Volt is not a broadband plan. It is the extra layer Virgin applies when a household has Virgin Media broadband and an eligible O2 Pay Monthly plan registered at the same home. The useful parts are a one-step broadband upgrade up to Gig1, WiFi Max at no extra charge and additional data on eligible O2 plans.
Take Volt if an eligible O2 plan is already on the bill. Skip a ready-made bundle if nobody will use the included SIM or TV packs.
Rating: 4.0 / 5
| Benefit | Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Speed boost | Moves the connection to the next Virgin broadband plan, up to Gig1 | No further boost from Gig1, even where Gig2 is available. The optional Upload Speed Boost is separate |
| WiFi Max | At least 30Mbps in every room or £100 bill credit, with up to three WiFi Pods if needed | It does not guarantee the full plan speed in every room. Full details are on the router page |
| O2 extras | Additional data on eligible Pay Monthly plans, roaming in 75 destinations and O2 Priority | Unlimited data remains unlimited. Tablets and smartwatches do not receive the roaming benefit |
| Max Volt | Gig1 broadband, a large TV package and an unlimited O2 SIM ordered together | Virgin Media and O2 use separate contracts and bills. The price is worthwhile only when the SIM and premium TV packs will be used |
Volt benefits
| Benefit | Included | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Speed boost | Next available Virgin broadband plan, up to average 1,130Mbps Gig1 | No boost from Gig1 to Gig2 |
| WiFi Max | At least 30Mbps in every room, up to three WiFi Pods and £100 bill credit if the guarantee is not met | The guarantee applies to room speed, not the broadband plan’s full average speed |
| Additional O2 data | Eligible allowances up to 250GB are doubled; allowances of 250GB or more increase to unlimited | Unlimited plans remain unlimited and additional data does not roll over |
| Roaming | O2 Travel Inclusive Zone in 75 destinations | European roaming has a 25GB limit where the UK allowance exceeds 25GB. Tablets and smartwatches are excluded |
| O2 Priority | Event tickets, retail offers and other benefits | Registration is required and individual offers change |
Virgin Media Essential Broadband and O2 Essential Plans are excluded. O2 Sharer tariffs and smartwatches do not qualify for Volt.
The Virgin Media and O2 services must be registered at the same home. They do not need to have the same account holder, but separate contracts and billing apply.
Speed boost by plan
Volt moves the connection to the next broadband plan Virgin can offer, with Gig1 as the limit. The standard upload speed changes with the broadband plan.
| Plan without Volt | Plan with Volt |
|---|---|
| M125 — 132Mbps download / 20Mbps upload | M250 — 264Mbps download / 25Mbps upload |
| M250 — 264Mbps download / 25Mbps upload | M350 — 362Mbps download / 36Mbps upload |
| M350 — 362Mbps download / 36Mbps upload | M500 — 516Mbps download / 52Mbps upload |
| M500 — 516Mbps download / 52Mbps upload | Gig1 — 1,130Mbps download / 104Mbps upload |
| Gig1 — 1,130Mbps download / 104Mbps upload | No further speed boost |
The optional Upload Speed Boost is separate from Volt. It is available on selected full-fibre orders and can increase the upload speed until it is equal to the download speed.
A customer moving from M125 to M250 through Volt receives M250’s standard 25Mbps upload speed. A Max Volt customer moving from M500 to Gig1 receives Gig1’s standard 104Mbps upload speed.
Volt stops at Gig1. It does not raise Gig1 to Gig2, even when Gig2 is available at the premises.
Volt eligibility
You qualify with Virgin Media residential broadband and an eligible O2 Pay Monthly phone, SIM-only or tablet plan registered at the same home.
The Virgin Media account and O2 account can belong to different residents. The registered home must be the same on both accounts.
Most benefits are added automatically within 14 days. Customers who held both services before 18 October 2021 can need to activate Volt through My O2 or My Virgin Media.
Existing Virgin customers do not normally need a new broadband contract to receive Volt. Adding an eligible O2 plan can unlock the benefits on the existing broadband service.
New customers can order a ready-made Volt bundle containing Virgin broadband and an O2 SIM. The services are bought together but remain separate contracts with separate bills.
Current Volt deals
| Plan | Speed | Deal |
|---|---|---|
| M250 Fibre Broadband + O2 SIM 24-month contracts | 264Mbps down 25Mbps up | £28.99/month £35.49 from Apr 2027, £41.99 from Apr 2028 O2 SIM with 4GB data, unlimited minutes and texts Volt extras included Free setup See deal |
| Max Volt 24-month contracts | 1,130Mbps down 104Mbps up | £74.99/month £81.49 from Apr 2027, £87.99 from Apr 2028 Unlimited O2 SIM 230+ channels including Sky Sports HD and Sky Cinema HD Netflix Standard with adverts Free setup See deal |
The checker lists the Volt bundles available at the premises. Existing O2 customers should still compare a broadband-only deal plus their current SIM with these packages.
The M250 deal includes 4GB after Volt has doubled the original O2 data allowance. The Virgin Media and O2 parts have separate contracts, bills and annual price changes.
Switching credit applies only while the offer appears during checkout. Customers must meet the claim conditions and submit evidence of eligible early termination charges from their previous provider.
The SIM is good value only when someone in the household will use it.
Max Volt bundle
Max Volt combines M500 broadband boosted to Gig1, an unlimited O2 SIM and Virgin’s large TV package. It includes Sky Sports HD, Sky Cinema HD, Kids Pick and Netflix Standard with adverts.
The exact channel total can change. Use the order summary as the final channel list.
Virgin Media bills the broadband and TV services. O2 bills the mobile plan separately. Cancelling one service does not automatically cancel the other.
Channel details are available on Virgin broadband, TV and phone. Hub 5 and WiFi Max details are on the router page.
Take Max Volt when the household already wants Gig1, Sky Sports, Sky Cinema and an unlimited O2 SIM. Do not order it simply to receive Volt benefits. The same benefits can apply to a cheaper Virgin plan paired with an eligible O2 contract that the household already holds.
Volt value
Take Volt if the household already has an eligible O2 Pay Monthly plan. The speed upgrade and WiFi Max then come at no extra charge.
Take a ready-made Volt bundle if you need a new O2 SIM and its combined cost compares favourably with broadband and a separate SIM.
Skip Volt if nobody will use the O2 plan. The cost of an unnecessary SIM can outweigh the value of the speed upgrade.
Skip Max Volt if Sky Sports or Sky Cinema would be cancelled after a few months. The TV, broadband and mobile contracts cannot be treated as one rolling service.
Gig1 already includes WiFi Max. If you have Gig1 and only want wider Wi-Fi coverage, you do not need Volt for that benefit.
Losing Volt
Cancelling either eligible service can make the household ineligible for Volt. Virgin can remove the speed boost and return the broadband to the preceding plan. Included WiFi Max can also end, and Virgin can request the WiFi Pods or replacement equipment back.
The benefits do not always disappear on the same day. O2 can leave its benefits active until the customer next upgrades the mobile service.
The Virgin Media and O2 contracts continue separately. Cancelling broadband does not automatically cancel the SIM, and cancelling the SIM does not end the broadband. Early termination charges can apply to either service when its minimum term remains.
If Virgin removes the speed boost, the broadband returns to the package attached to the contract. The out-of-contract price after month 24 applies only to new-customer deals that started with a 24-month term.
Volt does not prevent annual price increases. The Virgin Media and O2 parts can rise by different amounts.
Virgin Media Volt FAQs
I am already on Gig1. Do I still get Volt?
Yes. You receive the eligible O2 benefits and WiFi Max, but there is no further broadband boost. Volt does not move Gig1 customers to Gig2.
Does the O2 plan have to be in my name?
No. It can belong to another resident, provided the eligible O2 plan and Virgin Media broadband are registered at the same home.
Does Volt improve upload speed?
The standard upload speed changes when Volt moves the connection to the next broadband plan. The separate Upload Speed Boost available on selected full-fibre orders is not included.
Does additional data apply to every phone in the home?
It applies to eligible O2 Pay Monthly plans registered at the qualifying home. Allowances up to 250GB double, while plans with 250GB or more increase to unlimited. O2 Essential Plans, Sharer tariffs and smartwatches are excluded.
Volt bundle or broadband-only with my existing O2 contract?
Use the existing O2 contract if it is eligible. Do not order a second SIM through a Volt bundle unless someone will use it.
Is the speed boost automatic?
It is automatic for most customers and can take up to 14 days. Customers who held both services before 18 October 2021 can need to activate Volt through My O2 or My Virgin Media.
Can I cancel the O2 SIM and keep the broadband boost?
Cancelling the qualifying O2 plan can make the household ineligible. Virgin can remove the boost and return the connection to the preceding broadband plan. Any minimum-term charge on the O2 contract remains separate.
Volt is worth having when an eligible O2 plan is already used in the household. The broadband upgrade and included WiFi Max then cost nothing extra. A ready-made Volt bundle is the better order only when the SIM and, for Max Volt, the premium TV packs would have been bought separately.
