Virgin Media M125 deal makes others look slow and expensive
Dan Howdle | September 4th, 2024
Save £100 – but hurry, this online exclusive won't last forever
Virgin Media's latest offer on its M125 broadband package, with an average download speed of 132Mbps is, frankly, quite absurd value for money. Let's take a closer look at the ins and outs of this deal and how it's making the competition look rather expensive.
This M125 deal is really, really cheap
Outside of offer periods, Virgin Media Broadband's super-speedy M125 package is £54 per month across an 18-month contract, with a total cost of £972, including set-up costs. And in all honesty, though still great broadband, it does get lost among the competition somewhat at that price. However, in this limited-time deal, Virgin has more than halved the monthly cost to just £26.50 per month, or £477 across the length of the contract. And with the £65 bill credit currently on offer, and Virgin Media waiving its £35 set-up fee, that's £100 off in addition!
And that's where the competition starts to look rather silly. Competing deals from the likes of TalkTalk, BT, Sky and others (see comparison at bottom of page) are more expensive, slower, and often with a lower-quality router. Right now, Virgin Media's M125 is the best deal in town, and it's only available online. You cannot get it by phoning Virgin Media, so you will need to use the links you see in this blog.
- £65 Bill Credit
- No 2024 Price Rise
-
132Mb average speed
- Unlimited monthly downloads
- Zero one-off cost
- 18 month contract
- No phone line
Virgin Media M125 is really, really fast
Forget about 'gigabit' broadband or 'ultrafast' broadband. It's expensive if you can get it, it's far, far faster than almost any household really needs. The ideal spot for most households is around 100Mbps. Any faster would be overkill, and with gaming and streaming so demanding, any slower may not be enough. It's the sweet spot.
Virgin Media is the only provider that offers its customers these speeds universally. Everyone who can get Virgin Media can get this speed. Moreover, though labelled M125, the average download speed customers get with this package is actually 132Mbps. That's fast enough to download a 5GB HD movie in under six minutes!
It's enough for a household of four people, households with a 4K TV and Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon 4K and so on. And it's more than enough to keep gamers happy. What's more, Virgin Media Broadband has some of the lowest latency in the UK, which is especially useful for gamers who play online competitive shooters such as Call of Duty, Valorant, or Overwatch.
For more information, see our guide to getting broadband installed.
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£65 Bill CreditM125 Fibre Broadband
- 132Mb average speed +
- Unlimited usage +
- No phone line
- £65 Bill Credit
- No 2024 Price Rise
£26.50 per month(prices may change during contract)£65 Bill Credit£0 one-off cost18 month contract -
£65 Bill CreditM250 Fibre Broadband
- 264Mb average speed +
- Unlimited usage +
- No phone line
- £65 Bill Credit
- No 2024 Price Rise
£30.50 per month(prices may change during contract)£65 Bill Credit£0 one-off cost18 month contract -
£50 Bill CreditM50 Fibre Broadband
- 54Mb average speed +
- Unlimited usage +
- No phone line
- £50 Bill Credit
£24.00 per month(prices may change during contract)£50 Bill Credit£0 one-off cost18 month contract
One of the best routers in the business – the Virgin Media Hub 3
Obviously, most routers that you could buy separately, if you're flush enough to afford it, will perform better than any of the free, provider-supplied routers. However, among that group the Virgin Media Hub 3 fares well.
The Hub 3 uses the fast wireless standard, catchily titled 802.11ac (or wifi 5). This standard has been superseded recently, by 802.11x (or Wi-Fi 6), but don't give that a second thought. Most devices don't support Wi-Fi 6 unless they were bought in the last few years, and even then support is not guaranteed. So compatibility of the Hub 3 is perfect. You'll get four LAN ports and two wifi networks (2.4Ghz and 5Ghz). Range is good, and it has a neat modem mode if you want to add your own router.
Hub 3 specs overview:
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Wireless Standard | 802.11ac (WiFi 5) |
| Frequency Bands | Dual-band (2.4 GHz & 5 GHz) |
| LAN Ports | 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports |
| WiFi Security | WPA2-PSK (WiFi Protected Access 2) |
| Modem Mode | Yes, supports modem mode for use with third-party routers |
| Max WiFi Speed | Up to 1.3 Gbps on 5 GHz (theoretical) |
| Antennas | Internal antennas |
| USB Ports | No USB ports |
| IPv6 Support | Yes |
| Dimensions | 215mm x 185mm x 55mm |
Installation and switching are very easy
Because Virgin Media runs on its own fibre network (where almost all the other providers run on Openreach), you'll need to contact your existing provider to let them know you are leaving, after you have signed up with Virgin Media. Be sure to check that you are out of your current contract period to avoid paying any early cancellation fees.
It's worth noting that from April 2023, the process became simpler. Under Ofcom regulations, switching providers now features 'One Touch Switching', meaning you’ll only need to sign up with Virgin, and they will handle the switch with your existing provider. Previously you would have had to inform both providers, old and new.
During the sign-up process with Virgin Media, you’ll be asked to book an appointment for an engineer to visit your property. The engineer will connect your home to the Virgin fibre network, which may involve running a new cable into your home and drilling a small hole in the wall. If you already have an existing Virgin Media connection in place, you may be eligible for self-installation, where Virgin will post you the router for a DIY setup.
For rented properties, it’s essential to get permission from your landlord for the installation, as drilling and external cabling may be required. Overall, the installation process is quick and smooth, with most installations completed within a couple of hours.
No setup fees with the M125 deal
A major plus with this M125 deal is that all setup costs have been waived. Many broadband providers charge for installation or router delivery, but with this offer, there are no such fees. This means that not only are you getting a great price for fast broadband, but you’re also avoiding additional costs that could otherwise add up.
In contrast, other providers such as BT and Sky typically charge around £10-20 for setup or delivery fees, making Virgin's offer even more appealing. So, when you sign up for this deal, your total cost is limited to the monthly fee, with no hidden extras.
Why Virgin Media is one of the best providers
Virgin Media consistently ranks as one of the top broadband providers in the UK, known for its fast speeds, reliable service, and solid equipment. Thanks to their independent fibre network, they provide consistently high speeds, with less congestion compared to networks like Openreach.
In Ofcom’s annual report, Virgin Media regularly scores well in terms of customer satisfaction, broadband speeds, and reliability. With its M125 package, you’re getting the best balance of speed and affordability, especially with this limited-time offer. The router, the speeds, and the customer service all make Virgin a standout provider in today’s competitive broadband market.
If you're still weighing your options, check out our Virgin Media Broadband review for more details, or take a look at our broadband customer satisfaction survey to see how Virgin Media compares with other leading providers in the UK.
How does M125 compare to other deals?
To get a thorough idea of how this deal stacks up, it's going to be a good idea to take a look at what the competition is offering. Here are two similar deals from Sky and BT:
-
145Mb average speed
- Unlimited monthly downloads
- £5 one-off cost
- 24 month contract
- Pay as you go calls
- £50 Virtual Reward Card
- Free broadband for three months
-
150Mb average speed
- Unlimited monthly downloads
- Zero one-off cost
- 24 month contract
- No phone line
- Sky Ultrafast: Offers 145Mbps for £29.00 per month on a 24-month contract, with a £5 one-off cost. It's more expensive than M125 and there's currently no bill credit, cashback or other offer on the package
- BT Fibre 100: Provides 150Mbps average speed for £33.99 per month on a 24-month contract. There is a £31.99 setup fee, but the deal includes a £50 BT Reward Card, making it less competitive on cost, but with marginally better speed
How do I claim my £65 bill credit?
The £65 bill credit included in Virgin Media’s M125 deal is applied automatically to your account within 30 days of activating your broadband service. There is no need for you to manually claim or apply for the credit, as Virgin Media processes this automatically for new customers.
Once the credit is applied, it will be used to reduce your monthly broadband payments until the full £65 is used up. Here’s how the £65 credit impacts your monthly bill:
- Month 1: The first month’s bill of £26.50 is fully covered by the credit, leaving you with £38.50 remaining.
- Month 2: Your second bill of £26.50 is also covered by the credit, leaving £12.00 credit remaining.
- Month 3: The remaining £12.00 credit is applied, and you only pay £14.50 for the third month.
After the bill credit is fully used up, your standard monthly payment of £26.50 will apply for the remaining months of your 18-month contract. The credit gives you a significant discount over the first few months, helping to make the initial cost of this deal even lower.
It’s important to note that this credit cannot be withdrawn as cash and will only apply to your broadband bills. The process is seamless, ensuring you get maximum value without needing to take any additional steps.
