Virgin Media broadband deals

About Virgin Media

Founded by Richard Branson in 1989, Virgin Media is one of the UK's leading broadband and TV providers. It supplies some of the country's fastest internet speeds thanks to its dedicated cable network.

Its ultrafast broadband connections allow for incredibly fast downloading and high-quality gaming and TV streaming.

Virgin Media deals don't stop at fast internet speeds. Virgin UK is a quad-play provider, which means it also offers home phone, pay-TV and mobile phone services. But since its recent merger with mobile network O2, it can now provide even better quality products across both providers.

Because of its incredible speeds and comprehensive, content-heavy tariffs, Virgin Media internet packages can be ideal for busy households with a high demand for internet and other telecom services.

Key features of Virgin Media

Types of Virgin Media package

Here are the different variants of broadband packages that you can get with Virgin Media.

Virgin Media Broadband only deals

If you're just looking for a fast way to get online, Virgin Media broadband is also available on its own, with no requirement to sign up for a Virgin phone line or TV deal.

Virgin Media broadband connections are delivered via its own cable network, which uses more advanced technology than the Openreach part-fibre network.

This means it can offer more widely available high-speed broadband than the providers that depend on Openreach's network because its ultrafast (and even gigabit) connections have been available for much longer.

They start with average download speeds of 54Mbps and go as fast as 1.1Gbps (or 1100Mbps).

Virgin Media broadband and home phone deals

They include a Virgin Media home phone line and free weekend calls to UK landlines to Virgin Mobile numbers.

You can add a number of additional extras, including free weekend calls to all mobiles and evening or anytime calls to UK or international numbers, depending on your needs.

Since Virgin Media runs its own infrastructure, your home phone will work through its cable network rather than the usual Openreach copper phone lines.

Virgin Media TV and broadband bundles

Virgin Media offers a range of TV packages that can be added to any of its broadband deals. These include its Big Bundle, which offers 100+ channels, and the Bigger Bundle, which ups the channel count to more than 195, including premium services such as Sky Showcase and a range of HD services.

In addition, you can add movies or sports packages from other providers to your deal, as Virgin Media offers the full range of Sky Cinema channels and Sports packages.

Virgin TV deals also come with the Virgin TV 360 set-top box, which offers Virgin's most advanced entertainment experience yet.

As well as the usual pause, rewind and record options, you can set up profiles to get personalised recommendations for each household member and start live broadcasts from the beginning.

Streaming services on Virgin Media

Well-established as a top-tier digital TV provider, Virgin Media also offers alternative ways to watch the best TV shows and films on-demand and via streaming services.

Stream from Virgin Media is a service that allows you to access all your streaming platforms through a single device, and if you pay via Virgin Media, you'll receive a bill credit worth 10% of the cost for each service you add.

For example, if you subscribe to Netflix (£10.99), Amazon Prime (£8.99) and Disney Plus (£7.99), you could get up to £34 of bill credit each year.

Virgin Media TV, broadband and phone deals

Virgin Media recently merged with O2, combining the lightning-fast broadband offerings of Virgin with the nationwide mobile network of O2.

While Virgin Mobile was already a popular network, the merger and founding of VMO2 means that Virgin Media customers can bundle all their home phone, mobile phone, internet and TV services into one neat bundle and get a more comprehensive service than ever.

Customers on Virgin Media broadband and O2 mobile can benefit from exclusive Volt benefits, which include doubling your mobile data and doubling your broadband speed for no extra cost.

What are the best Virgin broadband deals?

The best Virgin Media internet package will depend on which one matches your needs the closest.

The majority of Virgin Media broadband connections offer ultrafast speeds in more areas than most other fibre broadband providers. So, if you intend to join Virgin Media, you should know that its prices can be a little more expensive (depending on the package you choose).

There will be providers with a better speed-to-price ratio than Virgin Media, but these providers are usually a lot smaller and, therefore less coverage across the whole UK compared to Virgin's 56%.

You can choose broadband speeds up to 1.1Gbps with Virgin Media, but the monthly price of Virgin Media broadband deals will increase the faster you want your internet speed to be. That's why it's good to assess your household's internet usage and find a broadband speed that can handle your demand but isn't significantly higher and more expensive as a result.

Take a look at our guide on broadband speeds to learn what package would be right for you and your household.

How to get Virgin Media broadband

While Virgin Media isn't as widely available as fibre broadband services that use Openreach's network, it is still available to around 56% of UK properties. Use the Uswitch postcode checker to see if you can get Virgin Media in your local area.

If you already know you can get Virgin Media in your area, then there are still a few different ways you can sign up.

Virgin Media broadband speed options

Because Virgin Media uses its own dedicated fibre network, it's able to offer significantly faster speeds than many other broadband providers, similar to the full fibre speeds now available to half of the country.

Here are the speed options offered by Virgin Media.

What's the Virgin Media broadband speed in my area?

Every home that can get a Virgin Media connection will have access to the same speed options. So your location won't impact the internet speed you can get from the provider.

Run a broadband speed test to see how your current internet speed compares to other broadband connections available in your area.

Virgin Media installation

Virgin Media works on a separate network from other providers. It plugs fibre-based 'coaxial' cables straight into people's homes from the local street cabinet, rather than the more traditional copper phone lines most internet connections use.

New customers will require Virgin Media to send an engineer to install the cable and get everything working. You can arrange this when you place your order.

However, homes that have had Virgin Media installed previously can use the firm's QuickStart self-install, which lets you get started in just a few simple steps.

Is there a Virgin Media installation charge?

Virgin Media deals sometimes come with an installation fee, but the majority of the time the provider doesn't charge to set up a connection at your home.

How long does it take to install Virgin Media?

This depends on whether a Virgin Media connection has previously been installed at your property.

About your Virgin Media router

Virgin Media's Super Hub wireless router is the fastest and most advanced wireless router on offer from the provider. It's capable of connecting up to 20 devices at once with wireless speeds up to seven times faster than the UK average, depending on your package.

It takes advantage of the 5GHz frequency, which is more advanced and less congested than the 2.5GHz frequencies found on many other providers' included routers. This means you can game, stream and download wirelessly without worrying as much about slowdown.

How to set up your Virgin Media router

If you're using the QuickStart service, your Virgin Media router should be very easy to get up and running, as you'll just need to plug in a few cables. You can find specific steps for each router model on the Virgin Media website.

Virgin Media internet protection

The provider offers a range of services to help keep your browsing safe, including advanced parental controls and tough anti-virus and anti-malware software.

How to contact Virgin Media customer service

There are a number of ways to contact Virgin Media customer service. In addition to a wide range of online FAQs, you can get assistance over the phone or via live web chat.

Virgin Media customer service phone number

Virgin Media customer service can be reached by phone on 0808 168 8217 from any number, or by dialling 1560 on a Virgin Media landline. Customer service agents are available from 8am until 9pm Monday to Friday, between 8am and 8pm on Saturdays, and from 8am until 6pm on Sundays.

Virgin Media customer service live chat

If you're experiencing an issue with your broadband, you can also contact the firm's live chat team Monday to Friday from 7am until 11pm, or 8am until 8pm on weekends. This service can be found on Virgin Media's website.