200M Gamer Virgin Media to launch broadband gamers tariff

denphone · 30-08-2016, 17:49

Virgin will this week launch the first gamers broadband tariff aimed directly at video gamers.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b212349c-6...#axzz4Iq3UBhI9

Kabaal · 30-08-2016, 18:11

Quote:

Virgin’s new tariff will provide download speeds of 200 mbps, in line with other packages, but upload speeds of 20 mbps, more than a third faster than other services. The package, which will cost an extra £5 on top of the cable company’s top-tier product, will not be subject to “throttling”, where speeds are constrained, in peak times.

Quote:

The offer, which will cost about £50 a month excluding line rental charges, is part of a broader shake-up of Virgin Media’s packages due to be announced this week. The cable company, which has 5.2m British users, will raise the price of its line rental in November, the latest in a series of price rises this year.

Horizon · 30-08-2016, 18:39

Of course we were all assuming any uplift in speed whether down or up would be "free", but this seems fair. If you want more upload, then you'll need to pay more for it.

Perhaps VM may even offer more upload boosts, at a cost, in the near future.

Ignitionnet · 31-08-2016, 09:16

Great for those wanting to stream their gameplay via Twitch or whatever.

Will not improve latency otherwise, it does not have priority over other tiers.

eljay · 31-08-2016, 12:16

The service goes live tomorrow but will not be seen as an upgrade on accounts for a further three days.

I would be cautious about taking it up though. very cautious if you suffer from congestion issues on download speed in your area.

Skie · 31-08-2016, 16:49

I can't see the point. It wont fix the inherent jitter and £5 for an 8mbps upload speed increase doesn't seem like great value.

VM have been slapped before for their claims about how 'great' their network is for gaming, so will at least be interesting to see how they market this.

Jayster · 31-08-2016, 18:03

Was honestly expecting this as a free upgrade along with upload bumps to other packages given the recent price hike...

Can't see how anybody savvy enough to know they need 20mbit upload going for virgin with its worse latency etc when they could go and get fibre from BT etc with 20mbit upload and better quality service for less money.

**Paul** · 31-08-2016, 18:05

I have zero interest in gaming, but a large interest in the increased upload.

ileikcaek · 31-08-2016, 19:50

Another rip off I feel.

More upload is welcomed but not at a higher price than what we pay now.

My point being is that just about every other Liberty Global division already offers 20Mb+ upload on their mainstream packages, but yet again, Brits have to pay more and VM are piecemealing services too much adding to confusion.

SimonB79 · 31-08-2016, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul M

I have zero interest in gaming, but a large interest in the increased upload.

same! ... I'm upgrading tomorrow!

Horizon · 31-08-2016, 20:41

Instead of the gamers tarriff it should be called the bit torrent tariff instead....

Kushan · 31-08-2016, 21:21

I dare say torrents will still be throttled during the day (If they're not 24/7).

As a gamer, I have zero interest in this package. However, these things that start off as a premium are usually a precursor to a wider rollout downstream. Really it started with Homeworks 300 and I've always said I'd happily pay a small premium to remove STM - perhaps in 12-18 months, 10:1 will be standard and upload STM will be a thing of the past. One can hope.

Harryn9000 · 31-08-2016, 22:27

would i need hub 3 to take advantage of upload increase as currently on vivid 200 now with 2ac in modem mode

Ignitionnet · 31-08-2016, 23:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayster

Was honestly expecting this as a free upgrade along with upload bumps to other packages given the recent price hike...

Can't see how anybody savvy enough to know they need 20mbit upload going for virgin with its worse latency etc when they could go and get fibre from BT etc with 20mbit upload and better quality service for less money.

That the majority of people can't get 20Mb upstream on BT etc due to distance from the cabinet probably helps their case.

---------- Post added at 00:54 ---------- Previous post was at 00:53 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harryn9000

would i need hub 3 to take advantage of upload increase as currently on vivid 200 now with 2ac in modem mode

Nah. The 2ac is just fine, although they may want people to move to the 3. You wouldn't need it for the extra upload.

---------- Post added at 00:56 ---------- Previous post was at 00:54 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kushan

I dare say torrents will still be throttled during the day (If they're not 24/7)

They probably aren't throttled now. The DPI kit should be monitoring only.

johnathome · 01-09-2016, 01:05

I'm struggling to understand this. After my loyalty, and oversubsribed BB, discount ran out i'm paying about £28, soon to rise to about £31, for 70Mb BB only.

According to this i could have

up to 50Mbps fibre optic broadband, 70+Channels & Phone only £12 a month for 12 months (£26 a month thereafter)

I think i need to phone them up!