The beginning of the end for HFC
 

Looks like the launch of XGS-PON in existing areas could finally be happening next month:

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.ph...customers.html

Re: The beginning of the end for HFC
 

Thats a lot of techy talk, what does that all mean in English ?

Re: The beginning of the end for HFC
 

My money is on the launch of symmetrical 2Gig services in existing VM HFC/RFoG cabled areas where the XGS-PON infrastructure is now live. As per the report, this is likely to be on an area rollout basis as the full fibre overbuild is completed.

Re: The beginning of the end for HFC
 

Seems the Hub 5X, required for this, does not support modem mode :(

Re: The beginning of the end for HFC
 

Virgin switching to their full fibre network instead of their current fibre and coax network.

Re: The beginning of the end for HFC
 

Well if they do it around here, and its symetrical, they'll have my interest.

If its still this crazy up/down ratio, I see no advantage. I can get 1800/120 now.

Re: The beginning of the end for HFC
 

Their full fibre areas do allow symmetrical, but you have to pay extra for that.

Re: The beginning of the end for HFC
 

How do you know if your area is "full fibre" ?

Re: The beginning of the end for HFC
 

Going by my limited knowledge, I guess if Vm has been in your area for more than about five years it won't be full-fibre, just fibre to the street cabinet.

Fibre cables are thin and black, whilst VM's coax is black but a similar gauge to your TV coax.

In fibre areas, the tiny inspection pot next to your property will have a wedge shaped lid. The old lids are rectangular.

I expect someone will know of other indicators.

Re: The beginning of the end for HFC
 

Oh, well they have been here for 25 years, so I guess not FF.

Re: The beginning of the end for HFC
 

Run a check on VM's website to see if their cable services are available at your address (possibly use your postcode but a different house number if you already have VM)

https://www.virginmedia.com/broadband/postcode-checker

The easy way to tell if you will be on the newer Full Fibre network is you will see the website offers speeds up to 2Gbps, also the advertised package(s) will indicate they are Full Fibre. For example M350 Full Fibre or Gig1 Full Fibre rather than M350 Fibre Broadband or Gig1 Fibre Broadband.

Re: The beginning of the end for HFC
 

I no longer have VM, I ditched them for ripping me off.
Checking my postcode confirms that decision, I was paying over £65 a month.
It offers me the same 1 Gig for £36.99 a month (increasing to £40.49 a month from April 2026).

[ No 2 Gig option, and not Full Fibre ]

Re: The beginning of the end for HFC
 

You will be using a Hub 5x, which is the only Hub that works on it. There are some newer areas running the hybrid RFoG Fibre to Coax systems, & these only require the house internals to be upgraded to be full fibre.

My original post was only aimed at the legacy 1990s build networks that were exclusively HFC.

Re: The beginning of the end for HFC
 

Don't hold your breath yet Paul.

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.ph...available.html

Re: The beginning of the end for HFC
 

Other indicator is the small cabinet opposite the chamber lid. VM (including its predecessors) have always used ducting from cabinet to the property so bringing fibre to the home is very straightforward.