Virgin Media O2 is offering free 4G phones and discounted upgrades to people in the Durham area whose 3G devices will no longer receive service from April 2. To minimise disruption, the company is offering free 4G-ready devices to vulnerable customers and discounted upgrades to others in the area who still rely on 3G technology.

Virgin Media O2 plans to spend £700 million this year improving all aspects of its network. Around £2 million every day will be spent on improving reliability, speed, and coverage to meet increasing demand, with mobile traffic having more than doubled in the past five years. The investment is part of Virgin Media O2’s wider