It seems this will mostly be done during 2026.
The press release on it is of course full of typos and makes little sense https://news.virginmediao2.co.uk/virgin-media-o2-begins-upgrading-customers-to-the-wifi-hub-5-for-free/
What a clunker of a press release !
Make one think the transition from CATV / RFoG to XGS-PON is many years away.
They should of done this sooner for 1Gb customers but its great they are doing it for everyone now!
Wonder if the hub 5 will be the last Docsis hub?
ISPreview briefly hints at a WiFi 7 capable Hub 6 launching in the UK next year too. Presumably this will coincide with the launch of a new Gig5 speed tier to catch up with VM Ireland. https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2025/10/broadband-isp-virgin-media-uk-upgrades-customers-to-hub-5-for-free.html
We can only expect people wanting that hub when it comes out then, unless VM push over 2.5Gb and that hub 6 has a 10Gb port will it matter.
Didn't VM announce this some time back, only to then find they could not source adequate supplies of the Hub 5?
With VM UK's CATV / DOCSIS entering the twilight years, issuing Hub 5's to customers like us where a Hub 3 works fine, is an investment in the platform that I'd not expected to see.
The most recent Hub 3 software update was Summer / Autumn of 2022.
I have no records of Hub 4 updates but it has not been a topic of posts for quite some time.
Could it be the Hub 3 and Hub 4 have reached the end of the OEM support ?
Are there expectations ISP issued kit can be issued with updates / security fixes ?
The press release does say
offered the chance to upgrade
which implies at least that it will be voluntary. We shall await the wording of communication to customers.
I believe that as the Hub4 & 5 use DOCSIS 3.1 VM can connect more customers when the Hub3s are removed. Probably just a short term measure.
Hi Client62
The following page relates to security information for VM kit along with links to the manufacturers websites for regulatory and compliance info.
https://www.virginmedia.com/help/how-to/broadband/device-security-information
Expect posts and complaints from customers who upgrade and then their interenet gets worse. The Hub3 uses DOCSIS 3.0 while the Hub5 runs on DOCSIS 3.1. On paper, DOCSIS 3.1 is a big upgrade — it allows more capacity and higher speeds but it’s also more sensitive to any noise or signal imperfections on the line. With DOCSIS 3.0 (Hub3), the connection tends to be more forgiving, so you could have borderline signal levels (e.g. upstream power slightly high, or downstream SNR a bit low) and still not notice many issues. With DOCSIS 3.1 (Hub5), those same borderline levels can cause daily drop-outs, packet loss, or latency spikes.
DeborahForum might be interested 1Gb volt but WiFi a lot less? | Virgin Media Community - 5661222
Queen Elizabeth said to one dubious head of state, 'Recollections may vary'.
This is exceptionally true of unsubstantiated claims about changes to speed of internet after an upgrade or after a change of VM Hub.
The gripes about a Kindle failing to reach 500Mb/s when sat on a garden dunny do have to be taken with a pinch of salt.
You are absolutely spot on. I've had issues for over 2 years, it's only just recently been fixed. That's after countless engineer visits and formal complaints. The only way I got my issue fixed was by emailing the area manager directly with all my evidence. He kept pushing networks and they finally got their fingers out their back sides and actually did something. I have to say west London networks are the worst. I'm just glad after years of poor service it's finally fixed,
How did you get the area manager's contact details?
Some counter arguments, looking at the broader picture:
1) 3.1 uses a much stronger FEC. It supports a given modulation order at a lower SNR. This FEC also does frequency interleaving (can be very powerful).
2) It is much more adaptive to the conditions in any given plant. How much depends on the operator (configuration and addtional support software - PMA). It can mask impairments in the plant (keeping the customers happy), while giving the operator time to fix them.
3) It has a way to mitigate uncorrectable codewords, due to the use of multiple modulation profiles.
4) 3.1 modems can output a stronger signal than 3.0 modems.
There are a lot of configuration knobs, so handling of profiles and noise events etc. can differ from operator to operator. Operators tend to put 3.1 channels at the troublesome frequencies, because they handle it better.
There are also examples of firmware bugs in various modems that can make 3.1 unstable in some situations (I can't speak of VM), but these are bugs, so not a flaw in DOCSIS 3.1.
This makes entire sense as VM now has sufficient supplies of the hub 5 to standardise on it and get the significant benefits of capacity efficiency that DOCSIS 3.1 brings and reduced maintenance. As with all upgrades there might be some problems where users have a marginal coaxial line but VM has the means to deal with this.
You might think it odd to have a press release about a free hub upgrade and Volt. What I think this is about is that VM hub 3 customers on M500 can, with the hub 5, get Gig1 if they have an O2 plan. But regardless of what the press release means, it's a pretty shoddy piece of work.
Thinking about it further do any of us have any confidence that VM has fully thought this hub upgrade project through in relation to the hundreds of thousands of pods that will need to be re-paired (let alone the activation line, the standard helpline, and this forum being up to the job of helping to facilitate this)? Maybe the comms around it will be absolutely fantastic and idiot proof. Maybe not.
Good point Cardiffman282 Not only that, but the old white pods are only Wifi 5 ac, and the Hub 5 is Wifi 6 ax. Who's going to complain and ask for the black Wifi 6 ax pods ??
For those who haven't got a HUB5, who is going to be first to ask VM on here for one, just to see if the reply says "only for GIG1 customers" still? ;)
Fingers crossed the replacement Hub 5 does not come with
a surprise ££ activation fee and a new 18+ month contract.
