Virgin Media Gig1 Fibre Broadband – Is it any good?

Virgin Media Gig1 offers an average 1,130Mbps download speed and 104Mbps upload speed. It is Virgin Media’s fastest widely available broadband package, although Gig2 is available in selected full-fibre areas.

Gig1 is best suited to larger households, frequent game downloads, 4K streaming and several people using bandwidth-intensive services at the same time. M350 or M500 will cost less and offer enough speed for many homes.

Virgin Media Gig1 deals

Gig1 is available as broadband only, with a home phone, or as part of the Max Volt broadband, television and mobile bundle.

Compare the starting cost, scheduled increases and post-contract price before ordering. Max Volt costs considerably more because it adds premium television and a separate O2 mobile service.

Important deal details:

• The broadband-only and phone packages increase by £4 on 1 April 2027 and by another £4 on 1 April 2028.
• The combined Max Volt price increases by £6.50 on each of those dates. The O2 SIM portion increases separately from the Virgin Media broadband and television services.

Gig1 at a glance

Feature	Gig1 details
Average download speed	1,130Mbps
Average upload speed	104Mbps
Minimum guaranteed download speed	565Mbps
Contract	24 months
Router	Hub 5 or Hub 5x
Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 6
WiFi Max	Included
Network connection	Cable or XGS-PON full fibre
Best for	Larger households, heavy downloads and multi-device use
Main limitation	Slower uploads than several full-fibre alternatives

Who Virgin Media Gig1 is suitable for

Gig1 is most useful when several people regularly use the connection at the same time. Its additional bandwidth reduces competition between downloads, video calls, streaming services and gaming devices.

Gig1 is suitable for	Another package is better for
Larger households with many connected devices	One or two people using broadband mainly for browsing and streaming
Frequent downloads of large games and software	Homes prioritising the lowest monthly cost
Several simultaneous 4K streams	Customers who need very fast standard upload speeds
Home working alongside heavy evening internet use	Premises with an affordable symmetrical full-fibre provider
Customers who want WiFi Max included	Anyone unwilling to accept a 24-month minimum term
Homes without another gigabit provider	Households that rarely download large files

Online gaming does not require a gigabit connection by itself. Gig1 becomes useful when gaming shares the connection with large downloads, streaming and other busy devices.

A reliable connection, low latency and good Wi-Fi coverage matter more during gameplay than the maximum download speed. M350 and M500 offer enough bandwidth for many gaming households.

Gig1 pros and cons

Pros	Cons
Average 1,130Mbps download speed	Standard 104Mbps upload speed is lower than several full-fibre rivals
Available across most Virgin Media areas	Availability remains postcode-specific
Hub 5 or Hub 5x with Wi-Fi 6	A single device needs suitable Ethernet equipment to exceed 1Gbps
WiFi Max included	Scheduled price increases apply during the minimum term
565Mbps minimum guaranteed download speed	24-month commitment
Broadband-only, phone and TV bundle options	Hub 5x does not currently offer modem mode

Gig1 speeds and minimum guarantee

Gig1 offers an average 1,130Mbps download speed and 104Mbps upload speed. The download speed gives a busy household enough bandwidth for several intensive activities at once.

The standard upload speed is much lower than the download speed. This matters when sending large files, backing up data to cloud storage, uploading video or livestreaming at high quality.

Speed	Gig1
Average download speed	1,130Mbps
Average upload speed	104Mbps
Minimum guaranteed download speed	565Mbps

BT Full Fibre 900 offers an average 110Mbps upload speed, while Plusnet Full Fibre 900 offers 115Mbps. Both are faster than Gig1’s standard 104Mbps upload speed.

Paid symmetrical upload option

Virgin Media offers symmetrical upload speeds as a paid add-on in eligible XGS-PON areas. This increases the Gig1 upload speed until it is equal to the download speed.

The add-on is not a standard Gig1 feature. Availability and the additional monthly charge depend on the postcode and selected package.

Cable and full-fibre connections

Virgin Media delivers Gig1 through two network types.

Connection	Virgin Media area	Equipment	Standard Gig1 speeds
DOCSIS 3.1 cable	Established Virgin Media areas	Hub 5	1,130Mbps download and 104Mbps upload
XGS-PON full fibre	New and upgraded areas	Hub 5x	1,130Mbps download and 104Mbps upload

Both versions offer the same standard average speeds. The main differences concern the line entering the property, the router supplied, modem-mode availability and access to the paid symmetrical upload option.

Device speed limits

A Gig1 connection does not guarantee 1,130Mbps on every device. The Hub can receive the full connection speed while an Ethernet port, Wi-Fi standard or older device restricts the result.

Device connection	Speed limitation
100Mbps Ethernet	Less than 100Mbps after networking overheads
1Gbps Ethernet	Commonly limited to less than 950Mbps
2.5Gbps Ethernet	Capable of exceeding 1Gbps on a suitable device
Wi-Fi 5	Varies significantly with the device, distance and interference
Wi-Fi 6	Faster than Wi-Fi 5 with compatible equipment and a clear signal

To record more than 1Gbps on one wired device, connect compatible equipment to the Hub 5’s 2.5Gbps port or the Hub 5x’s 10Gbps port.

Most phones, televisions and laptops do not need that speed individually. Gig1’s main advantage is the amount of bandwidth available for many devices to share.

Minimum guaranteed download speed

Gig1 comes with a minimum guaranteed download speed of 565Mbps to the Virgin Media Hub. This measures the broadband connection reaching the router rather than the speed recorded over Wi-Fi.

If the connection remains below 565Mbps for three consecutive days, report the problem to Virgin Media. If Virgin Media cannot correct it within 30 days, you can leave the contract without paying an early disconnection charge.

Poor Wi-Fi in a distant room does not automatically activate this right. Walls, interference, router placement and device capability can reduce wireless speeds even when the broadband line performs correctly.

Gig1 speed-test results

Our recorded tests show the difference between the speed reaching the Hub and the results obtained on individual devices.

Test connection	Download speed	Upload speed
Virgin Media network to Hub	1,083–1,115Mbps	102–104Mbps
Computer using 1Gbps Ethernet	887–942Mbps	101–104Mbps
Computer using 2.5Gbps Ethernet	1,097Mbps	104Mbps
Wi-Fi 6 laptop in the same room	738–819Mbps	98Mbps
Wi-Fi 6 phone in the same room	681Mbps	95Mbps
Wi-Fi 5 laptop one room away	452Mbps	87Mbps
Lowest 1Gbps Ethernet result between 8pm and 10pm	612Mbps	100Mbps

The wired 2.5Gbps test came closest to using the full Gig1 connection. The 1Gbps Ethernet results remained below 1Gbps because of the port limit and normal networking overheads.

Wi-Fi results changed according to the device and its distance from the router. This is normal and does not indicate a fault with the broadband line.

Hub 5, Hub 5x and WiFi Max

Virgin Media supplies either the Hub 5 or Hub 5x. The router depends on the type of connection installed at the property.

Feature	Hub 5	Hub 5x
Network connection	DOCSIS 3.1 cable	XGS-PON full fibre
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6	Wi-Fi 6
Fastest Ethernet port	One 2.5Gbps port	One 10Gbps port
Additional Ethernet ports	Three 1Gbps ports	Three 1Gbps ports
Modem mode	Available	Currently unavailable
Virgin Media Pods	Eligibility applies	Eligibility applies

Both Hubs can deliver fast wireless speeds to compatible Wi-Fi 6 equipment. Results depend on the property, router position, interference and device capability.

Keep the Hub in an open and central location where possible. A cupboard, television cabinet or position close to other electrical equipment can reduce Wi-Fi coverage.

Modem mode

Hub 5 users can activate modem mode and connect a separate router or mesh system. This gives customers more control over their home network and Wi-Fi equipment.

The Hub 5x does not currently include modem mode. Customers in Hub 5x areas should check this limitation before ordering if they intend to use their own router.

WiFi Max

WiFi Max is included with Gig1 and offers a minimum 30Mbps Wi-Fi download speed in every eligible room.

Virgin Media can send up to three WiFi Pods if the Hub cannot deliver the required room-to-room speed. Pods are supplied one at a time after diagnostic checks.

If three Pods fail to deliver at least 30Mbps in an eligible room, Virgin Media applies a one-off £100 bill credit. This is not an immediate refund. The diagnostic and Pod process must be completed first.

WiFi Max has network and property exclusions. Some premises in new expansion areas cannot order Pods, so check eligibility before relying on the Wi-Fi guarantee.

Gig1 alternatives

Gig1 is not automatically the best package simply because it has Virgin Media’s fastest widely available download speed. Compare upload performance, contract length, router features, scheduled increases and local full-fibre availability.

M350 and M500 are the most direct alternatives for Virgin Media customers. They use the same Virgin Media network but cost less than Gig1.

Hyperoptic and Community Fibre offer much faster standard upload speeds, but availability is limited to their network areas. BT and Plusnet use the Openreach network, although full-fibre availability remains postcode-specific.

The Gig2 figures in the table apply to the XGS-PON full-fibre package. Virgin Media also lists a cable-side Gig2 service with a 104Mbps upload speed.

Virgin Media Gig1 FAQs

Is Virgin Media Gig1 full fibre?

Gig1 uses full fibre in Virgin Media’s XGS-PON areas. In most established Virgin Media areas, it uses fibre to the local network and coaxial cable for the final connection into the property.

Both versions offer the same standard average 1,130Mbps download speed and 104Mbps upload speed.

Can I get Virgin Media Gig1 at my address?

Gig1 is available across most Virgin Media areas, but availability remains postcode-specific.

Enter your postcode before comparing prices because the available deals, router, phone service and installation method can change by location.

Is Gig1 faster than BT Full Fibre 900?

Gig1 has the faster average download speed at 1,130Mbps, compared with BT Full Fibre 900 at 900Mbps.

BT has the faster standard average upload speed at 110Mbps, compared with Gig1 at 104Mbps. Gig1 customers in eligible XGS-PON areas can pay to add symmetrical speeds.

Will one device receive the full 1,130Mbps speed?

A device needs a 2.5Gbps or faster Ethernet connection to record more than 1Gbps. A standard 1Gbps Ethernet port normally records less than 950Mbps after networking overheads.

Wi-Fi speeds depend on the device, signal quality, distance and interference. The full Gig1 connection remains useful because several devices can share its bandwidth.

Does Gig1 include WiFi Max?

Yes. WiFi Max is included with Gig1 and offers up to three WiFi Pods where required.

The service guarantees at least 30Mbps in every eligible room. Virgin Media applies a one-off £100 bill credit if three Pods and the required diagnostic process fail to achieve that speed.

Does Gig1 include a landline?

The broadband-only package does not include a landline. A separate Gig1 broadband and phone deal is available in eligible cable areas.

Home phone service is unavailable in some XGS-PON expansion areas. The postcode check confirms whether the phone package is available.

Does Gig1 offer symmetrical upload speeds?

Standard Gig1 comes with a 104Mbps average upload speed.

Virgin Media offers symmetrical upload speeds as a paid add-on in eligible XGS-PON areas. This increases the upload speed until it is equal to the download speed. The add-on is not available across the entire Virgin Media network.

Is Gig1 necessary for gaming?

A single game usually needs little bandwidth during gameplay. Gig1 is more useful for downloading large games quickly and preventing other household activity from competing for bandwidth.

M350 or M500 is sufficient for many gaming households. Gig1 becomes more valuable when several people download, stream and play online at the same time.

Is Gig1 Virgin Media’s fastest broadband package?

Gig1 is Virgin Media’s fastest widely available package.

Gig2 over XGS-PON offers a 2,000Mbps download speed and 200Mbps upload speed in selected full-fibre areas. Virgin Media also lists a cable-side Gig2 service with a 104Mbps upload speed.