# Virgin Media O2 targets £800m annual savings as thousands of jobs go

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/virgin-media-o2-to-cut-thousands-of-jobs-as-it-plans-800m-cost-savings/
- Published: 2026-11-03T08:21:45+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-03T08:52:19+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/nov/03/virgin-media-o2-cut-jobs-cost-savings-telecoms-ai
- Topics: AI, Business, Companies, Economy, Software, Technology

## Key points

- Virgin Media O2 targets £800m in annual savings by 2029.
- Job cuts could affect up to 25% of its 16,000 staff.
- The company plans greater use of AI and fewer contractors.

## Summary

Virgin Media O2 plans to cut thousands of jobs as part of a drive to save £800m a year by 2029 and reduce its £22bn debt. The company says it will use artificial intelligence more widely, including in customer service, network planning and fault management.

It has not specified the number of roles to go, but the cuts could affect up to a quarter of its 16,000 staff, with most losses expected in non-customer-facing jobs. Job cuts are expected to contribute £300m to savings, alongside fewer contractors and supplier reviews; the company has also paused plans to extend full-fibre upgrades beyond existing commitments.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.