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Broadband for low income families

Receive Universal Credit? Get online and stay connected for £15 a month with our Essential broadband.

Who can get Essential broadband?

Available to new or existing Virgin Media customers, our Essential broadband offers a reliable broadband connection for those on Universal Credit. Explore the product details below, then head to live chat to order.

Essential broadband

15Mbps Fibre Broadband

£15 a month
30 day rolling contract
Free setup

Plan details:

Your Virgin Media Price

• £15 a month on a 30 day rolling contract
• Prices will never change

Fibre broadband

• Virgin Media WiFi Hub
• 15Mbps average download speed
• 2Mbps average upload speed

How do I get Essential broadband?

If you’re a new customer, follow our 3 simple steps below.

Already a Virgin Media customer? Fill in our existing customer form.

1) Eligibility check

Get your details ready. To check you’re eligible for our Essential broadband, we’ll ask you to provide us with a screenshot of your online Universal Credit Payments page*.

2) Live Chat

Start a live chat with us and ask about our Essential broadband. This is where you’ll be asked to share your Universal Credit screenshot as proof of eligibility.

3) Set up & go

Once we’ve confirmed your details and payment method, you’ll have the option to self-install with a QuickStart kit or get set up by one of our engineers. Both available at no extra cost.

*Make sure your screenshot shows your name, address, assessment period and payment date (the payment date needs to be within the last 30 days).

What does Essential broadband include?

Stay connected with average speeds of 15Mbps for £15 a month. This price won’t change as long as you’re receiving Universal Credit.

Virgin Media WiFi Hub
Delivering fast and reliable WiFi speeds to your home, with no traffic management to slow you down, even at peak times.

30-day rolling contract
A flexible 30-day rolling contract that you can cancel at any time, with no exit fees. If you do wish to cancel, start a live chat with us and let us know, we’ll take care of the rest.

Free set up
Whether you go for one of our QuickStart self-installation kits or prefer to get your broadband installed by one of our engineers, we’ll get you set up and online at no extra cost.

Alternatives to Essential Broadband

Whilst our Essential broadband is available to anyone who receives financial support, it’s not the only option out there. There are other ways to access the internet, including:

  • Mobile hotspot – If you have a mobile plan with unlimited data, you could use your smartphone to connect to the internet.

  • Public WiFi – Free public WiFi spots now exist all over the UK, in shopping malls, cafes and on modes of public transport, like trains and buses.

  • Local library – Many local libraries have free internet access that you can connect to via your own device, or a library computer.

Connecting to a free public WiFi network is simple and tends to be in exchange for a few personal details, or an email address at least.

FAQs

The legal stuff

These prices are for new customers only.

Virgin Media services are only available in Virgin Media network areas.

All of the products on this page are subject to survey, network capacity and a credit check.

Each service has a minimum contract length that’s shown in your basket.

If you take a bundle with both Virgin Media and O2, you’ll have separate contracts and bills – one for Virgin Media, and another for O2.

Priority is a service from O2 that current Virgin Media customers aged 16+ can also use.
  • Offers are subject to eligibility and availability.
  • Read the terms on the Priority app or at o2.co.uk/terms