Is there a timeframe on when the overlay-built XGS PON networks (ex HFC networks) will go live, virgin media are building the XGS PON in the Reading area (RG1-6) areas in the next 4-8 weeks. Just wondering whether there will be a huge delay before we can order 2gig or even 1gig symmetrical services... I know the answer is probably going to be how long is a piece of string.
You will have to wait & see. Be aware that the new fibre network will not carry linear broadcast TV services, so if you currently have V360 or TiVO V6 you will lose these services. Stream will still be available on the new network.
VM with its build partners are cabling for XGS-PON on an area-by-area basis, and some have been completed with the project due for completion by 2028. There is as always backend work to be done until an area is ready for sale, e.g. configurations for OLTs and servers, after which there is another big job to migrate customers and finally junk the coaxial cable. We don't have a rollout schedule but there can be no doubt than VM wants to get this over ASAP.
What will the prices be for 2Gbps, including symmetrical?
Hi jpeg1
According to /ispreview/02/virgin-media-uk-launch-2gbps-broadband-and-optional-symmetric-speeds
The Gig2 package is said to cost £84 per month, while the option to add symmetrical speeds across all speed tiers will set you back an extra £6 per month.
UPDATE 10:02am
Virgin has confirmed that, “initially“, Gig2 and symmetrical broadband speeds are “only available on our full fibre network as part of our venture with nexfibre“. So those in Virgin Media’s own RFoG FTTP and HFC areas are out of luck, for now. Likewise, Virgin Media’s own XGS-PON FTTP upgrades, which have yet to go live, are out too. As we said earlier, regular consumers could be forgiven for finding this all very confusing.
UPDATE 10:42am
After a bit of back and forth, we can now confirm that the default average upload speed on Gig2 is 200Mbps (Gig1 remains at 104Mbps). In addition, for those who asked, the Hub 5x has the following Ethernet ports – 1 x 10Gbps and 3 x 1Gbps (the regular Hub 5 trades that 10Gbps port for a 2.5Gbps one).
The following is from /thinkbroadband.com/virgin-media-launches-2-gbps-symmetric-service-using-nexfibre-network
Virgin Media O2 now has a 2 Gbps symmetric service launched, though we have looked at some of the nexfibre locations it is apparently available in and for now the standard Virgin Media products are being shown to potential customers.
Gig2 offers 2000 Mbps download for £84/m, but if you want symmetrical speeds this needs a £6/m upgrade. We've not seen what the standard upload speed for the Gig2 service is yet but would guess at 200 Mbps. The £6/m symmetrical upload option is available on other Virgin Media speed tiers so you can have 132 Mbps download and 132 Mbps upload speeds if you want at the standard price of £54/m - introductory offer pricing for new customers is £32.50/m currently.
The service is running over the nexfibre XGS-PON network and Virgin Media O2 are saying the footprint is approaching one million premises, our hunting down of the network is some 650,000 premises in size, but if you add the Upp footprint previously acquired but not fully integrated yet we get a figure of around 750,000 to 825,000 premises which is in the approaching one million premises region.
Update 10am: Our listings now show Virgin Media Gig2 package when you use the package search. The nexfibre field was added to the broadband API in preperation for a nexfibre-specific product launch back in November 2023. The Virgin Media O2 website does not offer up the package yet, so if in a nexfibre street you may need to call them if very keen to see what 2 Gbps feels like.
Thanks. It will be interesting to see if LG has enough cash to buy in any other networks.
There is a pdf from nextfibre of their rollout but it's from 30th September 2023.
jpeg1 wrote:Thanks. It will be interesting to see if LG has enough cash to buy in any other networks.
No, LG does have money. The situation is that VMO2, owned by Liberty Global and Telefónica, has gross debts of about £22bn with megabucks being spent in installing microducts, fibre and cabinets for XGS-PON until the end of 2028. But this work is to migrate the existing DOCSIS network covering 16.2m premises to XGS-PON and VMO2 wants to expand its network. So, how can it be done without money?
Answer: bring in a rich partner. What Liberty Global and Telefónica did was to team up with InfraVia Capital Partners on a 50:50 joint venture to create nexfibre with £4.5bn (mostly provided by InfraVia) to build fibre to five million premises by 2026 and optionally seven million by 2028. What has also been done is to get nexfibre to fund and purchase UPP with its network covering 175,000 premises, a network which will get integrated into VM's XGS-PON by around autumn 2024. (This helps to explain why not all of nexfibre's network is in a ready-to-sell state.)
Now to finally answer your question: VMO2 is looking at 6-7 operators with a view to purchasing one of them, and I have no doubt that this will be done by nexfibre with funding coming from InfraVia.
But will this all be done before Openreach gets there with its choice of competing FTTP operators? They reached my road six months early, in spite of their shortage of staff.
Openreach and VM are migrating to FTTP from quite different bases as you might expect from their very different historical backgrounds. Openreach is moving from a fibre/telephone-based system to full fibre with a plan to pass 25m premises by 2026, and is about 38% there now. Openreach has been using GPON but can cost-effectively deploy Adtran comboPONs in its OLTs with suitable ONTs to switch to the superior XGS-PON without needing to change the ONTs. In contrast VM is building an entirely new network to replace the HFC network which covers about 88% of its premises with work to be done to migrate the RFoG network to XGS-PON, and is expanding with nexfibre to go to 21.2m by 2026 or 23.2m by 2028.
Both projects must have similar issues concerning shortages of staff and materials, but they have to press on as it's a competitive market for the UK's two biggest network operators. As for when your area will have FTTP, I think Openreach is more open as you can check if your area is in its build plan, but I don't see something equivalent from VM.
No doubt VM will want to keep their rollout plans confidential, whereas OR are just pressing on regardless. Now they are in our road my neighbours currently on VM are looking at their contract terms to see when they might be moving.
I'm sure there will be some negotiations now that there is real competition. Mine runs out in August.
I joined VM last Nov, as our area was new infrastructure as VM had never been on my street, am on gig1 (18 month contract) plus Stream box, have a hub 5x never get the fill gig even when connected via Ethernet, most is 910mps 108 upload, we are a XGS PON area, wonder if we’ll get gig2 anytime soon?
If you are using gigabit ethernet devices 910Mbps is about right.
Using an iPad Pro via WiFi & iPhone 15 pro max, my Apple TV 4K is connected via Ethernet goes to 1000mps then down to 885mps
The hub 5X has a 10Gbps port but if the connected devices only have gigabit ports then 910Mbps is close to the maximum they'll get.
