Broadband Providers

Virgin Media broadband

Updated: Wednesday 18 January, 2012

By Editorial - news@consumerchoices.co.uk

Virgin Media (www.VirginMedia.com) offers a range of superfast broadband packages and bundles, offering speeds of up to 50Mb and 100Mb. Read the full Virgin Media Broadband review. If you would like to speak to a Virgin Media representative please call 0808 189 0514.

Virgin broadband-only packages

Virgin Media broadband and phone

Virgin Media broadband, phone and TV

About Virgin Media

Virgin Media uses fibre optic cable technology to deliver superfast broadband at speeds of up to 50Mb and 100Mb - the fastest speed commercially available in the UK.

As well as its innovative broadband packages, Virgin Media also offers digital TV, home phone deals, line rental, mobile phone contracts and mobile broadband - the widest range of products available from any one ISP.

For several years on the trot, industry watchdog Ofcom, has found Virgin Media to be the fastest broadband provider in the UK.

The Virgin Media broadband service

Using its cable network Virgin Media is able to deliver superfast broadband packages across the UK. It currently offers four different connection speeds; 10Mb, 30Mb, 50Mb and 100Mb. All four packages come with “unlimited broadband” downloads with fair usage policies that vary from one package to the next.

Because Virgin Media owns its own cable network and uses it to deliver your broadband, true standalone broadband packages are available - where you don’t even have to pay for line rental. You could save more than £160 per year on line rental with a broadband-only package from Virgin Media.

Alternatively, customers can bundle their cable broadband with a range of other products, including home phone calls and line rental, digital TV, mobile broadband or a mobile phone contract. Virgin Media has expanded its digital TV service with new HD channels available for no additional charge beyond the standard package price. Read our Virgin V HD Box and Virgin V+HD Box reviews.

You can find out how Virgin Media customers rated their broadband service in our Virgin Media broadband customer reviews.

Virgin Media 100Mb broadband

Virgin Media has been rolling out its 100Mb broadband connection since December 2010. Its ultrafast connection is now available to a third of UK households - more than 20 million people, and by mid-2012, Virgin Media aims to expand the service across its entire cable network - covering half of the UK. In addition to this Virgin Media has announced that all customers on up to 50Mb and 100Mb packages will be upgraded to speeds of up to 120Mb by 2013.

Virgin Media’s 100Mb service allows users to download an entire music album in as little as five seconds; a TV show in around 30 seconds, a high quality movie in as little as 1½ minutes and a high-definition movie in just seven minutes.

As well as speeds of up to 100Mb - perfect for households that all want to get online at the same time - the package will also offer uploads at up to 10Mb, a next generation modem and a wireless N router, capable of delivering speeds of up to 400Mb as faster services roll-out in the future. The provider has already been trialling speeds of up to 200Mb.

Virgin Media broadband benefits

Faster broadband speeds are a big attraction when it comes to Virgin Media, allowing customers to download music and movies at faster speeds than ever before.

As well as superfast downloads, Virgin Media’s broadband packages come with some innovative extras.

These include a free monthly allowance of digital photo prints for a year, free online storage and data backup so you need never worry about losing precious photos or family videos, and the ability to share files online with friends and family.

Virgin Media awards & accreditations

• Highly commended - Quality & Reliability, Speed, Speed of Activation -Customer satisfaction awards 2011 (bundled services)
• Highly commended - Overall customer satisfaction, Broadbandchoices.co.uk 2011 Customer Satisfaction Survey (bundled services)
• Finalist - Best Consumer Fixed Broadband - ISPA awards 2011

Our expert’s verdict

Michael Phillips, BroadbandChoices.co.uk product director, said: “Virgin Media is definitely the fastest way to get online and it always comes out on top when it comes to download speeds.

“Its new 100Mb broadband service, which is the fastest in the country, will be available to half of the UK population by mid-2012.

"Virgin Media's digital TV service also has the best playback offerings, with video on demand as well as the BBC iPlayer and ITV catch-ups direct to your TV.

"However, customers should check out-of-bundle call charges as these can be quite costly," he warned