Broadband speeds 28 times the UK average are available through Virgin Media O2’s new 2 Gbps service.
Virgin says the upgrade will “revolutionise” in-home connectivity and help to power future technologies from AI to immersive and cloud gaming.
Gig2 uses XGS-PON technology across a full fibre network as part of Virgin’s partnership with nexfibre, itself part of Virgin’s joint-owner Telefónica O2.
The service, available across the nexfibre network is approaching availability to 1 million homes in suburban and semi-rural areas across the UK, including Belfast, Cardiff, London and Glasgow.
“Gig2 will operate across nexfibre’s XGS-PON, full fibre network which will support symmetrical download and upload speeds – a first for a major UK broadband provider as an optional add-on – and will enable users to send and receive data, files and much more at the blink of an eye,” said Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2. “With our heritage in providing cutting-edge technology and hyperfast broadband speeds, which saw us complete the UK’s first national gigabit rollout programme, we are looking forward to taking Gig2 to more areas in the near future.”
Customers in full fibre areas will also be able to boost their connectivity with a major upload speed add-on, providing them with symmetrical speeds so they can upload as fast as they can download.
This upgrade is available across all of Virgin Media’s speed tiers – from 50Mbps to 2Gbps – and marks Virgin Media becoming the first major UK broadband provider to offer this optional service.
Those that sign up or upgrade to Gig2 will receive Virgin Media’s Hub 5x router – its first to support XGS-PON technology. The Hub 5x is Virgin Media’s most energy efficient router to date, made from 100% recycled plastic, and will help to boost in-home WiFi performance by supporting WiFi 6 devices.
Gig2 is available for £84 per month with the option to add symmetrical speeds for an extra £6 per month across all speed tiers.
