Broadband Guide

Virgin Media broadband coverage and availability

Updated: Monday 12 May, 2012

By Helen Thomas

Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com) is the UK’s largest cable broadband provider with over four million subscribers.

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Virgin Media's superfast fibre optic cable network covers 48% of the UK - mostly in urban areas. With advertised download speeds of up to 60Mb and up to 100Mb in some areas, and actual speeds delivering 90-96% of this, Virgin Media consistently tops the list in telecoms watchdog Ofcom's broadband speed tests.

Because Virgin Media owns the cable network it uses for its superfast broadband, it is not dependant on leasing another company’s phone lines so you are not obliged to have a BT landline with your broadband connection.

30Mb broadband

You don’t have to sign-up to Virgin Media’s top packages to take advantage of its superfast service. Ofcom research in May 2011 showed that its 30Mb broadband package was averaging an impressive 31Mb.

Superfast 50Mb broadband

If you are a heavy internet user, regularly streaming TV, playing online games, or downloading films, Virgin Media’s superfast broadband delivers the speeds you need.

Running at full speed on its 50Mb connection, you can download a 60MB album in as little as 11 seconds. Or if you live in a multiple user household with a big family or a student house, several people can be online at the same time without your speeds being affected.

These high usage groups are undoubtedly at the centre of Virgin Media’s attention. Neil Berkett, chief executive officer, says: “We have continued to focus relentlessly on delivering superior services tailored to the needs of data-hungry households.”

100Mb broadband availability

By mid-2012 Virgin Media also aims to have rolled out its 100Mb broadband service, currently available to six million cable homes, and has even trialled an “up to 200Mb” service.

Virgin Media is definitely the go-to provider for web users in need of a fast connection. The company reported a 25% increase in data consumption among its customers in just six months, and more than half of all Virgin Media’s new broadband customers have chosen its 30Mb package or higher compared to just 18% a year ago*.

Visit our postcode checker to find out if you live in an area covered by Virgin Media’s superfast cable broadband.

Cable broadband costs

Virgin Media’s cable broadband starts from £13.50 a month with Virgin phone line rental (£21 a month without line rental) for its 10Mb service.

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Its 30Mb service costs from £18.50 a month with a phone line, while its 50Mb package starts at £25 a month - though you'll pay more for both if you take your broadband as a standalone service without a phone line.

At £13.90, line rental from Virgin Media is higher than the £12.25 charged by Sky but matches BT’s phone line charges (set to increase to £14.60 from 4 December 2011).

While all Virgin Media packages offer “unlimited broadband”, you will be subject to traffic management policy on the 10Mb and 30Mb services and could have your connection slowed down if you download too much. This doesn’t apply to “normal” traffic on the 50Mb or 100Mb services, but peer-to-peer file sharing is still managed.

Virgin Media also offers a wide range of bundle options for broadband, home phone and digital TV, but along with BT it is among the more expensive providers on the market.

What speeds can you expect from your superfast connection?

Virgin Media’s average speeds are closer to advertised “up to” speeds than any of its competitors. An Ofcom study in May 2011 showed that customers with Virgin Media’s up to 30Mb package were actually achieving an average download speed of 31Mb.

Virgin Media also performs well on its other cable packages, with an average 9.5Mb on its up to 10Mb service and an average download speed of 48.4Mb on its 50Mb connection.

Do you live outside Virgin Media’s cable broadband?

If your household is outside the cable network you can still get your broadband from Virgin Media via traditional ADSL copper phone lines.

However, broadband with Virgin Media really is a tale of two connections; those who are covered by the cable network and those who aren't.

Broadband speeds on Virgin Media National Broadband packages, which use BT’s copper wire network, are far from superfast. As with other ADSL providers, speeds decline the further you get from the telephone exchange. Ofcom research from May 2011 showed that customers with ADSL connections were getting less than half the top speeds advertised on up to 20/24Mb connections.

With traditional phone line connections, factors such as distance to your local exchange have a major impact on the broadband speeds you will achieve. However in recognition of this fact, rather than giving an “up to” broadband speed, Virgin Media promises to tell you what download speed you can expect before you sign-up so you can make an informed decision** - though this won’t help you go any faster.

Being outside Virgin Media’s cable areas means that you won’t be able to take its digital TV service. This means that if you want additional TV channels, such as those offered by cable TV, you would be better off considering a phone, TV and broadband bundle from either BT or Sky.

Check for BT or Sky broadband availability in your area with our postcode checker.

*source: Virgin Media half year and second quarter 2011 results

**source: http://shop.virginmedia.com/broadband/about-virgin-broadband/broadband-wherever-you-live.html

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