Virgin Media switches on residential 2Gbps broadband service

[Kei_M]

Virgin Media O2 has become the first major UK provider to publicly launch a residential 2Gbps broadband service and introduce symmetrical download and upload speeds across all of its speed tiers as an optional add-on for customers.

Gig2 is Virgin Media’s latest speed upgrade, offering enhanced broadband speeds twice as fast as its predecessor, Gig1.

The service, available across the nexfibre network which is approaching availability to 1 million homes in suburban and semi-rural areas across the UK, including Belfast, Cardiff, London and Glasgow, will help power the technology and devices of today and of the future – from AI applications to the metaverse and cloud gaming.

Initially trialled last year, Gig2 is powered by the latest XGS-PON technology and will operate on a full fibre network courtesy of Virgin Media O2’s wholesale partnership with nexfibre – a fibre network joint venture.

Customers in full fibre areas will also be able to boost their connectivity with a major upload speed add-on, providing them with symmetrical speeds so they can upload as fast as they can download.

This upgrade is available across all of Virgin Media’s speed tiers – from 50Mbps to 2Gbps – and marks Virgin Media becoming the first major UK broadband provider to offer this optional service.

Those that sign up or upgrade to Gig2 will receive Virgin Media’s Hub 5x router – its first to support XGS-PON technology. The Hub 5x is Virgin Media’s most energy efficient router to date, made from 100% recycled plastic, and will help to boost in-home WiFi performance by supporting WiFi 6 devices.

Gig2 is available for £84 per month with the option to add symmetrical speeds for an extra £6 per month across all speed tiers.

Both Gig1 and Gig2 customers can also enjoy Virgin Media’s market-leading WiFi guarantee, WiFi Max, at no extra cost, offering a minimum download speed of 30Mbps in in every room or £100 one-off credit back. For other speed tiers, Virgin Media’s WiFi guarantee can be added for £8 extra per month.

Those looking to enhance their connectivity line up even further can Volt their package for an additional £6 per month, adding an unlimited O2 SIM.

With Volt, customers can benefit from a host of added perks at no extra cost including a broadband speed boost on selected broadband tiers and inclusive roaming in 75 international destinations.

Those looking for some extra entertainment can add TV to their package with by Stream from Virgin Media. The pocket-sized box lets users seamlessly watch the telly they love at home and on the move for the ultimate entertainment experience.

Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2, said: 

"Virgin Media O2 has always been at the forefront of innovation to provide hyperfast and next-generation connectivity to homes in the UK, and Gig2 is our latest speed venture which will unlock endless opportunities for future technologies and the ever-changing digital needs of our customers.

Gig2 will operate across nexfibre’s XGS-PON, full fibre network which will support symmetrical download and upload speeds – a first for a major UK broadband provider as an optional add-on – and will enable users to send and receive data, files and much more at the blink of an eye. With our heritage in providing cutting-edge technology and hyperfast broadband speeds, which saw us complete the UK’s first national gigabit rollout programme, we are looking forward to taking Gig2 to more areas in the near future.”

The true power of Gig2 and XGS-PON technology

Virgin Media’s Gig2 service offers download speeds of 2Gbps and operates on a full fibre network, powered by XGS-PON technology, enabling customers to download video games, films, music and large files in seconds.

File type and size	Gig2 (2Gbps)	UK average (69.4Mbps)
Call of Duty Modern Warfare III (240GB – PS5)	16 minutes	7 hours 41 minutes
Oppenheimer (66GB – 4K/UHD)	4 minutes 25 seconds	2 hours 7 minutes
Traitors Season 2 (7.6GB – HD)	30 seconds	14 minute 36 seconds

Source: Virgin Media Download Calculator Tool

With technology and innovation continuing to evolve at such a rapid rate, from the metaverse to AI and immersive and cloud gaming, Gig2 connectivity will underpin new technologies and applications.

XGS-PON also uses a passive optical network so energy consumption is lower and, coupled with Virgin Media’s new Hub 5x router, will help the operator meet its ambitious net zero goals that support better outcomes for customers, communities and the planet.

The Hub 5x also comes with a 10Gbps port which will be able to support even faster speeds in the future.

Rajiv Datta, Chief Executive Officer of nexfibre, said:

“nexfibre’s full fibre network, powered by XGS-PON technology, provides a platform for progress, as demonstrated by Virgin Media O2’s exciting new Gig2 service with symmetrical speed options. As our roll-out continues at pace, we’re looking forward to empowering more consumers and businesses with the benefits of our significant investment in the UK’s digital infrastructure.”

[telfordcable]

No point for 2Gig/2Gig for home user!

[jhuk]

No point in you even posting and still trolling after all these years..

[big-luap]

Does this mean the tag on the homepage that states customers get a free upgrade to the next package, Gig customers will get 2 Gig? 🤣

Well after having the Gig Internet, after 2 years I finally managed a speedtest faster than 940 down, fortunately had a lot of help from the nerds at PCPro on Discord. Had to change my Gigabit switch to a 2.5 Gigabit switch. Plus a re-balance & a new Hub5, after the previous had a few wobbles. Best on 5.0 GHz WiFi is 942 down.

[muffintastic]

For what you're offering I could get 8 Gig down and up on Youfibre for £99. Pass. 😂 

[carl_pearce]

Not everyone has that luxury, though.

[sysadmin123]

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[supershaun]

 Well after 6 months I can now order Yayzi broadband 2.5gig for £50 month. Which I am paying £62 on 1gig virgin. All I can say is BYE BYE virgin who have been terrible lately and hello Yayzi. This is where people will come and say but you don’t need/cant use that speed but I beg to differ. I will update after install on the 22nd March and let others know what it’s like if it’s available in there area. 

[smithy01793]

So my connection on my street is only a few months old. I have a full fiber optical cable right up to the hub 5 and a converter to go from fiber to coax so I presume I should be able to get the 2gig service. 

[Michael_76]

thanks for sharing...

[Viper-t]

We always here about speed, what about a good qos/connection, we don't care how fast we can download the game call of duty, if we can't play it due to jitter latency packet loss. When you got that sorted I'll be impressed. Its definitely not in my area (bristol) I hear for up to 7 years, Elon will be on Mars by then. 

[djr_uk]

Previously we were told that our bill increases were due to improvements to the network and we'd sometimes get free speed upgrades.

Now we're getting huge bill increases and are being told its due to improvements to the network but we'd need to pay a ton more to get it.

So can we on behalf of the virgin media customers 

STOP IMPROVING THE NETWORK THEN YOU WONT HAVE AN EXCUSE TO INCREASE OUR BILLS SO MUCH.

If we've got to pay that much more to "enjoy" the improved network its bloody not worth it hahaha

[Michael_76]

Your insights are truly appreciated, thank you.....!

[PhilLFC85]

Ive called Virgin (Cant get a fluent speaking English member of staff), the VM website just keeps saying:

Oops!

Looks like something's gone wrong.

We couldn't find the page you're looking for.

So my question is I have these new Fibre to home boxes in my street been here almost a year now but they have had LIVE sprayed on them for a couple of months, problem is i cant egt any information on if this is for gig2 or when its available or if its active now.

Can anyone shed any light on this please??

[BabblingSage]

Can you please me why the price for the 2gig package is cheaper in Ireland than in the UK?  new customer are paying 55 euros which is £47.08 then after 12 months is 99 euros which is £ 84.74

 

[Jbauer83]

How do I check to see if it’s available in my area. Your techs on the phone weren’t very helpful. 

[IPFreely]

PhilLFC85: The 'live' part means 'Liverpool' not that the network is ready to take customers or they're taking orders. The cabinets are marked with where they're connected to on the wider network alongside some reference numbers to confirm to folks on the ground which cabinets they are.

No-one here has any idea when they'll be live beyond probably not before June at the very earliest.

[damo_uk23]

2GB isn't much. Other countries, like New Zealand, can get broadband speeds that are a lot higher. They're (NZ) able to get 8Gbps! I wonder if Virgin Media will ever get there.