Virgin Media M125 Broadband Review

M125 broadband-only plan

Virgin Media offers M125 as a broadband-only option for customers who don’t need a home phone. This version comes on a 24-month contract and includes free setup when ordered online. This is the cheapest plan with special offers, with free setup and bill credits offering value to new customers.

M125 broadband only plan is suitable for households that rely solely on mobile phones and want to avoid paying extra for a landline service. It keeps costs lower while still offering a fast fibre connection suitable for most day-to-day internet use.

M125 broadband with home phone

If you need a landline, M125 can be taken with Virgin’s digital voice phone service. This option currently includes Anytime Chatter calls and free setup.

Virgin Media M125 is more expensive when taken with a home phone than on a broadband-only basis, however, if you make regular calls, a M125 broadband and phone bundle may offer better value.

M125 with Flex TV

You can combine M125 broadband with Virgin Media’s Stream box for access to live channels and streaming apps. This is available as part of Virgin’s Flex service, which allows you to add or remove entertainment packs on a rolling monthly basis.

Free-to-air channels are included, and you can bolt on services like:

• Sky Sports HD and UHD
• TNT Sports
• Sky Cinema
• Disney+
• Paramount+
• Apple TV+
• Essential Entertainment

You’re not tied into a long-term TV package, and it can be cancelled or changed at any time. M125 broadband with Flex is the cheapest TV and broadband package from the provider.

For customers who prefer a more traditional TV setup, Virgin also offers M125 as part of TV 360 bundles. These include a set-top box, channel packs, and the ability to record live TV. Channel availability and pricing will vary based on the package.

M125 with Volt benefits (Virgin Media + O2)

Customers who have both Virgin Media broadband and an O2 mobile plan can unlock Volt benefits. These include:

• A speed boost to the next package (M250)
• Double data on all household O2 SIMs
• Free WiFi Max with up to three mesh pods

If you order M125 and link it to an O2 account, your broadband speed will be boosted to M250, which offers 264Mbps download and 25Mbps upload. There's no extra cost for the speed upgrade.

WiFi Max helps improve wireless coverage around your home. It comes with mesh pods that extend the signal and is included in Volt bundles at no extra cost (normally £8/month). Virgin also guarantees 30Mbps in every room—if that isn’t achieved, you can claim £100 bill credit.

Some Volt bundles also come with an O2 SIM included, usually with 10GB data, but this depends on the specific deal. Virgin and O2 operate separately, so you’ll have two contracts and two bills.

Broadband contracts last 24 months, while mobile plans run for 12 to 36 months depending on your handset and tariff.

Virgin Media M125 Student Broadband Deal

Virgin Media offers a 12-month student broadband plan for M125 each year. This deal is usually available between July and October to line up with university accommodation moves.

The student version includes free setup and doesn’t require a landline. It’s tailored for students who need internet for streaming, studying, and sharing bandwidth in shared houses.

You can also add Virgin’s Flex TV with the student deal. It includes free-to-air channels and the option to pay monthly for entertainment packs or premium apps. There's no long-term contract for the TV service, and it can be adjusted throughout the academic year.

This plan is designed to cover the full term without locking students into a longer agreement than needed.

Contract Terms and Price Increases

Virgin Media now applies a fixed price increase of £3.50 per month every April for customers who joined from 9 January 2025 onwards. This replaced the previous annual rise based on RPI + 3.9%.

If your contract started before that date, the inflation-based increase still applies. You can check your contract confirmation to see which rule applies.

The fixed amount gives certainty over future monthly costs. It benefits households during high inflation periods, although in years where inflation is low, this method can lead to steeper increases than the older formula.

Virgin’s standard contract length is 24 months, and leaving early means paying early disconnection charges. These are calculated using Virgin’s own formula based on the monthly charge remaining in the minimum term, excluding VAT and some other costs. You can check the current early cancellation fees on Virgin’s website, or use their online calculator.

Compensation for Service Issues

Virgin Media is part of Ofcom’s automatic compensation scheme, which offers fixed payments when key service commitments aren’t met. From 1 April 2025, the following rates apply:

• £9.98 per day for delays fixing faults
• £31.19 if an engineer misses an appointment
• £6.24 per day for delays activating service

These amounts are added to your account automatically—you don’t need to contact support.

When to Cancel Without Penalty

You can avoid early exit charges if you wait until the end of your minimum term. Virgin must notify you when your contract is nearing the end, and you’ll be free to leave or negotiate a new deal without penalty. Many customers receive cheaper renewal offers during this period compared to standard out-of-contract pricing.

Real-World Speeds and Performance

Virgin Media M125 offers average download speeds of 132Mbps and upload speeds of 20Mbps. These figures reflect what at least 50% of customers receive during peak evening hours, which fall between 8pm and 10pm.

Download speed examples:

• 1GB file: ~1 minute
• 5GB game: ~5 minutes
• 50GB film: ~50 minutes

Upload speed examples:

• 100MB video: ~40 seconds
• 1GB file: ~7 minutes
• 10GB backup: ~70 minutes

You can stream up to three 4K videos at once, take part in HD video calls, and download game updates without delays. The upload speed is fine for backing up files and making video calls, though large uploads may take longer than on symmetric full fibre connections.

Virgin Media does not use traffic management on this package, so your speed won’t be throttled during peak hours. There are no data caps, but the acceptable use policy prohibits using the connection for business hosting or sharing beyond your household.

Gaming and Latency

For online gaming, Virgin Media M125 performs well. The average latency on cable connections is between 12–15ms, which is responsive enough for real-time games like FIFA, Call of Duty, and League of Legends.

The download speed handles modern game downloads easily. The upload speed allows for Twitch streaming or gameplay uploads in HD, though 4K streaming requires faster upload bandwidth than M125 offers.

Router and Wi-Fi Setup

Your router will depend on your location and when you joined.

Hub 3

Older cable customers may still receive the Hub 3, which uses DOCSIS 3.0 and supports WiFi 5 (802.11ac). It works well in small flats and houses but can struggle in larger homes or those with thick internal walls.

Specification	Virgin Hub 3	Virgin Hub 5
Wi-Fi Standard	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Wi-Fi Performance	Sufficient for standard usage, can struggle in larger homes	Improved stability, faster speeds, better coverage for multiple devices
Ethernet Ports	4 × 1 Gbps	1 × 2.5 Gbps + 3 × 1 Gbps
Supplied With	Broadband-only plans	Volt bundles, TV bundles, and Gig1 plans
Mesh Wi-Fi (WiFi Max)	Optional (£8/month add-on)	Included with Volt & Gig1 plans
WiFi Guarantee	Available with WiFi Max (£100 bill credit if unmet)	Available with WiFi Max (free on eligible plans)

Hub 5

New M125 customers typically receive the Hub 5, a DOCSIS 3.1 router with WiFi 6 (802.11ax) support. It offers:

• Dual-band wireless
• Three 1Gb Ethernet ports
• One 2.5Gb Ethernet port
• Support for mesh boosters

This router provides faster WiFi and better coverage than older models, especially in homes with several devices connected at once.

Hub 5x (Full Fibre)

Customers in nexfibre full-fibre areas get the Hub 5x, which connects via XGS-PON instead of coaxial cable. It supports WiFi 6, offers lower latency (typically 8–10ms), and uses fibre directly into the home.

However, upload speeds on M125 remain fixed at 20Mbps, regardless of whether you’re on cable or fibre.

WiFi Max: Whole-Home Coverage Guarantee

WiFi Max is Virgin’s mesh system designed to fix poor wireless coverage. It uses up to three WiFi Pods that plug into sockets and link back to your router, creating a seamless mesh network.

WiFi Max costs £8 per month, unless you have Volt benefits or Gig1, in which case it’s included for free.

It comes with a 30Mbps speed guarantee in every room. If, after installation, you don’t receive this minimum speed in any room, you can cancel without paying early disconnection charges.

This is especially useful in large homes or properties with thick walls. Flats and smaller homes usually won’t need mesh boosters, as the Hub 5 and Hub 5x already offer wide enough coverage.

You can add WiFi Max after installation if you find signal drop-offs in specific rooms.

Installation and Switching

Most M125 customers can install the service using Virgin’s QuickStart. You’ll receive the Hub, power adapter, and cables by post. If your home has an existing Virgin wall socket, installation takes about 10 minutes.

If your property isn’t already wired for Virgin Media, or if you're in a full-fibre area, you’ll need an engineer visit. This includes running new cables and setting up the internal wall socket or fibre terminal.

Switching from Another Provider

As of 2025, broadband switching in the UK is covered by the One Touch Switch system. You only need to provide Virgin with your current provider’s details, and they’ll handle the rest.

Your current broadband remains active until Virgin’s service is fully set up, avoiding any downtime. If you’re switching from an Openreach-based provider, your phone line continues working separately while Virgin installs your cable or fibre connection.

Cable installations usually complete within 14 days. Full-fibre installs may take longer if external and internal work requires two visits.

Availability and Network Coverage

Virgin Media M125 is available across Virgin’s cable network, which covers over 16 million homes in the UK. Coverage is strongest in towns and cities throughout England, Wales, and Scotland. Access in Northern Ireland is more limited, and rural areas generally don’t have cable infrastructure.

You can check if M125 is available at your address by using Virgin Media’s postcode checker. In most cases, if you’ve had Virgin broadband before, or see a Virgin wall socket at your property, you’ll be eligible for QuickStart installation.

Virgin is also expanding full fibre coverage through its joint venture with nexfibre, aiming to connect 5 million extra homes by 2026. In these areas, M125 runs over a full fibre XGS-PON connection. While the download and upload speeds remain the same, latency is typically lower than on coaxial cable, and the infrastructure supports faster packages if you upgrade later.

Verdict

Virgin Media M125 offers a reliable fibre broadband connection at a competitive price, especially for new customers and households in areas without access to Openreach full fibre. It’s fast enough for most homes and includes useful options for add-ons like TV and WiFi Max.

Here’s what works well:

• 132Mbps download speed is great for everyday streaming, browsing, and downloads
• Hub 5 router offers WiFi 6 and better performance than older hardware
• QuickStart makes it easy to install in most homes
• No usage limits and no traffic management
• Fixed £3.50 monthly increases make future bills predictable
• Volt bundles add value with free WiFi Max and speed upgrades

But it’s not perfect for everyone:

• Upload speed is limited to 20Mbps, which is slower than many full fibre alternatives
• 24-month contract is longer than other providers offer.
• WiFi Max costs £8/month
• Customer service scores remain below average compared to providers like Sky or Plusnet
• Uploads don’t increase on full fibre, even though the infrastructure supports it

M125 is a suitable package for smaller homes, student households, and anyone looking for mid-range speeds on a budget. If upload speed is a top priority, alternatives on the Openreach or CityFibre network may offer more flexibility.

How M125 Compares

M125 vs Virgin Media M250

Virgin’s M250 plan doubles the download speed to 264Mbps, with a small bump in upload to 25Mbps. It usually costs £8–£12 more per month.

If your household regularly downloads large files, streams on multiple 4K TVs, or has more than four users online at the same time, M250 may offer better performance. But for general use, the jump in speed may not justify the higher monthly cost—especially if your devices or usage don’t take advantage of the additional bandwidth.

M125 vs Openreach-based providers

Several Openreach-based providers offer similar download speeds with different upload limits. Here’s how they compare:

Provider	Download	Upload
BT Full Fibre 150	150Mbps	10Mbps
Sky Full Fibre 150	150Mbps	27Mbps
Vodafone Full Fibre 150	150Mbps	150Mbps

Sky’s 27Mbps upload is useful if you often make video calls or back up to cloud storage. Vodafone stands out with 150Mbps upload, but this depends on CityFibre availability, which is still limited in many parts of the UK.

M125 vs Alt-nets (Community Fibre, Hyperoptic)

Some independent networks offer symmetric speeds at lower prices than Virgin, but coverage is restricted:

• Community Fibre (London): 150Mbps symmetric for £25–£30
• Hyperoptic: 150Mbps symmetric, often in flats and new builds

These are excellent alternatives if you can get them, but most UK households won’t yet have access.

FAQs – Virgin Media M125

Can M125 handle 4K streaming and gaming?

Yes. You can stream three or more 4K videos at once without buffering. The connection also supports online gaming with latency around 12–15ms on cable, and even lower on full fibre. M125 handles most real-time gaming needs.

Which router do I get with M125?

New cable customers get the Hub 5. If you’re in a full fibre area, you’ll receive the Hub 5x. Older customers may still have the Hub 3. All routers offer gigabit Ethernet ports and support for dual-band WiFi, but only the Hub 5 and Hub 5x include WiFi 6.

Is WiFi Max included with M125?

Only if you take a Volt bundle or Gig1 broadband. Otherwise, it costs £8 per month. You get up to three WiFi Pods and a 30Mbps speed guarantee in every room. If you don’t reach that minimum speed, Virgin lets you exit without penalty.

Can I switch to Virgin without downtime?

Yes. Virgin supports One Touch Switch, so they’ll handle the move from your old provider. Your current service stays active until Virgin goes live. You just need to give Virgin the details of your existing provider when you sign up.