Virgin Media Gig1 Fibre Broadband – Is it any good?

Virgin Media Gig1 Fibre Broadband offers an average download speed of 1130Mbps and upload speeds averaging around 104Mbps. This makes it one of the fastest widely available broadband packages in the UK for residential use. It runs on Virgin Media’s DOCSIS 3.1 network rather than Openreach’s FTTP infrastructure, meaning availability is tied to Virgin’s cable footprint.

All Gig1 packages come with Virgin’s Intelligent WiFi Hub (Hub 5 or 5x depending on availability) and are backed by the WiFi Max guarantee, promising a minimum of 30Mbps in every room or you’ll receive a £100 credit.

• Download speed: 1130Mbps (average)
• Upload speed: 104Mbps (average)
• Contract length: 24 months
• Setup: No setup fee
• WiFi Guarantee: 30Mbps minimum in every room or money back
• Technology: DOCSIS 3.1 via Virgin’s own network
• Unlimited data: Yes

Pros and Cons

What we like:

• Gigabit-class download speeds across most of Virgin Media’s network
• No setup fee, even on gigabit-tier plans
• Strong upload performance (104Mbps), better than Openreach FTTP 910 plans
• Includes Virgin’s best WiFi Hub (Hub 5/5x) with WiFi Max coverage
• Bundles available with premium TV and mobile options

What could be better:

• Still uses Virgin’s coaxial cable for final connection, not pure FTTP
• Higher latency compared to some full fibre providers
• No symmetrical speeds (uploads max at 104Mbps)

All Gig1 plans come with unlimited usage, no setup fee, and Virgin’s latest WiFi router with full-home coverage tools.

Virgin Media Gig1 speeds

Advertised average speed, promised speed and WiFi guarantee

The advertised average download speed for Gig1 is 1,130 Mbps and the advertised average upload speed is 104 Mbps, based on peak-time testing across Virgin Media’s network.

Virgin Media also provide a minimum guaranteed speed. For Gig1 this is set at 565 Mbps to the hub. If speeds fall below 565 Mbps for three consecutive days and Virgin Media cannot resolve the issue within 30 days, customers are allowed to cancel without penalty.

Gig1 also includes WiFi Max. This service guarantees at least 30 Mbps in every room of the home when using the Hub 5 and WiFi pods. If speeds drop below 30 Mbps in any room, Virgin Media will send additional pods or apply a £100 bill credit.

Gig1 upload speed

Gig1 offers an average upload speed of 104 Mbps. This is a major increase from the previous 52 Mbps profile that the package used to provide. Customers using the Hub 5 with a wired Ethernet connection or a WiFi 6 device can generally achieve upload speeds in the 95–104 Mbps range.

While this is below the symmetrical uploads offered by Community Fibre, Hyperoptic, or other full fibre providers, it is still higher than the upload speeds on BT’s Full Fibre 900 (110 Mbps) and much faster than Plusnet Full Fibre 900 (115 Mbps). Compared to mid-tier Openreach fibre plans such as BT Full Fibre 500 (73 Mbps upload) or Vodafone Full Fibre 500 (68 Mbps upload), Gig1’s 104 Mbps provides a clear advantage.

Speed tests

We tested Virgin Media Gig1 using SamKnows RealSpeed and Ookla speed test servers.

• Hub-to-network tests: consistently recorded 1,083–1,115 Mbps download and 102–104 Mbps upload.
• Single wired device (1 Gbps Ethernet): reached between 887 Mbps and 942 Mbps download, with uploads between 101 Mbps and 104 Mbps.
• Wired device (2.5 Gbps Ethernet port on Hub 5): recorded 1,097 Mbps download and 104 Mbps upload, showing that the full line speed can be achieved with the right hardware.
• WiFi 6 laptop in the same room: reached 738 Mbps to 819 Mbps download and 98 Mbps upload.
• WiFi 6 smartphone in the same room: recorded 681 Mbps download and 95 Mbps upload.
• WiFi 5 laptop one room away: averaged 452 Mbps download and 87 Mbps upload.

During peak evening hours (8–10pm), the lowest wired speed we measured on a 1 Gbps Ethernet device was 612 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload.

These results are consistent with customer reports on the Virgin Media Community forum and Reddit, where wired devices typically hit between 900 Mbps and 950 Mbps, and hub-level tests frequently show over 1,100 Mbps download with uploads around 104 Mbps.

Speed issues and user feedback

User experience of Gig1 is mixed across the UK. In areas where Virgin Media have completed network upgrades, customers report downloads consistently above 1,000 Mbps and uploads above 100 Mbps. In areas with high utilisation, evening speeds often fall to between 550 Mbps and 700 Mbps until local capacity work is carried out.

Customer complaints frequently mention three issues:

• Not reaching a full gigabit on a single device (because most devices are limited to 1 Gbps ports).
• Evening slowdowns in congested areas.
• Upload speeds occasionally sticking below 90 Mbps instead of reaching the advertised 104 Mbps.

These problems are often caused by local congestion or equipment inside the home, such as WiFi interference, older Ethernet ports, or devices that cannot exceed 1 Gbps.

Value for money

Virgin Media Gig1 is the most expensive plan in their broadband range, but it also offers the best value when you compare speed to cost. Even though the monthly bill is higher than M350 or M500, you get more than double the speed increase for only a small extra charge.

On a “price per megabit” basis, Gig1 is the cheapest in Virgin Media’s line-up. In other words, you’re paying less for each unit of speed than you would on their slower packages. That’s why many people see it as the plan that delivers the most for your money, despite being the priciest at face value.

It also comes with WiFi Max included. That means Virgin guarantees at least 30 Mbps in every room, with free WiFi Pods to boost the signal if needed, or a credit on your bill if they still can’t meet the promise. On Virgin’s lower plans, this feature usually costs extra.

But whether Gig1 feels worth it depends on how you use your broadband. For everyday streaming, gaming, and browsing, mid-tier options like M350 or M500 can already feel more than enough. Gig1 shows its value when you’ve got a busy household with multiple people gaming, streaming 4K, or working from home at the same time. It also stands out for its uploads, offering over 100 Mbps — much higher than most Openreach-based fibre plans. That extra upload speed makes video calls smoother and file backups much quicker.

There are a few things to watch. Virgin increases bills each April. On newer contracts the rise is a flat amount each year, while older deals go up by inflation plus a percentage on top. And if you roll past the end of your contract without renegotiating, the monthly cost can jump sharply to Virgin’s standard rate.

Customers on forums often point this out. New customers regularly secure lower promotional deals or bill credits, while existing customers usually see higher renewal quotes unless they negotiate. Some say they’ve managed to cut their Gig1 price by haggling, while others end up paying far more if they stay out of contract.

Compared with rivals, Virgin Gig1 is more expensive than gigabit fibre from Community Fibre or Hyperoptic, which are available for much less each month in the areas they cover. However, those altnets only reach limited parts of the UK. For most households, Virgin Gig1 remains the fastest widely available option.

In short: Gig1 offers the best speed-to-cost ratio in Virgin Media’s range. It’s ideal if you want gigabit performance and can take advantage of the speeds. But if you only need a fast and reliable connection for general use, a cheaper tier may give you similar everyday performance at a lower monthly bill.

Gig1 customer service and support

Gig1 comes with the same customer service as Virgin Media’s other broadband plans. You’ll be dealing with the same call centres, web chat, WhatsApp, and the Virgin Media Community forum. There’s no special VIP support for Gig1, but there is one useful extra: WiFi Max is included.

WiFi Max is Virgin’s in-home guarantee. They promise at least 30 Mbps in every room. If you don’t get that, they’ll send up to three WiFi Pods for free, and if it still doesn’t work, you get £100 back on your bill. On cheaper packages, WiFi Max costs extra, so Gig1 customers are better covered here.

When it comes to installation and activation, feedback is mixed. Some customers say the process is quick, others report repeated delays or cancelled appointments. In areas with the newer FTTP network, Virgin is supplying the Hub 5x. That hub doesn’t support modem mode yet, which makes using your own router harder, and support agents don’t always route these cases to the right team straight away.

Getting help isn’t always smooth. Plenty of people on Reddit and the Virgin forum complain about long wait times on the phone or going around in circles with automated menus. WhatsApp and chat support can be slow to respond. The Community forum often ends up being the fastest way to get answers from other users, but official fixes still need to go through Virgin’s staff.

Service reliability is another common talking point. Some Gig1 customers say their connection is fast and reliable day to day, but others run into evening slowdowns or outages that drag on longer than expected. Missed repair deadlines and vague service-status updates come up often in forum threads.

Regulator data backs this up. Ofcom’s latest report shows Virgin Media gets more broadband complaints than most of the big providers, and customers rate its complaint handling below the industry average. Virgin Media say complaints are falling, but official figures still place them near the bottom of the pack.

Who Should Choose Virgin Media Gig1?

Gig1 is ideal for households that require the fastest broadband available without compromise.

It’s best for:

• Large families or shared homes where 6+ people use the internet simultaneously
• Power users who work from home, stream in UHD, game online and upload content
• Homes with 20+ connected devices, including smart TVs, consoles, CCTV, cloud devices
• Multi-room setups where WiFi performance needs to remain stable throughout

It also suits users who want a premium entertainment bundle, combining ultrafast broadband with full TV and mobile plans under one provider.

Who Should Go for Alternatives?

Gig1 might not be the right choice if:

• You don’t need gigabit speeds. Virgin’s M125, M250 or M350 may be more cost-effective for lighter usage.
• You want symmetrical speeds. Community Fibre, Hyperoptic or other FTTP providers offer identical upload/download speeds on 1Gbps plans.
• You live outside Virgin’s coverage. Gig1 is not available on Openreach; if you’re in a full fibre area, BT Full Fibre 900 or Vodafone Full Fibre 910 may be better options.

Our Verdict

Virgin Media Gig1 is one of the fastest home broadband options in the UK, delivering real-world speeds above 1Gbps with reliable upload rates. It’s a future-proof connection for households with high demand and multiple devices, offering consistently strong performance even during peak times.

Backed by the WiFi Max guarantee, it ensures solid coverage across large homes, and the bundled options with O2 SIM and premium TV make Gig1 an attractive choice for households looking to bundle services.

However, it’s not full FTTP and upload speeds—while decent—don’t match the symmetrical speeds offered by some alternative fibre providers. Still, as a gigabit broadband option, Gig1 remains one of the most accessible and feature-rich packages on the UK market.

Router – Virgin Media Hub 5 / 5x

Gig1 comes with Virgin’s WiFi Hub 5 or Hub 5x, depending on your location. These are Wi-Fi 6 routers, designed to handle gigabit speeds across multiple devices. Both routers support:

• OFDMA and MU-MIMO (for better simultaneous streaming)
• 2.5Gbps WAN port
• Dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz)
• WPA3 security
• WiFi Max compatibility

The WiFi Max service extends coverage with optional mesh pods, which automatically adapt to eliminate dead zones.

Alternative Plans from Other Providers

If Gig1 isn’t the right fit or you want symmetrical fibre, here are some strong alternatives:

• BT Full Fibre 900 – 910Mbps download / 110Mbps upload, FTTP Openreach
• Vodafone Full Fibre 910 – 910Mbps / 910Mbps on CityFibre, lower prices
• Community Fibre 1Gbps – 920Mbps symmetrical, £20/month for 24 months
• Hyperoptic 1Gb – Symmetrical, full FTTP, no price rises

These plans offer similar or symmetrical gigabit speeds and may be better suited for upload-heavy users or those outside Virgin Media’s network.

Virgin Media Broadband – Overview

Virgin Media delivers broadband through its own cable network, reaching over 18.5 million homes. Its full range includes M125, M250, M350, M500, and Gig1, with all plans now delivered over gigabit-ready DOCSIS 3.1 lines.

Customers benefit from:

• No setup fees
• No line rental
• Unlimited usage
• Free setup
• Fast routers with Wi-Fi 6
• Wide coverage across cities and towns

Customer service ratings have seen modest improvements, and the My Virgin Media app provides account control, speed diagnostics, and WiFi optimisation tools.

FAQ – Virgin Media Gig1

What speed is Gig1 broadband?
Gig1 offers average download speeds of 1130Mbps and upload speeds of 104Mbps.

Is Gig1 available in my area?
It’s available across the entire Virgin Media network. You can check your postcode on their website.

Does Gig1 come with a router?
Yes. It includes the latest Virgin Media Hub 5 or 5x, with Wi-Fi 6 and mesh support.

Is Gig1 better than BT Full Fibre 900?
Gig1 has slightly faster downloads, while BT Full Fibre 900 offers better upload speeds via FTTP. It depends on your usage priorities.

Is Virgin Gig1 symmetrical?
No. While download speeds are over 1Gbps, upload speeds average 104Mbps, which is higher than Virgin’s lower tiers but not symmetrical.

Can I bundle TV or mobile with Gig1?
Yes. Bigger Combo and Mega Volt bundles let you add TV, Netflix, and O2 SIM plans with perks like Volt speed boosts and roaming.