By Virgin Media offers M50, M125, M250, M350 and M500 fibre broadband plans. Compare Virgin Media’s broadband plans.
In the UK, Virgin Media offers a range of fibre broadband plans from £22.99 per month.
Unlike other major providers like BT, Sky and TalkTalk, Virgin Media uses their own cable-based network to provide a fibre broadband service. This allows them to offer a broadband service with much faster download speeds. However, it means that availability is currently limited to just 53% of UK homes.
In this article, we’ll review and compare Virgin Media’s fibre broadband plans including M50, M125, M250, M350, M500 and Gig1 broadband. We’ll also look at the speeds available on Virgin Media, along with the Hub 3 or Hub 4 router that you’ll get provided.
| Prices From: | £22.99 per month |
|---|---|
| Contract Length: | 18 months |
| Download Speed: | 54Mbps (M50 Fibre) 132Mbps (M125 Fibre) 264Mbps (M250 Fibre) 362Mbps (M350 Fibre) 516Mbps (M500 Fibre) 1,104Mbps (Gig1 Fibre) |
| Upload Speed: | 5Mbps (M50 Fibre) 20Mbps (M125 Fibre) 25Mbps (M250 Fibre) 36Mbps (M350 & M500 Fibre) 52Mbps (Gig1 Fibre) |
| Router: | Hub 3 (standard router) Hub 4 (with Gig1 Fibre Broadband) |
| Coverage: | 53% of UK homes (most plans) Selected areas (Gig1 Fibre Broadband) Check your postcode here |
Contents
Virgin Media Broadband Plans
In the UK, Virgin Media currently offers a choice of the following fibre broadband plans:
- M50 Fibre Broadband has an average download speed of 54Mbps.
- M125 Fibre Broadband has an average download speed of 132Mbps. This is Virgin Media’s most popular plan.
- M250 Fibre Broadband has an average download speed of 264Mbps.
- M350 Fibre Broadband has an average download speed of 362Mbps.
- M500 Fibre Broadband has an average download speed of 516Mbps.
The following table shows a side-by-side comparison of the five plans:
| M50 Fibre | M125 Fibre | M250 Fibre | M350 Fibre | M500 Fibre | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price: | £28 per month | £22.99 per month | £25.99 per month | £35.99 per month | £29.99 per month |
| No. of devices (recommended): |
3-5 devices | 5-9 devices | 10+ devices | 15+ devices | 25+ devices |
| Download Speed (average): |
54Mbps | 132Mbps | 264Mbps | 362Mbps | 516Mbps |
| Upload Speed (average): |
5Mbps | 20Mbps | 25Mbps | 36Mbps | 36Mbps |
| Technology | |||||
| Router: | Hub 3 | Hub 3 | Hub 3 | Hub 3 | Hub 3 |
| Technology: | Cable | Cable | Cable | Cable | Cable |
| Availability: | 53% of UK homes Check |
53% of UK homes Check |
53% of UK homes Check |
53% of UK homes Check |
53% of UK homes Check |
In addition, Virgin Media also offers a Gig1 fibre broadband service. Customers on Universal Credit can also choose a M15 Essential Broadband service.
M50 Fibre Broadband
Virgin Media’s entry-level fibre broadband service is known as M50 Broadband. Currently available from £28 per month, Virgin Media says it’s perfect for customers using up to 5 devices at the same time.
On M50 Broadband, you’ll get an average download speed of 54Mbps. This is comparable in speed to fibre broadband from other providers like BT, Sky and TalkTalk (typically between 35Mbps and 67Mbps depending on the plan you choose). You’ll get an average upload speed of 5Mbps (a little slower than the average upload speed on comparable providers which is 9-19Mbps).
The following table shows Virgin Media’s M50 Fibre Broadband deals:
| Service | Broadband & TV | Monthly Cost (will rise each April by RPI inflation plus 3.9%) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
 M50 fibre broadband + phone
| 54Mbps average download | £28.00 per month No upfront fee 18 month contract | See deal |
You’ll also get M50 Fibre Broadband included when you sign up to Virgin Media’s Big Bundle package. This includes Mixit TV with more than 100 channels and a Virgin TV 360 box. You’ll also get a home phone service with inclusive weekend calls to UK landlines.
M125 Fibre Broadband
On Virgin Media, the most popular fibre broadband plan is currently M125 Fibre Broadband (previously known as M100). Currently available for £22.99 per month, Virgin Media says it’s perfect for customers using up to 9 devices at the same time on their home network.
On the M125 fibre broadband plan, you’ll get an average download speed of 132Mbps. To put that in context, it’s enough for watching high definition video on up to 25 devices or watching ultra-HD video on 5 devices at the same time. It will also allow you to download a HD-quality movie in around 5 minutes. Because of this, the vast majority of UK households will find that M125 is already fast enough for their usage.
The average upload speed on M125 Fibre Broadband is 20Mbps.
The following table shows Virgin Media’s M125 Fibre Broadband deals:
| Service | Broadband & TV | Monthly Cost (will rise each April by RPI inflation plus 3.9%) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
M125 fibre broadband only
| 132Mbps average download | £22.99 per month No upfront fee 18 month contract | See deal |
M125 fibre broadband + phone
| 132Mbps average download | £29.99 per month No upfront fee 18 month contract | See deal |
You can also get M125 Fibre Broadband as part of Virgin Media’s TV & home phone packages. On these packages, you’ll get a Virgin TV 360 box and a phone line with inclusive weekend calls to UK landlines:
| Service | Broadband & TV | Monthly Cost (will rise each April by RPI inflation plus 3.9%) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
M125 Broadband + Flex
| 132Mbps average download 100+ channels | £27.99 per month plus £10.00 upfront 18 month contract | See deal |
M125 Broadband + Flex Volt
| 132Mbps average download 100+ channels | £33.99 per month plus £10.00 upfront 18 month contract | See deal |
M250 Fibre Broadband
If you’re living in a busy household and are looking for faster home broadband, Virgin Media offers M250 Fibre Broadband from £25.99 per month (previously known as M200). According to Virgin Media, it’s designed for customers using more than 10 devices at the same time.
On M250 broadband, you’ll get an average download speed of 264Mbps. This will allow you to stream ultra-HD video on 10 devices at the same time. Alternatively, you can download a HD quality film in around 3 minutes on this plan. You’ll also get an average upload speed of 25Mbps.
The following table shows Virgin Media’s M250 Fibre Broadband deals:
| Service | Broadband & TV | Monthly Cost (will rise each April by RPI inflation plus 3.9%) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
M250 fibre broadband only
| 264Mbps average download | £25.99 per month No upfront fee 3 months free 18 month contract | See deal |
M250 fibre broadband + phone
| 264Mbps average download | £35.99 per month No upfront fee 18 month contract | See deal |
Volt M250 fibre broadband + phone + O2 SIM
| 264Mbps average download | £35.99 per month No upfront fee £29.99 for 3 months 18 month contract | See deal |
Bigger Movies Combo Volt Bundle
| 264Mbps average download  
| £70.99 per month No upfront fee £10 for 3 months 18 month contract | See deal |
It’s possible to get M250 Fibre Broadband as part of a Virgin Media Volt package. This also includes a O2 SIM card with 10GB of data per month.
M350 Fibre Broadband
At present, you can get Virgin Media’s M350 Fibre Broadband service from £35.99 per month. It gives you an average download speed of 362Mbps and an average upload speed of 36Mbps.
The following table shows Virgin Media’s M350 Fibre Broadband deals:
| Service | Broadband & TV | Monthly Cost (will rise each April by RPI inflation plus 3.9%) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
M350 fibre broadband only
| 362Mbps average download | £35.99 per month No upfront fee 18 month contract | See deal |
Bigger Combo Bundle
| 362Mbps average download
| £39.99 per month No upfront fee 3 months free 18 month contract | See deal |
M350 fibre broadband + phone
| 362Mbps average download | £41.99 per month No upfront fee 18 month contract | See deal |
Volt M350 fibre broadband + phone + O2 SIM
| 362Mbps average download | £41.99 per month No upfront fee £35.99 for 3 months 18 month contract | See deal |
Bigger Combo Volt Bundle
| 362Mbps average download
| £49.99 per month No upfront fee £10 for 3 months 18 month contract | See deal |
Bigger Movies Combo Bundle
| 362Mbps average download
| £60.99 per month No upfront fee 3 months free 18 month contract | See deal |
M500 Fibre Broadband
You can get Virgin Media’s M500 Fibre Broadband for £29.99 per month. This gives you an average download speed of 516Mbps and an average upload speed of 36Mbps.
The following table shows Virgin Media’s M500 Fibre Broadband deals:
| Service | Broadband & TV | Monthly Cost (will rise each April by RPI inflation plus 3.9%) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
M500 fibre broadband only
| 516Mbps average download | £29.99 per month No upfront fee 3 months free 18 month contract | See deal |
M500 fibre broadband + phone
| 516Mbps average download | £47.99 per month No upfront fee 18 month contract | See deal |
Volt M500 fibre broadband + phone + O2 SIM
| 516Mbps average download | £47.99 per month No upfront fee £41.99 for 3 months 18 month contract | See deal |
Bigger Sports Combo Bundle
| 516Mbps average download 
| £69.99 per month No upfront fee 18 month contract | See deal |
Biggest Combo Bundle
| 516Mbps average download
| £79.00 per month No upfront fee 3 months free 18 month contract | See deal |
Gig1 Fibre Broadband
Virgin Media’s fastest fibre broadband service is known as Gig1 Fibre Broadband. It gives you even faster gigabit-level speeds, with an average download speed of 1,104Mbps. You’ll also get a Hub 4 router which is required to support the faster gigabit speeds.
| Service | Broadband & TV | Monthly Cost (will rise each April by RPI inflation plus 3.9%) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Gig1 fibre broadband only
| 1130Mbps average download | £34.99 per month No upfront fee 3 months free 18 month contract | See deal |
Gig1 fibre broadband + phone
| 1130Mbps average download | £53.99 per month No upfront fee 18 month contract | See deal |
Volt Gig1 fibre broadband + phone + O2 SIM
| 1130Mbps average download | £53.99 per month No upfront fee £47.99 for 3 months 18 month contract | See deal |
Bigger Sports Combo Volt Bundle
| 1130Mbps average download
| £79.99 per month No upfront fee 18 month contract | See deal |
Mega Volt Bundle
| 1130Mbps average download 
| £84.99 per month No upfront fee £20 for 3 months 18 month contract | See deal |
Customers choosing Gig1 Fibre Broadband will also receive the Intelligent WiFi Plus system at no extra cost.
Virgin Media is aiming to roll out Gig1 Fibre Broadband across their entire network by the end of 2021. To see whether Gig1 Fibre is available at your address, enter your postcode on the Virgin Media website. Prior to October 2021, customers with the Ultimate Oomph bundle were offered M600 fibre broadband instead.
In the background, Virgin’s Gig1 Fibre Broadband uses DOCSIS 3.1 technology for downloading. This enables the faster gigabit-level download speeds. Uploads continue to use DOCSIS 3.0 technology so there isn’t currently a significant difference in upload speeds.
M15 Essential Broadband
For customers in receipt of Universal Credit, Virgin Media offers a lower-cost Essential Broadband service. This costs £15 per month for an average download speed of 15Mbps and is sometimes also referred to as M15 Broadband. You’ll get an average upload speed of 2Mbps on this plan.
There’s more information about Virgin Media’s Essential Broadband on their website. There’s no home phone or TV service available with M15 broadband.
Virgin Media Speeds
On Virgin Media, the speeds you’ll get on your home broadband service will depend on the plan you have with them.
On the entry-level M50 Fibre Broadband service, you’ll get an average download speed of 54Mbps. This is comparable to the download speeds you can get on fibre broadband plans from BT, TalkTalk and Sky (these typically have an average download speed of 35-67Mbps).
On the more popular M125 Fibre Broadband plan, you’ll get an average download speed of 132Mbps. This is more than double the speed of M50 Fibre Broadband. It’s also around twice as fast as the fibre broadband plans from BT and Sky.
The following table shows the average download speed and upload speed you can expect on each of Virgin Media’s fibre broadband plans:
| Virgin Media Plan | Average Download Speed | Average Upload Speed |
|---|---|---|
| M15 Essential Broadband | 15Mbps (8Mbps minimum) |
2Mbps |
| M50 Fibre Broadband | 54Mbps (27Mbps minimum) |
5Mbps |
| M125 Fibre Broadband | 132Mbps (66Mbps minimum) |
20Mbps |
| M250 Fibre Broadband | 264Mbps (132Mbps minimum) |
25Mbps |
| M350 Fibre Broadband | 362Mbps (181Mbps minimum) |
36Mbps |
| M500 Fibre Broadband | 516Mbps (258Mbps minimum) |
36Mbps |
| M600 Fibre Broadband | 630Mbps (258Mbps minimum) |
41Mbps |
| Gig1 Fibre Broadband | 1,104Mbps (552Mbps minimum) |
52Mbps |
In the past, Virgin Media offered a M100 plan (with average download speeds of 108Mbps and average upload speeds of 10Mbps) and the M200 plan (with average download speeds of 213Mbps and average upload speeds of 20Mbps). These were replaced by the M125 and M250 plans on the 1st November 2022.
Unlike most other fibre broadband providers, Virgin Media uses their own cable-based network. Compared to the copper phone lines used by BT, Sky, TalkTalk and other providers on the Openreach network, they use a thicker cable with insulation so it can support faster speeds.
On Virgin Media’s fastest Gig1 Fibre Broadband plan, you’ll get an average download speed of 1,104Mbps and an average upload speed of 52Mbps. This makes the download speed on Gig1 comparable to many full fibre (FTTP) broadband plans. However, the upload speeds on Gig1 are still significantly slower.
According to Virgin Media, they don’t use any traffic management on their network. For this reason, you won’t see your speeds being reduced for using too much data or for using certain applications such as P2P file sharing.
Virgin Media Routers
When you sign up for Virgin Media’s fibre broadband service, you’ll normally be given a Hub 3 router to use with the service. The Hub 3 router produces a Wi-Fi network for your other devices to connect to. You’ll also get 4 Gigabit Ethernet sockets, allowing you to attach wired devices to your home network. Customers signing up for Gig1 Fibre Broadband will receive the faster Hub 4 router instead.
The following table shows a side-by-side comparison of the two hubs from Virgin Media:
| Virgin Media Hub 3 | Virgin Media Hub 4 | |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
| Availability | ||
| Broadband Plans: | M50 Fibre M125 Fibre M250 Fibre M350 Fibre M500 Fibre M600 Fibre |
Gig1 Fibre |
| Connectivity | ||
| Dual-Band Wi-Fi: | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi Connectivity: | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Wi-Fi Speed: | Up to 1,600Mbps total | Up to 2,183Mbps total |
| 2.4GHz Wi-Fi: | 2×2 MIMO (up to 300Mbps) | 3×3 MIMO (up to 450Mbps) |
| 5GHz Wi-Fi: | 3×3 MIMO (up to 1,300Mbps) | 4×4 MIMO (up to 1,733Mbps) |
| Intelligent WiFi: | Yes, included | Yes, included |
| Intelligent WiFi Plus: | £5 per month (most plans) Included on Volt plans |
Included on Gig1 Fibre |
| Ethernet: | 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports | 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports |
| Other: | WPA2 / WPA / WEP security Built-in firewall Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) enabled |
WPA2 / WPA / WEP security Built-in firewall Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) enabled |
| Other | ||
| Model: | Arris TG2492LG-VM (VMDG505) |
Arris TG3492LG-VMB |
| Colour: | Black | Black |
| More Information: | Virgin Media Website | Virgin Media Website |
Coverage & Availability
In the UK, Virgin Media’s cable broadband service is currently available in around 53% of all homes.
To get the service, you’ll need to be living on a street that’s been cabled by Virgin Media. In addition, a small amount of cable will need to be laid between the street and your home. This is unless you’ve previously had a Virgin Media service.
To see whether Virgin Media is available at your address, enter your postcode on their website:
Check Virgin Media Availability (virginmedia.com) →
Unlike many other fibre broadband providers (e.g. BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Plusnet and more), Virgin Media does not use the Openreach network for broadband. For this reason, you might not be able to get a Virgin Media service even if you’re able to get fibre broadband from most other providers.
Switching to Virgin Media
If you’re currently using another broadband provider, it’s easy to switch your broadband service to Virgin Media.
Start by ordering your new Virgin Media package online. If you’d like to keep your current landline or home phone number, you can do this as long as you provide your existing phone number to Virgin. You’ll also need to choose a package that includes a home phone service.
When you order your Virgin Media service only, you’ll be given a choice of possible installation dates for the service. Usually, a Virgin Media engineer will come round to install the service on that date. However, if your home has previously been connected to the Virgin Media network, it might be possible to install it yourself using a QuickStart kit.
You’ll need to tell your old provider that you’re moving to Virgin Media and that you’d like to cancel your old service with them. For step-by-step instructions, please select your current broadband provider below:
Switch to Virgin Media
Your step-by-step guide to switching
For more information, see our full guide to switching broadband provider in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
| What broadband plans and speeds are available on Virgin Media? | Virgin Media currently offers a choice of the following fibre broadband plans:
In addition, there’s a Gig1 fibre broadbnd package with average download speeds of 1,104Mbps. |
|---|---|
| What is Virgin Media M125 broadband? | Virgin Media’s M125 Broadband costs £22.99 per month and is currently their most popular fibre broadband plan. It gives you average download speeds of 132Mbps (about twice as fast as the fibre broadband plans from BT, TalkTalk and Sky). It allows you to download a HD-quality film in around 4 minutes. Alternatively, you can stream ultra-HD video on up to 5 devices at the same time. |
| What are Volt bundles? | If you choose a Virgin Media Volt bundle, you’ll get an O2 SIM card for your mobile phone together with your Virgin Media fibre broadband service.
On most plans, you’ll get a 10GB per month mobile SIM card included. However, you’ll get an unlimited data SIM card if you choose the Mega Volt bundle. |
| What router will I get with Virgin Media broadband? | The vast majority of Virgin Media customers will receive the Hub 3 router. This supports Wi-Fi 5 technology (802.11ac) and Virgin Media’s Intelligent WiFi with automatic band steering and automatic channel selection.
Customers signing up to Virgin’s Gig1 Fibre Broadband service will receive the newer Hub 4 router instead. This supports newer DOCSIS 3.1 technology that allows the service to deliver gigabit download speeds. |
| Are there any download limits on Virgin Media? | No. There are no download limits on Virgin Media’s home broadband service, nor is traffic management used to reduce your download speeds for using too much data or for using services like P2P sharing. |
| Does Virgin Media offer full fibre broadband? | In most areas, Virgin Media offers cable broadband. A fibre optic connection will run to a cabinet near your home, with a co-axial cable running from the cabinet to your home. This technology is known as Hybrid Fibre Coax (or HFC for short).
In certain areas, Virgin Media has started to roll out a full fibre (FTTP) network as part of their Project Lightning network expansion works. This uses RFOG technology (Radio Frequency Over Glass). |
| Can I get Virgin Media broadband at my address? | To see whether Virgin Media is available where you live, enter your postcode on their website. This will also show you the broadband plans available in your area. |
More Information
For more information, please see the official Virgin Media website.
paul jones said:
If my house has never had virgin media before does that mean they will need to do some excavation through my garden?
Ken replied:
Hi Paul,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, they will need to lay some cable from the road to the front of your property. However, the cable can sometimes be run along the side of a fence or through a flowerbed, if you have one.
Ken
Ali Rehman said:
Hi Ken,
I need some advice.
I’m stuck on what’s better. Virgin Media’s 200mb plan or BT Full Fibre 100?
Look forward to hearing from you. I’ve been with Virgin Media for years. Called BT to switch over as wifi coverage with Virgin router was rubbish and never got the 200mb speeds. When i did that and Virgin found out, they offered the 200mb at the same price as BT or the 350mb at £35. Not sure what to do now as extra speed may be pointless if Virgin’s hub 3 is rubbish. Which router is better? BT hub 2 or virgin hub 3?
If possible could i contact you directly for some advice where you can provide it
Ken replied:
Hi Ali,
Thanks for your comment. If it were me, I’d personally go for the Full Fibre (FTTP) broadband plan from BT. It should give you a more reliable service than Virgin Media’s cable-based service, and the difference between 100Mbps and 200Mbps is probably negligible for most users. With regards to the two hubs, I think the BT Smart Hub 2 probably has a better reputation, though I haven’t compared the two side-by-side at the same time.
Hope this helps,
Ken
HC replied:
I think your personally find issues with BT, now uts part of EE and there so called teaming up has caused probably being with BT Broadband. We swapped to VMedia and since we swapped we have had better Internet service, better customer service and the quality of download and upload speeds are 10x better than we ever had with BT. I would read more online and ask virgin media customers on forums and see what others say as it depends alot on your area. But we cannot fault VM and would never go back to BT.
Tony kelly said:
I have just signed up for oomph in a new package can I keep my existing virgin mobile number
Ken replied:
Hi Tony,
Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, this is probably something you’ll need to speak to Virgin Mobile Customer Services about – you can reach them by dialling 789 from your Virgin Mobile handset. Alternatively, you can always port your Virgin Mobile phone number out to another network, and then port it back in to Virgin on the new Oomph SIM card.
Ken