BT vs Virgin Broadband

Overview of BT Broadband and Virgin Media Broadband Providers

BT and Virgin Media are two well-known broadband providers in the UK. They serve millions of homes with fibre broadband and TV packages. BT uses the Openreach network to deliver its services. On the other hand, Virgin Media has its own network, which allows it to provide ultrafast speeds and good broadband deals. This comparison looks at many aspects, including speeds, prices, customer service, and setup fees. It aims to help you pick the best broadband provider for your needs.

Broadband Speeds and Performance

Broadband speed matters a lot for things like streaming, gaming, and video calls. BT and Virgin Media both offer fibre broadband. They have good download and upload speeds. However, Virgin Media has the upper hand. It provides faster options in most categories.

BT Broadband Speeds

BT offers packages for different needs. They have Fibre Essential for light users and BT Full Fibre 900 for heavy users. BT broadband runs on the Openreach full fibre network, which gives you reliable speeds. They also follow the Advertising Standards Authority’s rules. This way, the speeds they advertise show the average download speed during peak times.

BT Broadband Packages:

• Fibre Essential: 36Mbps for download and 9Mbps for upload.
• Full Fibre 100: 150Mbps for download and 30Mbps for upload.
• Full Fibre 900: 900Mbps for download and 110Mbps for upload.

Virgin Media Speeds

Virgin Media offers the fastest broadband packages in the market. Their ultrafast speeds start at 132Mbps and reach up to 2Gbps in certain areas. They have their own network, which helps them provide top broadband speeds. This makes Virgin Media faster than the Openreach network in city areas.

Virgin Media Broadband Packages:

• M125: 132 Mbps for downloading and 20 Mbps for uploading.
• Gig1 Fibre Broadband: 1.13 Gbps for downloading and 52 Mbps for uploading.
• Gig2: 2 Gbps for downloading and 200 Mbps for uploading (in limited areas).

Verdict: Virgin Media is faster, especially with ultrafast packages like Gig1 and Gig2. However, BT has better upload speeds with similar packages. BT also has wider coverage using the Openreach full fibre network.

Broadband Prices and Deals

Both providers have good prices. However, Virgin Media gives better value, especially during promotion times like Black Friday.

BT Pricing

BT broadband packages start at £29.99 a month for Full Fibre 100. The price goes up to £44.99 a month for Full Fibre 900. There is no upfront cost with the 24-month plans. However, if you choose a 12-month contract, there is a £41.99 setup fee. All plans also have a yearly price rise of £3 every March 31.

Virgin Media Pricing

Virgin Media has starting prices as low as £22.99 a month for M125. There are no setup fees for any plans. Black Friday deals make it better. Customers can get three months free. Plus, prices are reduced until April 2025. These Virgin Media deals are very appealing.

Broadband Speed and Pricing Comparison

Verdict: Virgin Media is the winner when it comes to affordability. They offer a free setup and have promotional discounts.

Correct as of 08/01/2025

Network Coverage and Availability

BT Coverage

BT offers broadband using the Openreach network, reaching 97% of UK homes. This makes it the most available service. They are working to expand full fibre connections. Their goal is to link 25 million homes by 2026. This will help more people get better access to full fibre broadband.

Virgin Media Coverage

Virgin Media has its own network that covers 60% of UK homes, mostly in cities. The company plans to expand its full fibre network to reach 23 million homes by 2028. This will help it close the gap with BT.

Verdict: BT is a better choice for rural areas. However, Virgin Media is the top option for urban areas because it offers faster speeds.

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Customer Service and Satisfaction

Customer service is very important for people choosing broadband. Ofcom’s latest report for Q1 2024 shows that BT is better than Virgin Media in this part. BT has fewer complaints and higher customer satisfaction.

BT Customer Service

BT broadband customers enjoy a UK call centre, quicker wait times, and high satisfaction. Ofcom says BT got only 9 complaints for every 100,000 customers. This is much lower than the industry average. This shows that BT is dedicated to solving problems quickly and keeping great relationships with customers.

BT Customer Metrics (Ofcom, Q1 2024):

• Complaints for every 100,000 customers: 9
• Customer satisfaction: Higher than the sector average
• Time spent waiting on calls: Usually shorter than Virgin Media’s

BT Trustpilot Reviews:

• Overall TrustScore: 1.3 out of 5 (Bad)
• Total Reviews: 17,854
• 5-star: 7%
• 4-star: 1%
• 3-star: 1%
• 2-star: 3%
• 1-star: 88%

Virgin Media Customer Service

Virgin Media has had some problems with customer service. According to Ofcom’s Q1 2024 report, there were 18 complaints for every 100,000 customers. This number is higher than BT and the industry average. But, Virgin Media is trying to make its service better. They are focusing on fixing issues faster and improving how they talk to customers.

Virgin Media Customer Metrics (Ofcom, Q1 2024):

• Complaints for every 100,000 customers: 18
• Service satisfaction: Lower than BT but getting better
• Average waiting time for calls: About 3 minutes and 7 seconds

Virgin Media Trustpilot Reviews:

• Overall TrustScore: 1.4 out of 5 (Not Good)
• Total Reviews: 94,209
  • 5-star: 9%
  • 4-star: 5%
  • 3-star: 9%
  • 2-star: 10%
  • 1-star: 67%

Verdict

BT is number one in customer satisfaction and service quality. They have fewer complaints and solve issues faster. Virgin Media is getting better, but it still has a way to go to reach BT’s level.

BT Smart Hub vs Virgin Media Hub

BT Smart Hub

BT’s newest router is the Smart Hub 2. It uses Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) instead of Wi-Fi 6. This router provides a stable dual-band connection and works well for most homes. If you need more coverage, BT has a Complete Wi-Fi system. It comes with Wi-Fi Pods for a mesh network, but this costs extra each month. This option is great for bigger homes or areas where Wi-Fi does not reach.

• Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 5
• Mesh Support: Yes (can use Wi-Fi Pods as an extra)
• Security: WPA2
• Best For: Regular home connection and average use

Virgin Media Hub

Virgin Media is ahead of BT when it comes to router technology. Their Hub 5 uses Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). This new standard offers faster speeds, better performance in busy areas, and uses less energy for connected devices. Virgin Media also gives out Wi-Fi Pods to cover the whole house. These are included in top packages like Gig1 Fibre Broadband.

• Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 6
• Mesh Support: Yes (Wi-Fi Pods included with premium plans)
• Security: WPA3
• Best For: Fast internet, big households, and many connected devices

Router Comparison Table

Verdict

Virgin Media wins this round because it offers better router technology with Wi-Fi 6. This makes it great for using several devices at once and provides faster internet speeds. On the other hand, BT’s Smart Hub 2 is dependable, but it does not have Wi-Fi 6. It also needs extra devices for advanced features.

TV and Entertainment Bundles

BT TV

BT TV offers flexible TV packages. You can enjoy access to NOW TV, Sky Sports, and TNT Sports. You can also change add-ons every 30 days. This makes it perfect for viewers who like flexibility.

Virgin Media TV

Virgin Media offers TV packages like the Bigger Bundle. This includes Virgin TV 360, which has hundreds of live and on-demand channels. You can get Sky Sports and Sky Cinema for less money than BT.

Virgin Media offers better value through complete TV bundles.

Call Plans and Phone Line Options

Both providers have bundles for broadband and home phone. These bundles come with unlimited minutes and include calls.

Verdict: Virgin Media has cheaper and more flexible call bundles.

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BT vs Virgin Media: Verdict Winner Table

Overall Winner: Virgin Media

BT is great at customer service, upload speeds, and network coverage. However, Virgin Media is better overall. They offer very fast broadband speeds. Their prices are affordable too. Virgin Media also has advanced router technology. Plus, they provide TV and call bundles that have a lot of value.

FAQs About BT vs Virgin Media Broadband