Virgin Media Gig2 is its fastest residential broadband plan, delivering average download speeds of 2,000Mbps (2Gbps). Unlike its cable broadband packages, Gig2 uses the newer XGS-PON full fibre network and is only available in selected areas.
Gig2 is ideal for homes that regularly transfer very large files, download games and have several heavy internet users. The standard upload speed is 200Mbps, but you can upgrade to symmetrical 2,000Mbps uploads. This makes Gig2 particularly attractive for video editing, large cloud backups and other demanding work.
Key facts
| Detail | Virgin Media Gig2 |
|---|---|
| Average download speed | 2,000Mbps |
| Average upload speed | 200Mbps |
| Symmetrical upload option | 2,000Mbps |
| Minimum guaranteed download speed | 1,000Mbps |
| Network | XGS-PON full fibre |
| Router | Hub 5x (Wi-Fi 6) |
| Ethernet ports | 1 × 10Gbps, 3 × 1Gbps |
| Annual price increase | £4 each April |
| WiFi Max | Included at no extra cost |
| Included entertainment | Netflix Standard with Ads |
| Add-ons | Symmetrical uploads, Virgin Media TV, Flex TV, Volt benefits |
| Setup | Free |
| Monthly price | £49.99 |
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Minimum speed guarantee
Virgin Media’s minimum download speed guarantee for Gig2 is 1,000Mbps to your Hub 5x, based on its policy of guaranteeing 50% of the advertised speed. Your personal guarantee will be confirmed when you order.
If the connection remains below the guaranteed speed for three consecutive days, Virgin Media has 30 days to resolve the problem after you report it. If it cannot fix the issue, you can leave without paying an early disconnection fee.
Price rises
Virgin Media increases your monthly broadband subscription by £4 on 1 April every year. For example, a £49.99 monthly contract starting in October 2026 would rise to £53.99 in April 2027 and £57.99 in April 2028.
You can compare these increases in our guide to UK broadband price rises.
Symmetrical upload speeds
Gig2 normally provides 200Mbps average upload speed. However, Virgin Media offers an optional upgrade to 2,000Mbps symmetrical uploads, giving you the same average speed in both directions.
The difference is substantial when sending large files. Uploading 100GB could take about 67 minutes at 200Mbps, compared with under seven minutes at 2,000Mbps under ideal conditions. Virgin Media’s main Gig2 offer lists the symmetrical upgrade at £6 extra per month, although promotional pricing may differ.
Router
Gig2 comes with the Virgin Media Hub 5x, which connects directly to its XGS-PON full fibre network. The router supports dual-band Wi-Fi 6, has seven internal antennas and includes a 10Gbps Ethernet port.
To get the full 2Gbps on a single wired computer, you need a 2.5Gbps or faster Ethernet connection. A standard 1Gbps port will limit the speed to approximately 940Mbps. Wi-Fi 6 devices may also struggle to achieve the full 2Gbps on one connection, even when close to the router.
Unlike Hub 5, Hub 5x does not officially support modem mode. This is important if you want to use your own router or advanced home network equipment.
Gig2 also includes WiFi Max, which guarantees at least 30Mbps in every room or a £100 bill credit. Virgin Media can provide up to three WiFi Pods if needed, subject to its guarantee conditions.
Read our Virgin Media router comparison for the technical differences between Hub 4, Hub 5 and Hub 5x. Our WiFi Max guide explains the coverage guarantee and WiFi Pods.
Home phone
Gig2 is offered on Virgin Media’s newer full fibre network, where home phone service is generally unavailable in new network expansion areas.
Virgin Media confirms that its traditional home phone packages are not offered in these areas. If you need a home telephone, check availability before ordering Gig2. You may need to use a separate internet-based phone service instead.
Gig2 + Virgin Media TV
With 2Gbps downloads, Gig2 can handle several 4K televisions streaming simultaneously while others play online games or transfer files. Even ten 4K streams using 25Mbps each would consume only 250Mbps of the available bandwidth.
Virgin Media offers Entertainment, Cinema, Sport and Sport + Cinema TV bundles, with premium channels such as Sky Sports, Sky Cinema and Netflix included according to the package. Current bundles use the Stream box, which supports 4K viewing, catch-up services and streaming apps. The older recording-capable TV 360 box is not available on the XGS-PON full fibre network.
If you don’t need a large TV package, Virgin Media Flex provides over 150 channels with optional entertainment subscriptions. Flex uses a rolling 30-day TV agreement, separate from your broadband contract.
Gig2 broadband also includes Netflix Standard with Ads, even without a Virgin Media TV bundle.
Gig2 + Volt
Gig2 customers with an eligible O2 Pay Monthly mobile plan can qualify for Virgin Media Volt benefits. These include double mobile data on qualifying O2 plans and international roaming benefits. Volt does not increase Gig2’s 2,000Mbps download speed further.
Gig2 already includes WiFi Max, so there is no additional saving on that service. Find out more in our guide to Virgin Media Volt.
Virgin Media Gig2 for gaming
Gig2 is an excellent broadband plan for downloading large games and updates. At 2,000Mbps, a 100GB game takes about 7 minutes to download, while a 50GB update takes approximately 3½ minutes under ideal conditions.
Several people can play online games simultaneously while others download files or stream 4K TV. The standard 200Mbps upload speed is also more than enough for streaming gameplay to Twitch or YouTube.
However, a 2Gbps connection does not automatically give you lower gaming ping than Gig1. Latency depends on the game server, network routing and connection quality. Connecting your gaming PC or console directly to Hub 5x through Ethernet avoids additional Wi-Fi delay.
Alternatives to consider
- Virgin Media Gig1 broadband offers 1,130Mbps downloads and 104Mbps uploads. It is a better-value choice if you want gigabit speeds but rarely transfer exceptionally large files.
- Community Fibre offers 2.5Gbps full fibre broadband with average symmetrical speeds of 2.3Gbps in covered areas. It is worth comparing if you want multi-gigabit uploads without a separate speed upgrade.
- EE broadband offers Full Fibre 1.6Gbps on selected Openreach connections. Its Wi-Fi 7 equipment and broadband extras may appeal if you want a different router setup or home Wi-Fi options.
You can also compare slower plans, availability and current offers on our Virgin Media broadband review.