill, and a complete suite of services under a single roof.

The new company combines the scale and power of Virgin Media O2’s national fixed and mobile telecoms networks with the business-to-business agility and deep customer knowledge that made Daisy Group a success. It mixes corporate muscle and specialist expertise and is supported by £1.4 billion in combined annual revenues and a customer list that already numbers in the hundreds of thousands.

Virgin Media O2 is taking a majority 70% stake in the new UK business telecoms venture, and a unified leadership team in place to steer the ship. Daisy’s founder, the entrepreneur Matthew Riley, takes the role of Chairman, while Jo Bertram, formerly of Virgin Media O2, steps in as CEO.

Jo Bertram, CEO of O2 Daisy, said: “Today we start on our mission to shake up the market and provide the technology needed to make every business better. With the launch of our new standalone company, we’re putting our focus on what really matters—helping businesses of all sizes connect and grow.

“By bringing together two experienced teams and supercharging them with scaled networks, agile systems and comprehensive products, we’re ready to deliver exceptional outcomes for our customers.” 

The new entity is hitting the ground running, offering UK business customers immediate access to an expanded menu of telecoms services, including popular tools like Teams Phone Mobile alongside advanced cloud and connectivity options. They are also talking a big game on future-facing tech, with 5G Private Networks and cybersecurity central to their portfolio.

Matthew Riley, Chairman of O2 Daisy, commented: “This is an exciting day for O2 Daisy, as we officially launch and bring together two highly successful companies into one powerhouse team. In a fast-changing world, growth is inextricably linked to the ability to access world-class IT and communications infrastructure.

“Driven by the entrepreneurial spirit we’re known for, O2 Daisy will revolutionise the telecommunications and IT landscape, by creating connectivity offerings fit for UK businesses of all sizes—underpinning their own growth stories.” 

Of course, the real test will be in the execution. Merging two distinct company cultures and technical platforms is never simple. However, for UK businesses, more choice and a powerful new telecoms option can only be a good thing.

See also: UK seeks cyber defence interoperability beyond NATO allies

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Tags: 5G, b2b, broadband, cloud, connectivity, cybersecurity, europe, merger, mobile, networks, o2, private 5g, Security, telecoms, uk, virgin media