Virgin vs BT/Sky

mato · 20 Mar 2013 at 21:20

Currently with Sky and looking to upgrade to fibre.
Switching looks to be cheaper...any opinions on what to do?
How does Virgin internet compare?

Crisp89 · 20 Mar 2013 at 21:56

Depends what kind of packages you're looking for?

VM offers up to 120Mb/s while BT/Sky can offer 78Mb/s. Not all areas can get the full 120 from VM, and likewise for BT/Sky.

BT is currently slightly cheaper than Sky for fibre, if you decide to go for VDSL.

mato · 20 Mar 2013 at 22:13

Am I right in thinking that the Sky Fibre package (not Pro) caps at 40Mb/s?

If so, this seems to work out about the same price as BT's Infinity 2.

Sky's website quotes me 40.0Mb/s whereas BT's quotes me 64.7Mb/s

I need TV as well - love Sky TV would be a shame to lose it but it is expensive.

Also, I've read about Virgin's throttling?

FerretBoy · 20 Mar 2013 at 22:33

If Virgin works then it's the best option IMHO. Yes they do throttle me back if I download over 20gigs in the evening, but I can get 105mb/s anytime of day (I'm on 100mb), downloading many terabytes a month with no issue. But if it doesn't work then they are useless. But then out of the 6+ providers I've had I have never been impressed when things don't work.

mato · 20 Mar 2013 at 23:12

When you say "if it works"...you mean it might be poor in my area?

Crisp89 · 20 Mar 2013 at 23:22

mato said:
When you say "if it works"...you mean it might be poor in my area?

I'm assuming he's referring to coverage, as Virgin are a cable company, they also do adsl in the areas that can't get it.

FerretBoy · 21 Mar 2013 at 07:15

I was referring to their cable service. Depending on luck the wiring to your house may be good or bad and the box for your street may not be up to the job. To be fair it's much the same problems adsl etc can have.

Shad · 21 Mar 2013 at 07:53

Don't forget about upstream too - in some areas VM are still stuck at 5Mbps up, compared to nearly 20Mbps from FTTC. The best VM can do at the moment is 10Mbps up.

darknite · 21 Mar 2013 at 10:14

+1 for virgin DEPENDING on if your area is congested. Check out the VM forums for messages about your area. I'm on their premiere package with upgrades to 100mb bb and anytime phone. Kids use the tv 185 channels, I use the broadband, wife uses the phone. Great pack. Soon to be 120mb down 12mb up. By end of July.

Though apart from file shareing I'm not sure there is much need for really fast upload. I sync to skydrive and 1.1MB/s is fast enough.

Mate of mine often rebuilds his laptop, he always pops in to download WOW at 12.5mb/s He's on a 20mbit BT package as it is but still comes to use my link :-)

BuZ · 22 Mar 2013 at 16:21

Virgin is great, but could be better if their equipment wasn't so tight and self-orientated. If you understand what I mean.