Virgin Media signals major Wi-Fi expansion

denphone · 17-08-2015, 11:32

Virgin Media signals major Wi-Fi expansion.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...expansion.html

Quote:

Operator to turn street-side cable cabinets into hotspots and open up home routers for sharing bandwidth

Quote:

Virgin is also preparing a major update to its home routers to allow customers to use each other’s wireless networks when they are in range. The change is expected to come with a free speed boost to encourage users to share their capacity, alongside assurances that the public network will be kept separate from their secure private connection.

Kushan · 17-08-2015, 13:48

This is long overdue and I'm shocked Virgin has taken this long to do it. They arguably have the best technology to facilitate this.

SnoopZ · 17-08-2015, 14:23

There better be a way to disable wifi sharing. If it is true about a speed boost then i maybe happy to do this as i live in a rural area so it is unlikely to get used.

**Chris** · 17-08-2015, 14:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

There better be a way to disable wifi sharing. If it is true about a speed boost then i maybe happy to do this as i live in a rural area so it is unlikely to get used.

If they implement it in a similar way to BT's wifi sharing service, then you will find only a modest portion of your overall bandwidth is used by someone connected to your pubic hotspot, and if you are maxing out your own connection, the public hotspot will decline connections from other users.

The benefits of having access to free wifi in loads of places you don't normally get it far outweigh the small cost of occasionally sharing a slice of your home bandwidth IMO.

muppetman11 · 17-08-2015, 14:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

If they implement it in a similar way to BT's wifi sharing service, then you will find only a modest portion of your overall bandwidth is used by someone connected to your pubic hotspot, and if you are maxing out your own connection, the public hotspot will decline connections from other users.

The benefits of having access to free wifi in loads of places you don't normally get it far outweigh the small cost of occasionally sharing a slice of your home bandwidth IMO.

I noticed when connecting to my own router via BT Wifi and running a speed test it allowed me around 20 mbps of my 76 mbps available.

**Chris** · 17-08-2015, 15:14

It would be interesting to see how much it gave you if you had another device using your private wifi at the same time, or if you could discover at what point your use of your private connection becomes heavy enough for the BTWiFi hotspot to kick you off, or refuse to connect you.

---------- Post added at 14:14 ---------- Previous post was at 14:12 ----------

My neighbour's BT WiFi hotspot has been a lifeline this summer. We have had persistent problems with our own phone line that have gone on for months. It has been stable a couple of weeks now, but prior to that we had barely any use out of our Internet for almost a month, and it was very up and down for a couple of months prior to that.

No, on balance I think having access to these sorts of free wifi hotspots is a far greater benefit than any potential cost in terms of lost home bandwidth.

denphone · 17-08-2015, 15:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

There better be a way to disable wifi sharing. If it is true about a speed boost then i maybe happy to do this as i live in a rural area so it is unlikely to get used.

Well there will definitely be a speed boost because l have just got a email saying its coming.

http://store.virginmedia.com/special...d-upgrade.html

Hans Gruber · 17-08-2015, 15:26

I wonder if this will work while in modem mode? I'd like to be able to use wifi when I'm out and about (and don't mind sharing some of my own) but I'm quite happy to keep using the router I have.

blackthorn · 17-08-2015, 16:12

I dont get it, how will Vm know I am with them when walking past a cabinet or someone elses wifi.

Broken Hope · 17-08-2015, 16:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthorn

I dont get it, how will Vm know I am with them when walking past a cabinet or someone elses wifi.

https://help.virginmedia.com/system/...TICLE_ID=33049

blackthorn · 17-08-2015, 16:17

Ah right cheers. No good to me then I`m not on virgin mobile. Everything else but not virgin mobile

Broken Hope · 17-08-2015, 16:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthorn

Ah right cheers. No good to me then I`m not on virgin mobile. Everything else but not virgin mobile

I'd assume they would update the app to work for broadband customers once they are actually offering the service.

thenry · 17-08-2015, 16:21

Questions were asked and answered here

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/10...ng-thames.html

Good to hear cabs are getting an upgrade

fenman35 · 17-08-2015, 16:25

I understand this is part of a wide ranging update of VM services. If the techie I spoke to was correct then phone lines will be totally replaced by voice over the broadband network.

Kushan · 17-08-2015, 17:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenman35

I understand this is part of a wide ranging update of VM services. If the techie I spoke to was correct then phone lines will be totally replaced by voice over the broadband network.

I think "totally replaced" is a stretch but certainly I can see a focus on them.