Speed honesty: the key facts
At Virgin Media we believe that being honest about broadband speeds is important. That’s why we’re going to publish the typical speeds the majority of our customers actually get each month.
We’re asking all of our competitors to be as honest as we are so you can make an informed decision about how you spend your money.
You may have also heard that we’ll be doubling the speeds of our broadband packages (except for up to 100Mb, which is already the UK’s fastest) from February 2012. And when we saying doubling, that’s exactly what we mean.
Our typical speed results - January 2012
Broadband package |
Advertised speed |
Typical speeds |
|---|---|---|
| Size: M | Up to 10Mb | 9.47Mb |
| Size: L | Up to 10Mb | 9.65Mb |
| Size: XL | Up to 20Mb | 18.83Mb |
| Size: XL | Up to 30Mb | 30.49Mb |
| Size: XXL | Up to 50Mb | 49.43Mb |
Source: |
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What does typical speed mean?
This is the speed that at least 66% of our customers get on average in a particular month on a particular product. Our typical speed tests run over 24 hours and speeds may vary at peak times.
Where do the speed stats come from?
The data comes from a broadband measurement panel made up of real Virgin Media customers spread out across our network. Powered by Samknows, the broadband performance monitoring specialists, we run millions of tests a month to understand how our broadband is performing.
Speeds explained
We use the term ‘up to’ because download speeds are affected by things beyond our control. For example, the website you’re on, the number of people online, or your computer spec. With Virgin Media you’ll get much closer to the broadband speed you pay for. We believe in being honest about what speed you'll get so we also publish the typical speed you'll receive.
And it's totally unlimited?
Yes. There's no limit to the amount you can download and use your connection with Virgin Media. However like other providers we do operate an "acceptable use" policy. This protects the majority of our customers suffering slower speeds as a result of a few users' unusually heavy usage'
Traffic management: The key facts
We want everyone to enjoy their broadband to the max, so we manage our traffic so that a very small amount of customers don't "hog" a large part of our bandwidth, and make the speeds slower for everyone else. What this means in practice is that we sometimes moderate speeds for the top 5% of customers who are downloading and/or uploading an unusually large amount. Most broadband providers manage traffic in a similar way – it helps keep things fair for everybody.
Find out more about traffic managementChoose a broadband bundle now
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*Plus a Virgin phone line for £13.90 a month |
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Or build your own bundleOnline offer: Free installation with any broadband and phone bundle
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The legal stuff
Phone line rental: Line rental currently £13.90 a month.
Free Calls to Virgin Media Directory Enquires (118 180): **Free Calls to Virgin Media national Directory Enquiries Service on 118180 are only available from a Virgin Media Home Phone (cable & national) and Virgin Mobile and are included within your tariff; charges apply for calls to 118180 from other operators. Fair Use Policy applies with a maximum of 10 calls per day. You are responsible for making sure that you do not exceed this allowance. If you do exceed the allowance, we reserve the right (at our sole discretion) to charge you for the call (30p per call). Onward connection restrictions apply
Payment: If you prefer not to pay by Direct Debit, you will incur a monthly £5 payment handling fee payable to Virgin Media Payments Ltd. If you would like paper bills, the fee is £1.75 a month. Mobile paper bill charge of £1.50 may also apply. You must, at a minimum, take all services included in your bundle for your minimum contract term. If you change any part of your bundle, standard prices apply.
Service availability: Services available in Virgin Media cabled streets only. Subject to survey and network capacity, minimum term contract applies, check basket for details. If you cancel during the minimum contract period you will incur an early disconnection fee. Speeds referred to are download speeds. Minimum computer requirements apply. Speed of internet connection assumes components working at optimum speed and capacity. HD TV set required and TiVo box connected with HDMI cables required to view HD content. To view 3D content a 3D TV set, HDMI cable and 3D glasses compatible with the TV are required.
Installation: Installation charges apply (starting from £49.95 for standard install) unless you qualify for one of our Free installation offers. Payment may be required in advance. All prices include VAT.
Money Back Guarantee: Media: Available to new cable customers and existing customers taking a new cable service. Call us within 28 days of activation for a refund of 1st month’s rental charges and any installation charge. You will only be charged for transactions (calls, purchases, service upgrades) occurring after activation. Statutory rights not affected.
Phone: *Zero-rated tariff applies to the first hour of direct-dialled local and national geographic voice calls only (numbers beginning 01, 02 or 03, not other numbers such as those beginning 084, 087, 070) starting within the weekend (all day Saturday and Sunday). Re-dial before 60 minutes to avoid call charges. Number transfer subject to availability. Full details of call charges/connection fees at virginmedia.com/callingcosts.
Mobile Pay Monthly contract: 24 month contract. If you cancel during the contract you will incur an early disconnection fee. Credit check & payment by Direct Debit required. Phones subject to availability.£7.99 delivery charge applies to web & phone orders. Included in your tariff (subject to the allowance specified): UK calls to UK landlines (beginning 01, 02, 03) & UK mobile networks. Person to person texts within the UK (text message delivery notifications not included.) Mobile web & BlackBerry® Mail & Messenger are within the UK only. Unlimited parts of your tariff are subject to fair use policies which vary from time to time. Calls to 08 (incl. 0870) & 070 numbers not included in monthly allowance and cost up to 41p and £2.50 per min respectively in the UK (see our website Tariff Table for details). Pay Monthly service terms apply.
1Unlimited weekend calls to UK landlines and numbers beginning 0870: Zero-rated tariff applies to the first hour of direct-dialled local and national geographic voice calls (that's numbers beginning 01, 02, 03) and those beginning 0870 (not other numbers such as those beginning 084, 070) made during the weekend period (all day Saturday and Sunday). Re-dial before 60 minutes to avoid call charges. For full details of call charges and connection fees, visit our calling costs page.
Unlimited evening and weekend calls to UK landlines and numbers beginning 0870: Zero rated tariff applies to the first hour of direct-dialled local and national geographic voice calls (that's numbers beginning 01, 02, 03) and those beginning 0870 (not other numbers such as those beginning 084,070) starting within the evening (7pm to 7am) and weekend (all day Saturday and Sunday) periods. Re-dial before 60 minutes to avoid call charges. For full details of call charges and connection fees, visit our calling costs page.
Unlimited anytime calls to UK landlines and numbers beginning 0870: Zero rated tariff applies to the first hour of direct-dialled local and national geographic voice calls (that's numbers beginning 01, 02, 03) and those beginning 0870 (not other numbers such as those beginning 084, 070). Re-dial before 60 minutes to avoid call charges. For full details of call charges and connection fees, visit our calling costs page our calling costs page.
Broadband and Phone 3 month bundle discount offer: 18-month minimum term contract applies. Cable areas only. Offer ends 31/03/2012. May not be used in conjunction with any other offer unless stated by Virgin Media. New customers only (subject to status and credit checks): To get £8.50 bundle discount applied for 3 months you must take Broadband L with a phone line, to get £13.50 bundle discount applied for 3 months you must take at least Broadband XL with a phone line. Standard prices apply after first 3 months.
Broadband discount offer: 12-month minimum term contract applies. May not be used in conjunction with any other offer unless stated by Virgin Media. New customers only (subject to status and credit checks): To get £5 broadband discount applied for 3 months to you must take Broadband L, XL, XXL or 100Mb without TV or a phone line. Standard prices apply after first 3 months (Broadband L without a phone line currently starts at £21/month from 1st Oct). Virgin Media reserves the right to withdraw or amend discount if you change any part of your offer package. Headline bundle prices (i.e. prices before discount is applied) may vary during this offer.
Three months free: Offer ends 31/03/12. May not be used in conjunction with any other offer unless stated by Virgin Media. New customers: When you take a bundle containing TV M+ (or higher tier) and Broadband L (or higher tier) and Phone M with a phone line, you will get first 3 months of that bundle free. 3 months free discount not applicable to Phone L or XL, line rental, premium channels or £3 TiVo monthly charge. Existing customers: Non-TV customers adding TV M+, L or XL will get three months free on that service. Non-BB customers adding BB L, XL or XXL will get three months free on that service. All customers must have, or add, a phone line. Virgin Media reserves the right to withdraw or amend discount if you change any part of your offer package. Standard prices apply after first 3 months (phone, broadband, TV bundles currently start at £20/month).
Broadband doubling: The broadband network update will take place over 18 months, starting from February 2012. For details of when your local area will be upgraded, use our postcode checker. Customers who sign up to a new Virgin Broadband fibre optic contract may have their broadband speed upgraded up to 2 months after the date given for their local area upgrade.
Free installation: Offer available to new or existing customers taking Broadband XL or XXL with a phone line; or Broadband XL or XXL and M+TV at a minimum with a phone line. May not be used in conjunction with any other offer unless stated by Virgin Media.