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Virgin Media has pledged to upgrade thousands of broadband users over the course of the coming year. Long-term subscribers will have the opportunity to upgrade to its Wi-Fi Hub 5 router at no cost.
While this custom-designed Wi-Fi router has been the standard for new subscribers for some time, if you've been subscribed to Virgin Media for some time, you might still be stuck with older Wi-Fi kit in your home.
First introduced back in October 2021, the Hub 5 was the first router from Virgin Media to support Wi-Fi 6 technology. It also sports a 2.5Gbps ethernet port, improved range, and capacity for more devices. Virgin Media initially reserved this model for broadband users on its top-tier Gig1 plans.
Over time, Virgin Media Hub 5 was sent out to subscribers across all of its broadband plans. And now, Virgin Media will be sending out this Wi-Fi kit to anyone who is still reliant on its older routers, including Hub 3 or Hub 4.
The upgrade is being offered at no extra cost, with Virgin Media promising that "thousands" of its customers will benefit throughout 2026. In some cases, customers with older Wi-Fi hardware may also be offered an upgrade after running a broadband diagnostic check, or if a hub replacement is needed due to a fault or performance issue.
"If you’re eligible, Virgin Media will contact you directly – there’s no need to do anything until you hear from us," the full-fibre broadband supplier has confirmed. There are no forms to fill out, no deadlines, nothing like that.
However, if you can't wait to find out whether you'll be sent a free upgrade, you can manually check your status by signing in to My Virgin Media.
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For those who don't know, Wi-Fi 6 is designed to handle the way we use the internet today — with homes packed with smartphones, tablets, Smart TVs, video doorbells, smart speakers, and other devices that all require an active internet connection. As such, Wi-Fi 6 was designed to better handle more devices simultaneously without slowing down, thanks to clever tech like OFDMA and MU-MIMO.
It’s also faster overall, with theoretical speeds up to 9.6Gbps compared to the peak performance of Wi-Fi 5, which sits around 3.5Gbps. This newer wireless standard boasts lower latency too, which is ideal for gaming, streaming, and smart home responsiveness. Plus, Wi-Fi 6 is more power-efficient, helping the devices connected to your Wi-Fi network to stay online longer without draining batteries.
In short, if your home is buzzing with smart bulbs, speakers, and streaming screens, Wi-Fi 6 keeps everything running smoothly and consistently, even during those peak “everyone’s online” hours.
Those relying on a Hub 3 will see the single biggest boost in performance. This model has a total of five wireless antennae built into the Wi-Fi router, compared to seven in both the Hub 4 and Hub 5. The number of antennae directly impacts the reach of the wireless network and the number of devices it can juggle.
If you regularly use a wired connection, the switch to Hub 5 will be a massive upgrade. Unlike its predecessors, this model introduced a faster 2.5Gbps Ethernet connection alongside three other Ethernet ports that top out at 1Gbps – the same maximum wired speed as all previous Virgin Media routers.
Discussing the free upgrade available for all Virgin Media subscribers, Director of Connectivity at Virgin Media O2, Gareth Lister told GB News: "Providing our customers with the very best broadband experience sits at the heart of Virgin Media O2. As our technology and products evolve, we’re committed to making it easier than ever for our customers to enjoy them. Not only will this upgrade benefit thousands of customers’ connectivity by enhancing their coverage, it will also future-proof their broadband services for new innovations to come."
It's unclear what new features Virgin Media is working on, but if you want to take advantage of the latest innovations due to be rolled out by the telecom, it's clear that you'll need to be running its Wi-Fi 6-equipped router.
Tech Specs for Hub 5, Hub 4 and Hub 3
Features | Hub 5x | Hub 5 | Hub 4 | Hub 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of Antennae | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
2.4 GHz WiFi Band | 3x3 11b/g/n/ax | 3x3 11/b/g/n/ax | 3x3 11/b/g/n | 2x2 11/b/g/n |
5 GHz WiFi Band | 4x4 11ax | 4x4 11ax | 4x4 11ac | 3x3 11ac |
WiFi Spec | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
Dual Band | Concurrent | Concurrent | Concurrent | Concurrent |
Network Connection | XGS-PON | DOCSIS 3.1 | DOCSIS 3.1 | DOCSIS 3.0 |
Ethernet | 1x 10 Gbps, 3x 1Gbps | 1x 2.5Gbps, 3x 1Gbps | 4x 1Gbps | 4x 1Gbps |
WPS Push Button | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Removable Password/QR Card | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Default SSID | Single | Single | Single | Single |
Guest Network Available | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Intelligent WiFi Technology | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Phoneline | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
WiFi Pod Compatability | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Virgin Media Hub includes several improvements, like Wi-Fi 6 wireless connections, Ethernet ports up to 2.5Gbps, and more antennae than older iterations of this Wi-Fi router
| VIRGIN MEDIA PRESS OFFICEThis isn't the only free upgrade available to broadband subscribers.
Virgin Media broadband customers – regardless of Wi-Fi Hub they have plugged in at home – who have a contract with O2 for their mobile data will enjoy a free speed boost to the next nearest tier.
For example, if you're subscribed to M125 full-fibre broadband for £23.99 per month, but you have an O2 SIM card inside your handset, then you'll be switched to M350 at no extra cost — bolstering download speeds from 132 to 362Mbps.
Following its recent shake-up across all Virgin Media broadband and television bundles, any broadband package with download speeds of 500Mbps or more now includes a Netflix Standard with Ads subscription at no cost. While rival Sky bundles this popular streaming subscription with all of its TV bundles, it's not included with its broadband deals.
If you're upgraded to the next available tier, it's possible you'll also benefit from a free Netflix subscription. If you already pay for a subscription, it's possible to transfer your account — including watch history and recommendations — over to the complementary one provided by Virgin Media O2.
Anyone with a phone contract or broadband contract from Virgin Media O2 is eligible for Priority. Previously called O2 Priority, this loyalty scheme unlocks free treats from high street chains, discounts on cinema tickets and other experiences, as well as 48-hour early access to thousands of nationwide gigs and events.
The ability to upgrade your broadband speed and access Priority — no matter whether you're a broadband-only customer or rely on the O2 network — was introduced following the £31bn merger between Virgin Media and O2, which was announced back in May 2020 and cleared the Competition and Markets Authority in June the following year. At the time, Virgin Media O2 became the largest telecoms merger in the UK at the time.
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