Virgin Media Business broadband review 2024

Dan Howdle • October 14th, 2024

Virgin Media's business broadband offerings are comprehensive to say the least. Not only offering some of the UK's fastest widely available broadband, but also Virgin Media Business offers a plethora of extras aimed at catering to the needs of small to medium businesses.

With speeds up to 1Gbps, there's definitely plenty of bandwidth for most. However, faster packages and providers are more widely available than they were a couple of years ago, putting Virgin Media Business in the peculiar position of no longer being the fastest widely available provider. Let's see how it stacks up.

Key features

Here’s a quick look at the key features of Virgin Media Business Broadband.

Broadband speed and packages

For the purposes of this review – since we have no way to measure the capabilities of a bespoke corporate network consisting of multi-Gbps leased lines, we are going to stick to the basic business broadband packages – those which are suited to small to medium-sized businesses. These are now named VOOM 200, VOOM 400, VOOM 600, and VOOM Gig1.

The first three 'VOOM' packages offer download speeds ranging from 213Mbps to 600Mbps. As you move up through to VOOM 600, you will see an increase in upload speeds, options for static IP addresses (useful if you are running your own company server), and a reduction in the maximum number of hours you might have to wait for a fault resolution. The very top package, VOOM Gig1, offers 1.1Gbps download, 100Mbps upload, a maximum of 12 hours for fault resolution, and the option for one static IP address.

Virgin Media Business broadband, like other business broadband providers, doesn't conform to the Ofcom rule which dictates that broadband providers must display a real-world average speed, rather than the 'up-to' speeds of yore, since that rule applies only to home broadband. That's why you'll see Virgin Media Business and other business providers still advertising big round numbers rather than averages.

Having said that, it's not only likely you will receive the speeds stated by Virgin Media, it's likely you will exceed them. Because Virgin Media's residential broadband stated averages are higher than these round-numbered business packages.

Unlike Virgin Media's residential broadband plans, all business contracts are 24 months. This makes sense, since there is more work on Virgin Media's part both to set you up and to maintain your connection. You can also add a static IP address provided you take out one of the two top speeds (VOOM 600 or VOOM Gig1).

Virgin Media Business calling packages and line rental

If you're a small business owner and only need a single phone line, Virgin Media Business keeps things simple. You can add a phone line to any of the VOOM broadband packages, with options for unlimited UK landline calls. You don't have to include a phone line at all if you don't want though, which makes it easier to choose someone else for your phone services if you want.

For businesses with more complex needs, Virgin Media Business offers a wide range of communication solutions. These include everything from business mobile plans (handled by O2 due to the Virgin-O2 merger) to SIP trunking (if you know, you know), cloud voice solutions, and hosted communication systems. Virgin Media Business also provides advanced call management features like call waiting, anonymous call rejection, and multi-party calling, which can be added as bolt-ons for an additional monthly fee.

Is Virgin Media Business broadband fast enough for your needs?

You won't find any ADSL or Standard Fibre broadband available with Virgin Media Business at all. It's all Full Fibre (well, technically it's hybrid, but that's getting too much into the weeds), and the 'slowest' speed you can get is already faster than Standard Fibre speeds offered by most other providers.

VOOM 200, VOOM 400, and VOOM 600 all provide fast download speeds, starting from 213Mbps and going up to 600Mbps. This is more than enough to keep a small office running smoothly. For many small to medium-sized businesses, even the VOOM 200 package would be sufficient. VOOM Gig1, with download speeds of 1.1Gbps, constitutes additional peace of mind.

For some types of businesses, such high speeds might be excessive. For example, if you're a florist, plumber, or a consultant working from home, even the VOOM 200 package could be far more than you need. However, Virgin Media Business broadband is known for its reliability, and in certain situations –like downloading large files or running cloud-based software – having higher speeds could still save you time.

Compare Virgin Business broadband

Virgin Media Business broadband upload speeds

Unlike Virgin Media's residential packages, the upload speeds offered by Virgin Media Business broadband increase as you move up to higher-tier packages. On the VOOM 200 package, upload speeds reach up to 20Mbps. Step up to VOOM 400, and you’ll get 40Mbps, while VOOM 600 offers up to 60Mbps. At the top end, VOOM Gig1 delivers 100Mbps upload speed, which is more than enough for most business needs.

However, some businesses do need to place a strong emphasis on upload speeds. Graphic design agencies, for instance, often share resources on a remote server, many of which can be extremely large files. For businesses like these, you may want to consider a bespoke solution with symmetrical upload and download speeds. Virgin Media Business offers such solutions, though they typically come at a much higher cost.

Installation

Each order from Virgin Media Business is awarded an 'order manager' – a singular point of contact responsible for getting you set up and for dealing with any issues that might occur along the way. This differs greatly from a regular residential broadband deal, where you will always deal with that company's call centre as a whole.

They will initially take you through a series of questions that ensures Virgin Media Business knows what to expect on installation day. Also note that a way leave (formal permission documentation signed by the landlord) is required if you do not own the building in question. If the building was built before 2000, you'll also need to provide an asbestos register. A confirmation email will be sent to you five days before installation.

Two days in advance, you will get final confirmation, and so long as the work goes as planned you will be up and running on the day of the engineer visit.

If you already have a Virgin Media residential broadband deal and your business broadband is going to replace it, the process will be no quicker as a result as different rules and parameters apply.

Router

The router supplied with Virgin Business Broadband deals differs from the one Virgin Media supplies with its residential broadband packages. This is actually pretty rare. Most providers providing broadband for small or medium businesses like to keep things simple, supplying business customers with the same router as its residential customers, maybe with a different sticker on it.

The Hitron CGNV4-BIZ offers 4 Gigabit Ethernet, dual band wifi using the latest 802.11n/ac standard (no Wi-Fi 6/ax), and can support up to 13 static IP addresses – something Virgin Media's Superhub4 could never hope to achieve. There are still better routers out there if you're willing to spend the money, and for that the Hitron offers a modem mode, laying off wired and Wi-Fi networking to your preferred device. You're going to have to spend a lot to beat it, though.

Customer service

According to what is still Ofcom's most recent report on service quality for businesses there are no specific customer satisfaction scores for Virgin Media Business. However, Virgin Media always scores pretty well in terms of customer satisfaction (not the best, but in the mix), and its network, which it wholly owns and runs, is more reliable than Openreach's Standard Fibre network.

Conclusion

There can be no doubt that when it comes to business broadband for small to medium enterprises, Virgin Media Business is up there with the best. But it's no longer the fastest service in many locations around the UK, and its lack of symmetrical upload and download speeds is beginning to look a bit odd when compared alongside most altnets.

However, without progressing your budget skyward to top-tier leased-line business solutions, few other providers come close to Virgin Media Business for speed, quality of equipment, the availability of astatic IP address, or just plain out and out flexibility. Whatever you need, Virgin Media Business has you covered.

The closest competitor if probably BT Business broadband, and since Virgin Media Business is only available to around two-thirds of UK premises, it should probably be your second choice. But second choice, it most definitely is.

Compare business broadband