Virgin Media, recently crowned the UK’s Most Reliable Broadband Provider by Uswitch, is rolling out free upgrades to its Hub 5 router — a move that could redefine how households experience home broadband. Virgin Media O2 Hub 5 upgrade

The company announced that customers currently using older Hub 3 and Hub 4 routers will gradually be upgraded to the newer Hub 5 at no additional cost. The rollout will reach thousands of users by the end of the year, with an even wider expansion planned for 2026.

It’s a bold play that highlights Virgin Media O2’s ambition to keep its broadband users on the cutting edge of connectivity — without the typical “new tech, new fee” trade-off.

Why the Hub 5 Matters

The Hub 5 isn’t just another router refresh. It’s powered by WiFi 6 technology — the new standard in wireless connectivity — and comes equipped with seven antennas for better coverage and fewer dropouts. That means smoother 4K streaming, faster gaming, and more stable connections for all those smart home devices fighting for bandwidth.

In short: less buffering, more breathing room.

The Volt Advantage

Virgin Media O2’s Volt bundles continue to be one of the more underrated perks in the UK’s telecom market. O2 mobile customers who combine their plan with Virgin Media broadband can unlock a suite of benefits:

• Double mobile data on every O2 plan in the household
• Inclusive roaming in 125 destinations
• Free broadband speed boost up to the next tier — all the way to Gig1, depending on eligibility

And the best part? Still no extra cost.

Priority Perks: More Than Just Data

Customers who fall under the Virgin Media O2 umbrella also get access to Priority, a rewards platform that Uswitch estimates is worth £339 annually in benefits. Members get everything from gig presales and exclusive events to daily rewards and discounts — a lifestyle bonus that strengthens customer loyalty beyond connectivity.

Virgin Media O2’s Strategy in Context

Gareth Lister, Director of Connectivity at Virgin Media O2, described the upgrade as part of the brand’s ongoing commitment to deliver “the very best broadband experience” and to “future-proof” customers’ connections.

That’s not just marketing talk. Across Europe, major ISPs are racing to upgrade their hardware infrastructure to handle the growing strain of connected homes. BT is phasing in WiFi 6 routers through its Smart Hub 2 series, Sky Broadband offers similar upgrades with its WiFi Max service, and even EE (under the same BT Group umbrella) is pushing its Smart Hub Plus with WiFi 6 support.

But Virgin Media O2’s approach stands out for one simple reason: it’s offering the upgrade free of charge, while some competitors bundle new hardware with higher-tier plans or additional subscription fees.

According to Ofcom’s 2024 Connected Nations report, UK households are consuming 25% more data year-on-year — largely due to streaming, gaming, and hybrid work. Offering WiFi 6 routers to legacy customers positions Virgin Media O2 as a forward-looking player in an increasingly competitive market.

Final Take: A Smart, Customer-First Move

This free upgrade isn’t just good PR — it’s good strategy. By proactively modernizing its network hardware, Virgin Media O2 not only strengthens customer satisfaction but also reduces the long-term technical support burden of maintaining outdated routers.

As broadband competition intensifies and fibre coverage expands across the UK, value-added gestures like this will become key differentiators. In that sense, Virgin Media O2 isn’t just keeping up—it’s quietly setting the standard for how telcos can reward loyalty while preparing for the connected decade ahead.