Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Virgin Media to launch faster broadband as competition intensifies

https://www.ft.com/content/5a31b6c0-...9-cf22fb5c42cf

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

getting a bit silly now, what can you do with 300Mbps that you can't do with 200 ? Or for that matter 50... Pointless for 99% of customers.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Even with 300, VM (and the rest of the UK) still have a hell of a long way to go until they catch up to the rest of the world.

In a world where people 'want it now' and files getting larger speeds need to get faster

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

VM Press release for the changes

http://www.virginmedia.com/content/v...w-bundles.html

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Will that mean being on a lower BB speed, we will be moved to 100?

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Nice to see you are keeping up to your average of one grump a day Mr K ;) as where is your proof that it is pointless for 99% of customers? as households use a lot of devices and data nowadays so faster speeds are needed IMO.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

At a guess, as I've not seen anything more than the announcement, that it won't be an automatic change - however if you're on the Mix bundle with 50Mbps, you'd then be able to upgrade to Mix with 100Mbps and V6.

However as it's a new bundle it would involved a new contract.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

yes, something to look out for, I would like a V6, but currently out of my price bracket, this may change things. Thanks.

---------- Post added at 12:36 ---------- Previous post was at 12:35 ----------

when are these bundle changes available? Any idea.

So the rebrand to Virgin Vivid is now Virgin Fibre? If so that didn't last long plus the fact they still haven't finished the free speed upgrades from the rebrand of Virgin Vivid. Plus all areas can't get 300Mb yet or does this announcement change that. Does this also means existing customers can upgrade for free to the speed new customers are getting if they sign a new contract? No mention of the VIP package in the press release either. As usual more questions than answers.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

The UK does pretty well compared with the rest of the world actually
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...nection_speeds

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Good to see that Vivid 100 and 200 are getting an upload speed boost.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Yeah I was just about to say that.

I am on the 100 plan now, so a boost upto 12mpbs is nice :)

200 should be 24mbps up and the 300 should be 36mpbs up.

I think they should start prioritising upstream now.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

For those interested, these are copied from that press release ;

Somewhat disappointed that the upload for gamer isnt changing.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Vivid 100 Solus including Line Rental £32.25 but VIVIV 100 with home phone £40 - what's the difference, is this offer purely for Fibre customers only?

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

I think it's just the way it's shown.

VIVID 100 solus won't include the home phone - it is literally the broadband only.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Thanks for clarifying, Ben.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

20Mbps upload, wooop! :D

With 4k streaming using the less bandwidth hungry x265/HEVC codec, the actual needs for higher speeds is minimal. Even in a busy house with six people gaming and streaming at the same time, 80 and 100Mbps is more than enough.


I suspect an average person who uses Netflix might see an advert that says 300Mbs is good for streaming so will be fooled by PR in to getting it. That and people suffering buffering or congestion who get upsold the connection saying it might sort out the issues...


If you are in the right area, Hyperoptic offer 1gbit and telephone line for the same price as Vivid 300

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

No doubt when the next round of price rises come they'll point out how fast the lowest pack is for BB speeds

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

I get that already on the 200 Gamer.

Sadly they do not do my area, 1GB would be great, esp as it states this is 1GB up and down.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Will the upload on 300Mb tier be free of traffic management?

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

It already is traffic management free for those that have it, as is VIVID 200 Gamer.

It's not been announced what management on the new tiers may or may not be.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Just wondering what would be the cost to get 200mb BB and Full house bundle only no phone line?

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

For the first 12 months anyway - then it's £63.

1GB broadband solus is £46 a month for 12 months - then £60 (+ £40 connection fee).

I'm lucky enough to live in a new build with it installed. I have no need for 1GB, but 100MB (up & down) is excellent. Shame about the crappy router though!

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Ben, if my contract is due to end on 30th April, do I need to wait till the 1st or April to move over? (I'd be dropping services and going to a solus package). Have a feeling that they can do it when there's 30 days left without a charge or something, but may have made that up

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Yup. You can start talking about changes to your package in the last 30 days of your minimum period. So for that's 1st April.

However 30 days notice is required to remove a service so your changes would complete at the end of April

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Bummer. Just upgraded to 'Gamer' for the upload boost last week - Now they've upgraded the Vivid200. Anyone know if there a 'cooling off period' in which to change your mind?

Poor show for not upping the Gamer plan's upload...

Tom

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Are these new tiers available now? As i am currently out of contract with 150mb, XL TV and standard phone line and would like to reduce my monthly costs down to £50ish even if that means reducing TV? And are those prices for existing customers that are out of contract?

Advice on what i should do?

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

They're available from the 30th.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Ben, do you know if these will affect current customers?

IE I'm on 200/12 now, will I automatically get the bump to 200/16 or will I need to re-contract / change package etc?

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

I've not yet seen anything to say that it's an inclusive change, so unless Virgin Media say any different then the 100/12 and 200/16 speeds are new tiers and will require a new bundle.

The same will probably be true for the bundles that include VIVID 200 Gamer and VIVID 300 - anyone on an existing bundle with those speeds would have to agreed to a new bundle to get the newer pricing.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Ok cheers Ben, I'll wait until the 30th and see if they'll let me change for free.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Do we phone retentions or customer services to switch to a new bundle for an existing customer out of contract?

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

The best deals are with the thinking of leaving us team CS are limited to what they can offer

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Call retentions 'thinking of leaving us' as you'll always get through to a UK member of staff and they have more leverage with the billing.

Always good to start with 'can you confirm how long is left on my contract' and then proceed to haggle.


Tom

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Any idea how the mates rates packages will be affected by this? Moving house in a few weeks which is a perfect opportunity to renegotiate the contract anyway.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

This is definately going to make me get off my ass and renegotiate my contract, i currently get 150mbit BB, Full House TV and basic phoneline and pay over £85 a month, even if i cant get a deal i will be happy dropping down to Mix bundle with VIVID 100 and V6 as that says it is £52 a month unless there is any other charges?

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Really must hit them up for a deal, kicking myself for not doing it while "family" was available, I think that was XL TV with middle BB & phone.
Don't really want to drop lower on TV - though with the difference being mostly some +1s, going to a massively multituner V6 might avoid the need for the +1's with a bit of planning - but equally, can't see the point of going ever higher on speed - my 70 downloads faster than any friends with ADSL.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

I upgraded to the 200mb gamer from the normal 200mb for £5 extra pm and if I wanted to upgrade to the 300mb connection then I would have had to pay a further £5 extra pm.

If the 300mb came with 30mb upload I woudl have gone for it.

BTW VM change you £14.99 everytime you change your tier.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

No, they shouldn't. You only are charged the £14.99 if new kit is required as part of the change.

Any tier change that doesn't need new kit, shouldn't have any one off costs.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Whats the likelihood of speeds changing on the HW+ package?

Will they go faster than 300/20?

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

I only just agreed to a new package a couple of weeks ago so won't have any room to negotiate again when it comes into effect next week. Where are the price rises when you need them :p:

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

No mention of a timetable of when the rollout will start and end.
What happened to letting your Superhub being used as a wi-fi hotspot for the last 200mbps upgrade?

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Potentially in future but nothing announced yet.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

So if I upgraded from 200 to 300 would I also have to have my Superhub 2 upgraded?

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Yes. 300Mbps is only available on the Hub 3.0

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

So, from what I understand, for someone like me who signed up with Virgin Media last month on their 100Mbps package, the best thing to do would be to phone retentions after March 30th and ask to be put on the equivalent new package. This way I'd start a new 12-month contract but would be able to move to the 200Mbps deal.

Does this sound correct? Also, would I be able to keep my new customer bundle discount this way (as I also take phone)? Thanks, Paul.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Apologies, I think the best thing for me would be to wait until the new packages go live on March 30th, then take it from there. Maybe a case of getting over-excited at the prospect of doubling my speed (even though 100Mbps is more than enough) ;)

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Thank you Ben,much appreciated.

Now I'm thinking about replacing the old Tivo and VHD box and having it all done at the same time.

My package is TV Full House,Broadband Vivid 200 and Landline Talk Unlimited 800
Monthly package = £116.47p

What would the new monthly price be if I upgraded?

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Would be nice to have the gamer upload raised a bit we are paying £5 extra :)

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Yes, the difference between 12 & 20 was worth the £5, that difference has now been halved, so not such good value.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Aren't you really paying for the lack of STM?

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

I did it for faster upload speed so I could upload faster not really bothered about stm because once I've uploaded it quicker I can get on with my other jobs.

Paying £5 extra and only getting 4mb extra just isn't right even with no stm.


Hi Ben

At the moment I pay £57 thats with a £9 loyalty duscount for talk more anytime and vivid 200 gamer. So my bill after the 30th should be £50.25 for the same package (with no loyalty).

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Looks like the new plans have indeed been released today...

For the Gamer plan there's been quite a nice price drop;
Was - £50.25 standalone/£50 with phone.
Now - £42.25/£42 with phone

All this assuming new user prices. I would never expect to pay any more than this being a long-standing customer.

I've also been told that even mid-contract you can 'renegotiate monthly package prices mid-contract as long as there are no changes to the extras' (such as tv bundles, phone etc.)
Something I didn't know.

Tom

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Have the upload speed increases been dropped? The upload speeds quoted in VM's press release have reverted to the original. Vivid 100 has gone from 12 to 6Mb and Vivid 200 is showing 12 instead of 16Mb.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php...s-300mbps.html

Check the last update.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

I just tried to upgrade from 200mbps Gamer to the 300mbps package using the live chat feature, but they said that 300mbps was unavailable in my area.

The website says I can get 300mbps when I put my postcode and address in, and I thought that these new packages were available nationwide.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Same here, rang up to upgrade to 300mbps and was told it's not available in my area as well,

Upgraded to 200 in the meantime for £34.25 a month however

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Worth asking, I've just gone from the "normal" 200 package to the gamer for £2 extra a month.

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2017/03/2.png

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

I just rang up and managed to get upgraded to 300 for 45.25 a month, the same as I was paying for 200, but it hasn't been activated yet. teeside area

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

I'm really annoyed about them editing the press release after the fact and changing the stated uploads back to their originals. I was really hoping to get the 200/16 option. How can they screw up so badly?

Still it's nice to have the price cuts, I guess...

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

How much would the following be now?

2 x V6's
200mb BB
Talk weekends

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

As that's the Full House bundle + an extra box then the standard price would be £80.50 based on the website prices. New customers would get it at £62.50 for 12 months.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Well called and had my date wrong for when the contract is up (only a few days), so the bloke kindly set it all up for me. Now just a months wait till I get my 300! The guy said he thinks the gamer package was only one without STM on upload (doesn't affect me, just asked).

Managed to save some money as well dropping things I don't use :)

So Ben... get me it earlier? ;)

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

In case anyone missed it in that link ;

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Evening guys,

Not posted in a while but always come on to check the latest news and saw about the new speed tiers.

I just wanted to say what an excellent CS agent (Vikrant) I spoke to tonight on the online chat regarding the speed upgrades. I was on 50Mb and just asked about the new tiers and was told I could upgrade to 100Mb for the same monthly cost and no new contract.

I'm always happy to criticise VM when they get it wrong but tonight they got it spot on and one happy customer here, excellent service and 100Mb up and running :)

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2017/03/1.png

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Yeah that was disappointing to see, hopefully it's a sign of things to come. If Virgin could match BT on upload speeds and remove STM for just one tier, it'd be great.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

I plan on phoning retentions (thinking of leaving)? to renegotiate, what phone options do i press to quickly get through to that department please?

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Just got off the phone with retentions, upgraded to V6, MIX TV, 100mg BB and Talk anytime, £55.00 a month, keeping my £19.00 discount, £36.00 a month. £64.00 for install and activation. I think i did okay, new one year contract.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

300 not available in my area yet so retentions have put me on 200 Gamer, swapped one of my pair of Full House (XL) TiVos for a V6 and dropped phone down to Talk Weekends for £81.50. Need to lose my Hub 2 for a Hub 3 alas.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

Lot's of people switching from Sky still claiming to be getting it for £55 per month!

Seems they are still doing 12 months free extra subscription for some new customers.

Re: Virgin Media to launch faster broadband
 

I called last evening on behalf of my mum and dropped the unwanted phone line and opted for 200Mb on its own, no fuss from them. Big drop from around £54.40 (200Mb and phone) to £37.25 a month. I remember in the past there was a lot of pressure to keep phone line. Mum gave in and said yes to keeping it back then, so I'm glad it went smoothly this time!