Here’s a quick breakdown:

Feature	Details
Average Download Speed	132 Mbps
Average Upload Speed	20 Mbps
Minimum Speed Guarantee	66 Mbps
Router Included	Hub 3 (Hub 5 if you bundle TV or Volt)
Contract Length	18 months
Promo Offer	£90 bill credit (ends 1st May)
Monthly Price	£25.99 (then £54 after contract)
Deal	Get now

Virgin M125 Deals (April 2025)

Virgin Media M125 is priced at £25.99 a month on an 18-month contract if you sign up in April 2025. That price includes everything — there’s no setup fee, no delivery charges, and the £90 bill credit helps cover the first few months of your bill.

Once your 18-month deal ends, the price jumps up to £54 a month unless you renegotiate or switch plans. If you stay without recontracting, you’ll end up paying full price, which is a big jump compared to the promo deal.

New M125 contracts signed from 9 January 2025 onwards include a flat £3.50 price increase every April. Older contracts still use the CPI + 3.9% model, meaning your price goes up based on inflation and can vary more from year to year. The new flat increase makes it easier to know exactly how much your bill will rise.

If you don’t want a long-term contract, Virgin does offer M125 on a 30-day rolling plan. But it costs more each month and you’ll also have to pay a one-off £35 activation fee. Over a year, it’s noticeably more expensive than the 18-month deal, so unless you really need short-term broadband, the standard contract works out better.

Bill-Credit Promotions

Virgin Media is offering a £90 bill credit for new M125 customers who sign up before 1st May 2025. The credit gets applied automatically within your first few billing cycles and acts like a discount, helping to wipe out most of your early bills.

Virgin runs these kinds of promotions fairly often. Sometimes the bill credit is a bit higher or lower depending on when you join, but the difference is usually small. Waiting around hoping for a better offer rarely makes a big impact — it’s better to lock in a good deal when it’s available, especially if you already know you need a new broadband setup.

The bill credit only applies once, and it doesn’t carry over if you move or change your contract early. It’s worth checking that it appears properly on your first or second bill so you can flag it straight away if anything looks off.

TV, Phone, and Volt: Bundles & Extras

Virgin Media lets you customise your M125 broadband package with a range of extras, depending on how much you want to bundle in. Whether you just need broadband, or you want to add TV, phone, or mobile perks, there’s flexibility to build a setup that fits your home.

Here’s a closer look at the options:

M125 Broadband Only
This is broadband with no landline and no extras — a good choice if your household mainly uses mobiles and doesn’t need a home phone.

M125 + Phone (Weekend Calls)
This package adds a landline with free weekend calls to UK landlines and mobiles. If you still rely on a home phone, you can upgrade to anytime calls for an extra monthly fee.

M125 + Flex TV
Adding Flex TV costs just £5 a month and gives you over 150 channels, covering entertainment, news, and kids’ shows. It’s flexible too — no long-term contract, and you can bolt on extras like Sky Sports or Sky Cinema month by month.

M125 Volt Bundle
Volt bundles include broadband and mobile benefits in one. You’ll get a free speed boost to M250 (264 Mbps average download speed), a 10GB O2 SIM with double data after activation, one free WiFi Pod to boost wireless coverage, and free roaming in 75 countries. Volt bundles are ideal if you’re already with O2 or want to get more value from a mobile and broadband package combined.

Is M125 speed enough for me?

Virgin Media M125 has more than enough speed for most day-to-day online activity. You can stream Netflix or Disney+ in 4K on multiple screens at once, jump on HD video calls, and browse or game without seeing any noticeable slowdowns.

Latency stays low enough for casual online gaming, keeping things smooth whether you’re playing FIFA, Fortnite, or Call of Duty on UK and European servers. You won’t have to worry about rubber-banding or connection drops during normal evening hours when networks tend to get busier.

If you’re uploading big files regularly — like high-res videos, media projects, or large batches of photos — the 20 Mbps upload speed might start to feel tight. It’s fine for day-to-day file sharing and cloud backups, but if you’re livestreaming on Twitch or YouTube, or sending heavy uploads for work, it’s worth looking at faster options like M250 or M350 where upload speeds are higher and better suited for those jobs.

For most households just streaming, gaming, working from home, and browsing, M125 offers more than enough performance to keep everything running without hassle.

Speed, Latency & Reliability

Virgin Media M125 holds up well when it comes to real-world performance. Speed tests show that off-peak download speeds usually sit around 138 Mbps, while peak times — like weekday evenings — tend to dip slightly to around 128 Mbps. Upload speeds stay steady between 19 and 20 Mbps, which is enough for cloud backups, video calls, and file sharing without any major slowdowns.

Virgin guarantees a minimum download speed of 66 Mbps at your home. If your speeds fall below that and the issue can’t be fixed, you have the right to leave your contract without paying early-exit charges. It’s a useful bit of protection, especially if you live in a busy area where local traffic can impact speeds.

Latency stays low across typical usage, with pings between 15 and 25 milliseconds to major UK servers. That’s good enough for smooth online gaming, quick web browsing, and lag-free video calls. Packet loss and jitter levels are low too, meaning you won’t run into random dropouts or glitchy streaming during peak hours.

Virgin’s network reliability is strong overall. Their own data puts uptime at around 99.91%, so you’re unlikely to deal with long outages. When downtime does happen, it’s usually fixed quickly — often without needing an engineer visit.

Who Is M125 Designed For?

Virgin Media M125 broadband is a good fit for small to mid-sized homes with around 2 to 4 people. It can easily handle 10 to 12 connected devices at the same time without struggling.

With 132 Mbps download speeds, there’s plenty of room for streaming Netflix in 4K, gaming online, scrolling social media, or jumping on video calls — even if a few things are happening at once. You won’t have to worry about slowdowns during busy evenings when everyone’s online.

The 20 Mbps upload speed is fine for sending files, posting videos, cloud backups, and regular Zoom or Teams calls. If you’re into uploading big videos, livestreaming, or backing up loads of data, you’ll probably hit the upload limit pretty quickly — in that case, stepping up to Virgin’s M250 or M350 packages would make more sense.

There’s also a 9-month M125 student deal if you’re in a shared house and don’t need a full 18-month contract. If you need even more flexibility, M125 is available on a 30-day rolling plan too, but it costs more each month and has an extra setup fee.

If you mainly stream, work from home, game online, and browse — without heavy uploads or dozens of devices hammering the connection — M125 gives you more than enough speed to keep everything running smoothly.

Should You Upgrade to M250 or M350?

Virgin M125 is a solid option for smaller households, but if you have more people online at once — or heavier internet usage like gaming, big downloads, or 4K streaming on multiple devices — moving up to a faster plan can make a real difference.

Here’s how the upgrade options compare:

Plan	Download Speed	Upload Speed	Best For
M125	132 Mbps	20 Mbps	Small homes, HD/4K streaming, casual gaming
M250	264 Mbps	25 Mbps	Larger households, multiple 4K streams, faster downloads
M350	362 Mbps	36 Mbps	Gamers, remote workers, homes with high connected device counts

Upgrading to M250 usually costs around £4–£5 more per month compared to M125. For homes with more devices, heavier streaming habits, or families working and learning online at the same time, the extra bandwidth is often well worth it.

If you’re gaming seriously, uploading big files regularly, or just want extra headroom for future-proofing your setup, M350 gives you even faster speeds and better upload capacity — making it a good fit for tech-heavy households.

Virgin Media M125 Router & Wi-Fi Performance

Hub 3 vs Hub 5: What you get with M125

If you take M125 as a broadband-only package, Virgin Media usually supplies the Hub 3. It’s a Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) router with decent range and enough wireless power to cover most small to medium-sized homes. The Hub 3 can handle several connected devices at once without major issues, but it’s not built for heavy multitasking across loads of rooms.

If you add TV services or pick a Volt bundle, you’ll get upgraded to the newer Hub 5. The Hub 5 is a big step up — it supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), comes with a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port for faster wired connections, uses stronger WPA3 security, and runs more efficiently, using just 6 watts when idle.

Wi-Fi 6 makes a real difference if you’ve got loads of devices online at once. It delivers faster speeds, lower latency, and better reliability, especially if you’re streaming 4K video, gaming wirelessly, or moving big files around at home. For busy households or homes with lots of smart devices, the Hub 5 gives you stronger, more stable Wi-Fi across the house compared to the older Hub 3.

WiFi Max

If you need stronger coverage, Virgin offers WiFi Max for an extra £8 a month. WiFi Max adds booster Pods to your setup, helping to fill in Wi-Fi dead zones. Virgin promises at least 30 Mbps Wi-Fi speeds in every room with WiFi Max — and if you can’t hit that, you’re entitled to a £100 bill credit.

Volt bundle customers and Gig1 broadband users get WiFi Max thrown in for free, making those packages even better value if you need reliable whole-home coverage. Each home usually gets one Pod to start, but you can add up to three if signal issues persist.

WiFi Max is a simple way to upgrade your home network without needing to buy your own mesh system — and it’s a good option if your home has thick walls, lots of floors, or Wi-Fi black spots.

Installation & Setup

Virgin Media makes getting started with M125 broadband pretty straightforward. Most new customers qualify for QuickStart, which means you set everything up yourself without needing an engineer. The kit usually arrives within one working day after your order’s confirmed.

Inside the box, you’ll find the Hub router, a power adapter, a coaxial cable, two Ethernet cables, and a simple setup guide. Everything’s colour-coded to make connections easy. Installation normally takes less than 30 minutes, with the Virgin Media Connect app walking you through each step — from plugging in the Hub to checking Wi-Fi signal strength around your home.

If your property has never been connected to Virgin before, or if the old cabling isn’t suitable, Virgin sends an engineer out at no extra cost. They’ll install the right socket, check the line quality, and make sure the signal is strong enough for full service.

QuickStart works well for most people, but even if you do need a visit, the process stays quick and hassle-free. Once the Hub is up and running, your broadband is live straight away — no long wait for activation.

Customer Service & Support

Virgin Media’s customer service record is a bit mixed. Ofcom’s latest reports show Virgin gets slightly more complaints about broadband service compared to some other major providers like BT or Sky. Most issues tend to be around billing, connection problems, or how complaints are handled.

On the plus side, Virgin’s Connect app has made a big difference for everyday support. You can now run Wi-Fi diagnostics, spot connection faults, reboot your Hub remotely, and even book an engineer visit without having to call customer services. For a lot of basic problems — like weak Wi-Fi signals or temporary dropouts — the app sorts things out faster than waiting on hold.

Virgin also takes part in Ofcom’s automatic compensation scheme. If your broadband is completely down for more than two working days after you report it, you’ll automatically get money back — currently £9.33 for each extra day the problem isn’t fixed.

How M125 Stacks Up Against Rivals

When you line up Virgin Media M125 against similar broadband packages from other providers, it holds a strong position on price and download speed — but there are a few trade-offs to be aware of, especially on the upload side.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Provider	Plan Name	Speed (down/up)	Monthly Price
Virgin Media	M125	132 / 20 Mbps	£25.99
BT	Fibre 2	74 / 20 Mbps	£31.99
Sky	Superfast 150	145 / 30 Mbps	£29.50
Plusnet	Full Fibre 145	145 / 30 Mbps	£27.99

Virgin’s M125 beats BT Fibre 2 easily on download speed, and it comes in cheaper each month too — even before you factor in the £90 bill credit. Against Sky and Plusnet’s full-fibre packages, M125’s download speeds are competitive, but its upload speed is lower. Sky and Plusnet offer 30 Mbps upstream, which is better suited for users who regularly send big files, livestream, or upload large backups.

Price-wise, M125 is still one of the best value options if you’re mainly focused on download speed and overall monthly cost. But if upload speed is just as important for you — for example, if you do a lot of work from home that involves heavy uploading — it’s worth looking at full-fibre plans where available.

For most households, though, M125 offers a solid balance between speed, cost, and availability without the need to switch to a full-fibre network.

Availability

Virgin Media’s broadband network covers around 65% of homes across the UK. Most of that coverage is in towns, cities, and suburban areas, where Virgin uses its Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) network to deliver high-speed connections like M125.

Some areas are already being upgraded to full fibre (FTTP), which offers even better performance and future-proof speeds. Virgin’s full fibre rollout is ongoing, so depending on where you live, you might already be able to access FTTP or it could be coming soon.

M125 is still mainly delivered over Virgin’s HFC network for now, but because it runs on DOCSIS 3.1 technology, it still offers faster download speeds than a lot of standard fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) services from other providers.

Pros & Cons

Virgin Media M125 broadband delivers strong speeds for the price, straightforward setup, and flexible options if you want to bundle TV, phone, or mobile deals. The £90 bill credit adds good short-term value, and extra Wi-Fi coverage can be boosted with Virgin’s WiFi Max service if needed. On the flip side, the upload speed might feel limiting for heavy uploaders, and the price rise after the contract ends is something to watch carefully.

Pros:

Cons:

Conclusion

Virgin Media M125 remains one of the best mid-range broadband options for most UK households in 2025. It delivers fast download speeds around 132 Mbps, stable performance for everyday streaming, gaming, and remote work, and competitive pricing during the initial contract term.

As long as you remember to recontract before the 18-month deal ends — to avoid jumping onto the £54 out-of-contract price — M125 offers strong value for money. It comfortably handles multiple 4K streams, gaming sessions, and day-to-day smart device traffic without any signs of strain.

If your usage relies heavily on uploading large files, livestreaming, or backing up big datasets to the cloud, the 20 Mbps upload speed on M125 could start to feel restrictive. In that case, moving up to M250 or M350 makes more sense, where higher upload capacity better supports heavier workloads.

For most homes focused on fast downloads, low-lag gaming, smooth streaming, and flexible bundle options, M125 still hits the right balance between price, speed, and reliability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Virgin Media M125 come with a static IP address?
No — Virgin’s residential broadband plans, including M125, use dynamic IP addresses. Static IPs are only available on Virgin’s business broadband packages.

Are parental controls available on M125 broadband?
Yes — Virgin includes built-in parental controls through Web Safe, which you can manage in your online account. It lets you block age-restricted content and set filters for different device types at home.

Can I move house mid-contract without paying extra?
Yes — if Virgin Media covers your new address, you can transfer your M125 service without restarting your contract. If they don’t cover the area, you can usually leave without paying early termination fees.

How many WiFi Pods can I get with WiFi Max?
Virgin allows up to three WiFi Pods per home with WiFi Max. You’ll get one to start if needed, and they’ll send more if the Connect app shows any rooms with speeds under 30 Mbps.

How energy efficient is the Hub 5 router?
The Hub 5 uses around 6 Watts of power when idle, which is lower than the older Hub 3. Virgin Media also has a recycling programme for old routers, so returned kit doesn’t end up in landfill.

Is M125 broadband good enough for gaming?
Yes — M125 delivers low latency (typically 15–25 ms) and fast download speeds around 130 Mbps, which is more than enough for smooth online gaming, whether you’re playing on a console, PC, or cloud platform.