Switching to Vrigin broadband

[kenman1323]

I recently moved into a new home with Sky broadband installed. However I want to switch to Virgin.

The Sky router is simply connected to an Openreach socket, if I want to switch, do I just unplug the Sky router, and plug in the Virgin hub? 

I am a bit confused about whether different providers can use the same socket without carrying out any external works. Any help on switching would be greatly appreciated. 

[nodrogd · Accepted solution]

Unless you are in one of VERY few places where VM uses the same infrastructure, the answer is no.

99.9% of the time it will require VM to connect you to their own street ducting & cabinets. VM have their own cable "headends" that house their Broadband & TV kit. They even house their own telephone exchanges, as their "cable" infrastructure (it was originally just cable TV) was built long before Openreach & sharing of BT infrastructure became a reality.

All services come in to the property either via a copper coaxial cable similar to a TV aerial cable, or in newer areas a fibre terminates on your front wall & coax comes inside.