I use Virgin Media broadband and am generally happy with it. But prices are creeping up and I’d like to see what other options I have.
It’s easy to identify alternative providers with sub 100 Mbps download speeds, but not so easy to identify alternatives at this speed or higher. I’m aware the alternatives are likely to have patchy coverage and may not be available in my area, but who even are the alternatives?
Vodafone
Thanks for that.
I’ll explore properly later, but looks useful.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/broadband-and-tv/haggle-with-virgin-existing-customer-tips
Virgin’s one of the big players when it comes to TV and broadband, especially for high-speed internet, but if you’re unhappy with your bill you can fight back.
If you want a better deal, this guide takes you through how to haggle to cut costs.
Speak to Virgin Media retentions team.
I got 100mb for £20 a month, 18 month contract. Unbeatable.
Sky was always fairness for us. 125/25 FTTP, was 31pm though I think.
We now have Virgin media 350/30
Virgin always try the bullshit price increases but haggling is pretty easy.
We’re paying £21 for 350Mb. Don’t think any other provider comes close in terms of price.
You can also check https://www.bidb.uk/ to see which providers operate in your postcode area.
This allows you to know “where to look” before going to individual provider websites.
If there is 5G in the area, mobile broadband may even be a very viable option.
The credit has to go to ispreview.co.uk which is where I first read about it!
It also uses the one.network API so you can see network-related roadworks in your area too (useful if you are tracking FTTP network build progress).
This website is full of tech related information around mobile and fixed line broadband. Learned many things, mostly around mobile 
Currently with Zen but looking at these newcomers:
They look decent but are only available via Openreach’s FTTP network, it seems.
I’m with them, no issues at all.
To be honest, the easiest way to see what maximum speeds you can get is first to just go to the BT (retail - not Openreach) website.
If BT have expanded FTTP in your area, they’ll show up there with speeds of up to 1Gb.
If they have launched it, they you know it’s then worth looking at other’s who use Openreach FTTP to get the best deal. If they haven’t, then you’re looking at those specialist ISP’s only who are investing in their own physical infrastructure (the Samknows link above will tell you that).
Also, it still looks like for ‘the big players’ (Virgin/Sky/BT/EE/Vodafone) the best way to cut costs is to bundle things up - so does your Mobile phone company do broadband and do they discount if you get both through them? Or TV and broadband with Sky, Virgin or BT?
As you’re with Virgin now - are you with o2 for mobile? If not, you may find a deal there to bring costs down if you switch?
As a complete alternative, has anyone had any experience with ‘5G Broadband’ services. I noticed Three are claiming up to 1Gb on their 5G home broadband service. That seems very optimistic? If that’s actually true - that’s probably the best deal around atm at £11 pm for 6 months, then £22 pm for the rest of the contract, no upfront costs with unlimited data?
This is based on ideal location.
You’d need to be relatively close to one of their poles of wonder.
Wish they’d hurry up and expand 5G more here as O2 shows I get 5G on my phone but it’s only 4G. Confirmed by switching off 5G. Doesn’t say I’m in a coverage area either which is also odd, though those can take months to update.
Thanks Tom, really useful advice. Great community we have here. 
Virgin Media are very easy to bargain with, I squeeze all the pennies I can out of them especially when their customer service is subpar.
Do you want to move away from VM or would you stay if you get could faster for the similar price you are on now?
Looking around this morning, it’s apparent Virgin Media is the only wired option currently available for me with 100+ speeds. The next best wired options are FTTC services via Openreach.
Where I live there is no indication of FTTP via Openreach any time soon (according to their website). Same for Hyperoptic. It looks like Community Fibre may be available soon - when I enter postcode in their tool it says it is coming to my area. It looks very appealing due to cost (~ £25/month for 200 Mbps) and symmetrical upload/download speeds. But don’t know if it’s weeks/months/years away.
According to bidb all 5G providers have coverage for my postcode rated as good outdoor coverage. But none rated for good “indoor and outdoor” coverage. However, when I enter my postcode on the Three 5G Hub page it tells me the hub is available for my postcode. Unsure if worth a punt.
I’ve been generally happy with Virgin Media. Until I saw Community Fibre I’d have been happy if Virgin Media retentions team offered me £20-30/month for 100 Mbps download speeds. Now, I’d be a bit frustrated if I committed to a long term contract and Community Fibre became available in the next few months (I didn’t realise there were providers that offered symmetrical download/upload speeds). Fast upload speeds would be helpful for offsite backups and file syncing. Is there some technical reason why Virgin Media do not provide symmetrical speeds?
Perhaps worth trying Three 5G for a few months on a rolling contract. Although not as cheap as it could be via 24 month contract, Three 5G rolling contract it would still be cheaper than Virgin Media rolling contract (£30/month vs £44/month).
Check of you are wired up to get Seethelight or Hyperoptic. They can be cheaper for same or higher speeds.
Don’t have access to either. Don’t currently have any FTTP services available. Community Fibre is the one that looks most likely to be available first.