Partner Connect 2024
event highlights

On 8 February our partners gathered at the County Hall in London for our Partner Connect event to learn all about our plans and strategy to help them succeed in 2024.

James Audley, our Head of Wholesale Strategy, Marketing and Business Performance kicked off the day by explaining how our event’s tagline ‘Evolution. Expansion. Experience.’ encapsulates how we’re building on the progress we’ve made since last year:

Evolution: In 2023, we initiated substantial transformations to enhance the partner experience. This year, the emphasis is on refining these changes, ensuring that they contribute to long-term value for our partners.

Expansion: A key theme of the day was network expansion. We’re doubling down on our commitment to expanding our network reach and capabilities. This includes initiatives such as refining partner benefits packages to reward growth, scaling delivery processes, and expanding the reach of core platforms to deliver high-speed services more efficiently.

Experience: Elevating customer experience remains a top priority. We’re aiming to deliver an exceptional experience characterised by proactive communication, open dialogue, and seamless collaboration. By focusing on doing ordinary things extraordinarily well, we have our eyes firmly set on being your preferred connectivity supplier.

Virgin Media O₂ CEO Lutz Schuler joined us to share his outlook on the current state of the telecoms market, the company’s investment in 5G and fibre optic technology, our network expansion plans, and a reaffirmation of our commitment to customer satisfaction.

Next up was a panel on the future of network builds, hosted by our Ben Archer, Head of Carrier and Mobile, and featuring Jeanie York, CTO of Virgin Media O₂. Speakers discussed the challenges of building and maintaining a national network, including last-mile connectivity, standardisation, and collaboration with different cell side operators.

We then invited technologists from Ciena, Virgin Media O₂, Liberty Global, and Node 4 to share their thoughts on emerging technologies and their impact on network infrastructure, a key topic explored in-depth in our Ready for Impact? report. The panel explored the societal impact of AI and the myriad ways it will transform network infrastructure.

James Audley returned to the stage to outline our 2024 roadmap and strategic priorities, all aimed at driving long-term growth for partners. Focusing on our backhaul and High Capacity Services, expanding our 10G portfolio, enhancing partner relationships, and becoming your preferred Ethernet supplier.

Our guest speaker Ollie Ollerton, known for his role in the hit Channel 4 series ‘SAS: Who Dares Wins’, captivated the audience with his personal journey of overcoming adversity through tapping into his inner potential. Ollie also highlighted the significance of having a clear and well-defined vision for disruptive change to be successful – something we agree with wholeheartedly.

Jo Bertram, Managing Director of Virgin Media Business, wrapped up the day’s presentations by emphasising the importance of customer centricity in our B2B partnerships and the broader company’s commitment to expanding our network to meet the growing demand for high-bandwidth connectivity.

Guests then took to the London Eye for a stunning view of the capital’s skyline, followed by dinner and our partner awards ceremony – our chance to recognise our partners’ fantastic achievements from the past year.

If you missed the event or simply want to relive some of the highlights, look through our gallery below.