Virgin Media M125 Broadband Review

Who M125 fibre broadband is for

Virgin Media M125 is a good plan for homes with two to four people who are online a lot — like families or housemates. It can handle up to five devices using the internet at the same time, whether that’s for streaming, browsing, gaming, or working from home.

But M125 upload speed won’t be enough for everyone. If you’re often uploading big videos, livestreaming, or saving large files to the cloud, the 20Mbps upload speed might feel too slow.

In that case, you’ll be better off upgrading to Virgin’s M250 or M350 plans, which offer faster upload speeds of 25Mbps and 36Mbps, giving you better performance for those tasks.

Virgin Media M125 broadband only

The M125 broadband only plan does not include a landline or call package, making it a simple internet-only option. It comes with free setup on a 24-month contract, and Virgin Media also offers promotions such as bill credit or vouchers to make it cheaper for new customers.

M125 broadband only option is best for households that don’t need a home phone and want a reliable, ultrafast internet speeds at a lower monthly cost. It suits students and small families who already rely on mobiles for calls but still need fast internet for streaming, gaming, and everyday use.

M125 broadband, TV, Landline, and Mobile Deals

Virgin makes it easy to add extras to your broadband package. You can bundle in TV (like the flexible Flex TV for around £5/month), home phone services, or the more comprehensive Volt packages, which offer broadband speed upgrades, mobile SIM plans, free Wi-Fi Pods, and additional roaming perks.

Options	Description
TV (Flex TV)	A low-cost TV service, starting at about £5/month, allowing users to customise channels and entertainment packs as needed.
Home Phone Line	Landline services with flexible UK calling plans, available as part of your broadband deal if required.
Volt Package	Includes boosted broadband speeds, free mesh Wi-Fi Pods, a mobile SIM from O2, and added roaming features for travel.
Combined Billing	Ideal for O2 users — simplifies multiple services under one monthly invoice and often unlocks better bundle pricing.

These bundles often add great value if you’re already a mobile customer with O2 or if you prefer having multiple services on one monthly bill.

Virgin Media M125 Student Broadband Deal

Virgin Media offers the M125 student broadband plan on a 12 month contract, and it comes with free setup.

It’s usually available during the summer months and into early autumn, aligning with the start of the academic year when most students move into new accommodation.

With no landline required and a contract length that matches the academic cycle, it’s a convenient and affordable option for students who need internet and optional TV for the duration of their studies.

Students can also add Virgin Media’s Flex TV at checkout, giving access to over 150 free-to-air channels and the option to bolt on paid streaming or premium channels on a monthly basis.

Actual speeds

Virgin says the M125 plan offers average download speeds of 132Mbps.

When the internet wasn’t busy (like during the day), speeds were often a bit faster — around 135 to 138Mbps. Even during peak evening hours (between 8 and 10pm), speeds were 128Mbps, which is still fast enough to stream Netflix or Disney+ in 4K without any problems.

Upload speeds hit the average of 20Mbps. That’s enough for regular tasks like joining video calls, sending files, or uploading photos and short videos.

Speed	Details
Average Download Speed	132 Mbps advertised 135–138 Mbps during quiet times 128 Mbps at peak hours (8–10 pm) Suitable for 4K streaming (Netflix, Disney+)
Average Upload Speed	20 Mbps Good for file sending, standard-res video uploads, HD video calls Upload ceiling may limit large uploads or livestreaming

Virgin’s minimum speed guarantee on M125 promises at least 66Mbps. If your line consistently drops below that and they can’t fix it, you’re free to cancel without early termination charges

Latency

For gaming and video calling, latency and jitter can be just as important as download speed.

On a properly installed M125 line, we measured ping times in the 15–25 ms range and didn’t encounter any packet loss in everyday use.

That’s enough for most multiplayer games, cloud gaming and smooth Zoom chats.

Worth noting: Ofcom has long found FTTP to have slightly better latency and jitter figures than cable, but that doesn’t make cable a bad option—just know that the most responsive connections tend to come from fibre-to-the-premises networks.

Routers – Hub 3 versus Hub 5

If you take Virgin broadband without extras, you’ll usually get the Hub 3 router. It runs on Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) — good enough for most homes, but less reliable in bigger houses or places with thick walls.

Go for a Volt bundle or include TV services, and Virgin will upgrade you to the Hub 5. This router supports Wi-Fi 6, giving you faster speeds, more stable connections, and better reach around the house. It also has a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, which helps if you switch to a faster broadband plan later.

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)

Need stronger Wi-Fi in every room? Virgin’s WiFi Max add-on (£8/month) adds mesh Pods and promises 30Mbps in every room. If speeds fall short, Virgin gives you a £100 bill credit. If you’re on Volt or Gig1, WiFi Max is already included.

Installation

Virgin uses a simple self-install process called QuickStart for most customers. You receive your router and cables, and the Virgin Connect app guides you through setup. Most households can get online within 20–30 minutes.

If your home hasn’t had Virgin broadband before, an engineer visit will be arranged at no extra charge to install the necessary cabling.

Virgin Media M125 compared to M250 and M350

How speeds differ?

Virgin Media M125 plan comes with average download speed of 132Mbps and average upload of 20Mbps. That’s more than enough for everyday online use, streaming HD content, video calls, and casual gaming.

Step up to M250 and the download speed doubles to 264Mbps, with uploads climbing into the 30Mbps range.

Go further to M350 and you will get average download speeds of 362 Mbps and average upload speeds of 36 Mbps The faster packages simply give you more headroom, especially noticeable if multiple people are streaming in 4K or downloading/uploading big files at the same time.

Plan	Average Download Speed	Average Upload Speed
Virgin Media M125	132Mbps	20Mbps
Virgin Media M250	264Mbps	25Mbps
Virgin Media M350	362Mbps	36Mbps

Which plan suits whom

M125 is a suitable plan for smaller homes, students, or families who just want good internet for streaming, browsing, and a bit of gaming. It has enough bandwidth to cope with several devices online at once without any hassle.

M250 is a better fit if users in your household access bandwidth-heavy apps — like two or three people working from home, lots of cloud storage use, or more than one 4K stream running together.

M350 is the top end of this group and is ideal for homes that really need faster broadband. If you’ve got a busy household with multiple gamers, film downloads, or smart tech everywhere, then the extra speed can make a difference.

Value for money

When it comes to price, M125 is usually the cheapest option and offers good value as you’re not paying for additional speed that may go unused, while still getting enough capacity for everyday needs.

M250 and M350 cost more each month, but the faster speeds can be worthwhile if your household needs more bandwidth.

If you don’t often reach the limits of M125, moving up to M250 or M350 won’t make much difference. However, in homes with multiple users streaming, gaming, or transferring large files, the extra bandwidth provides greater headroom and more reliable performance during busy times.

How M125 Compares to Other Providers

Virgin M125 is a better option than BT Fibre 2, delivering significantly faster downloads while costing less overall.

When stacked up against Sky’s Superfast 150 and Plusnet’s Full Fibre 145, M125 offers similar download speeds but lower upload speeds.

For most homes, those upload gains won’t matter. Streaming 4K, casual online gaming, and remote work tools all run smoothly on M125. But if you’re uploading big files, running a YouTube channel, or backing up data to the cloud, you may need higher upload speeds.

Plan	Speeds	Details
Virgin Media M125	132Mbps / 20Mbps	WiFi 5 Hub Reasonably priced Wide availability
BT Full Fibre 150	145Mbps / 30Mbps	Smart Hub 2 WiFi 5 router Uploads nearly 50% faster
Plusnet Full Fibre 145	145Mbps / 30Mbps	Hub Two router No mid-contract rises Better customer service
Sky Full Fibre 150	150Mbps / 27Mbps	Sky Broadband Hub WiFi 5 Good TV bundle options
Vodafone Full Fibre 150	150Mbps / 27Mbps (Openreach) 150Mbps up on CityFibre	Vodafone Ultra Hub Competitive pricing Optional Pro 3
Community Fibre 150	150Mbps / 150Mbps	Linksys WiFi 6 router Symmetrical speeds London-only coverage
Hyperoptic Full Fibre 150	150Mbps / 150Mbps	WiFi 6 router Symmetrical upload & download No mid-contract rises

Network Coverage and Availability

Virgin’s broadband services currently reach around 65% of UK homes, primarily in urban and suburban areas. Most M125 connections use DOCSIS 3.1 via Virgin’s cable (HFC) network, offering good download speeds compared to standard fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) broadband providers.

Virgin is also rolling out full-fibre (FTTP) through partnerships like nexfibre, gradually improving coverage and service reliability across the UK.

Is Virgin Media M125 Fibre Broadband Worth Choosing?

Pros:

• Consistent, reliable download speeds around 130 Mbps.
• Competitive initial pricing with promotional bill credits.
• Low latency, excellent for gaming and streaming.
• Easy QuickStart installation.
• Good bundle options and flexible upgrades.

Cons:

• Upload speeds of 20Mbps may not be sufficient for users with heavy upload needs.
• Sharp price increase after initial contract period.
• Slightly higher complaint volume reported by Ofcom compared to BT or Sky.

Final Verdict

Virgin Media M125 broadband plan offers you good performance at a decent starting price. It’s fast enough for things like streaming TV, playing games online, or working from home. Plus, Virgin often runs promotions, so you might get a cheaper deal to begin with.

But there’s one thing to watch: the upload speed is limited to 20Mbps. That’s fine for most people, but if you often send large files, do live video streams, or back up a lot of stuff online, this could be a bit slow. In that case, you might be better off with a faster plan like Virgin’s M250 or M350.

Overall, M125 is a solid pick for most homes that want fast, reliable internet. Just remember that your price will likely go up after the first contract term, so it’s a good idea to call Virgin and see if they can offer you a new deal before your contract renews.

What you need to know

How switching to Virgin Media works?

Switching to Virgin Media is straightforward but depends on whether you’re currently with a provider on the Openreach network or another cable supplier. Most UK providers such as BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Plusnet use the Openreach network, while Virgin Media runs on its own separate infrastructure.

If you’re moving from an Openreach-based provider, you’ll need to cancel your existing service once your Virgin Media installation date is confirmed. Virgin Media will give you a start date, and you can then arrange the end of your old service to minimise any gap. It’s important to check if your current contract has an exit fee before switching.

When your property is already connected to the Virgin Media network, you can often use QuickStart self-installation. If not, an engineer will visit to set up the service. Either way, Virgin Media provides all the equipment you need, including the WiFi Hub.

In most cases, the switchover can be completed with only a short downtime period. Once your Virgin Media service is live, you can return any old equipment to your previous provider if required. This process makes moving across relatively hassle-free, with Virgin Media support available to guide you if you need help during the changeover.

Is M125 full fibre?
No. M125 is delivered over Virgin Media’s cable (DOCSIS) network, not full fibre. It provides fast download speeds but isn’t the same as FTTP connections offered by some other providers.

Does M125 broadband come with a static IP?
No. Static IPs are limited to Virgin’s business broadband plans.

How does bill credit work and how do I claim it?
Bill credit is an exclusive incentive available only through broadband comparison sites such as broadbandanalyst.co.uk. After signing up using the offer, the credit is automatically applied to your Virgin Media account within the first few bills, reducing what you pay.

Can I move my M125 broadband if I relocate?
Yes, if your new address is within Virgin Media’s coverage area, you can transfer your broadband without extra fees or contract reset.

How energy-efficient is Virgin’s Hub 5 router?
The Hub 5 consumes about 6 Watts when idle, making it significantly more efficient than previous models like the Hub 3.

Does Virgin Media M125 broadband support smooth online gaming?
Yes. M125 consistently offers low latency (15–25 ms), suitable for responsive online gaming without noticeable lag.

What channels does Flex TV include?
Flex TV includes more than 150 free-to-air channels along with catch-up services. You can also add optional subscriptions like Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, or Netflix on a monthly basis.

Can I cancel if speeds drop below Virgin’s minimum guarantee?
Yes, Virgin guarantees a minimum of 66 Mbps. If speeds fall below this and Virgin cannot fix the issue, you can leave your contract without paying termination fees.

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