M500 + Phone + Netflix
516 Mbps Broadband • Anytime Chatter • Netflix Standard
Compare Triple-Play Bundles
Choose the perfect combination of broadband, phone, and streaming for your home
M350 + Phone
Average 362 Mbps
362 Mbps
52 Mbps
- •362Mbps download speed
- •Anytime Chatter phone plan
- •Hub 4 router
- •No Netflix included
18 month contract
£74.00/month
M500 + Phone + Netflix
Average 516 Mbps
516 Mbps
52 Mbps
- •516Mbps download / 52Mbps upload
- •Netflix Standard with Ads included
- •Anytime Chatter phone plan
- •FREE for first 3 months
- •Then £41.99/month
- •Hub 5 WiFi 6 router
18 month contract
£80.00/month
Gig1 + Phone + Netflix
Average 1130 Mbps
1130 Mbps
104 Mbps
- •1130Mbps gigabit speeds
- •104Mbps upload speed
- •Netflix Standard with Ads
- •FREE for 3 months
- •Then £43.99/month
18 month contract
£86.00/month
Pricing breakdown:
Price rises by approximately £4 every April (CPI + 3.9%)
The Ultimate Triple-Play Bundle
The M500 + Phone + Netflix bundle represents the perfect triple-play package for modern households. With 516 Mbps download speeds, you're getting half a gigabit of bandwidth - more than enough for multiple family members to stream Netflix in HD, join video calls, game online, and work from home simultaneously without any slowdown.
What makes this bundle exceptional is the value proposition. You're getting three essential services - broadband, landline phone, and Netflix - completely FREE for the first three months. That's a saving of over £125 during the intro period. After that, you'll pay just £41.99/month for all three services combined, which is significantly less than buying them separately.
The included Netflix Standard with Ads plan gives you full access to Netflix's complete library in HD quality. The Anytime Chatter phone plan provides unlimited free calls to UK landlines and up to 60 minutes to UK mobiles, ensuring you stay connected without worrying about call charges. And with the Hub 5 router featuring WiFi 6 technology, you'll enjoy fast, reliable wireless coverage throughout your home.
What's Included in Your Bundle
Broadband
- Average 516 Mbps download
- 52 Mbps upload speed
- Hub 5 WiFi 6 router
- Unlimited data usage
- FREE installation
Home Phone
- Anytime Chatter plan
- Free UK landline calls
- Free UK mobiles (60 mins each)
- Voicemail included
- Caller display
Netflix
- Standard with Ads plan
- HD streaming quality (1080p)
- Full Netflix library access
- 1 screen at a time
- Download on 2 devices
Understanding Triple-Play Bundles
Triple-play bundles combine three essential home services - broadband, phone, and entertainment - into one convenient package. This bundling approach offers significant advantages over purchasing each service separately, both in terms of cost savings and simplicity.
Cost Efficiency
When you buy broadband, phone, and Netflix separately, you're typically looking at around £55-60 per month combined. This M500 bundle packages all three for just £41.99/month after the intro period - a saving of approximately £13-18 per month, or £156-216 per year.
Convenience Benefits
Managing multiple services from different providers means juggling multiple bills, customer service contacts, and contract renewal dates. With a triple-play bundle, you have one bill, one provider to contact for support, and one contract to manage. This simplification is particularly valuable when you need technical support or have billing queries.
Technical Integration
Virgin Media's infrastructure allows for seamless integration between services. The Hub 5 router provides the connectivity for both your internet and phone service, with Netflix accessible through Virgin's TV platform if you later decide to add TV services. This technical integration ensures optimal performance across all services.
Is 516 Mbps Right for Your Household?
At 516 Mbps, the M500 package sits in the sweet spot between mid-tier and premium broadband speeds. It's significantly faster than most households need for basic internet use, but not quite at gigabit levels. Here's what you can expect:
Perfect For:
- • Families with 4-6 connected users
- • Multiple 4K streaming devices
- • Regular video conferencing
- • Online gaming (2-3 consoles)
- • Smart home devices (20+)
- • Regular cloud uploads/downloads
- • Working from home setups
Real-World Performance:
- • Download a 50GB game: ~13 minutes
- • Download a 2-hour HD movie: ~2 minutes
- • Upload 1GB to cloud: ~2.5 minutes
- • 4K Netflix stream: Uses ~25 Mbps
- • Can handle 20+ 4K streams simultaneously
When to Consider Upgrading to Gig1:
If you have 7+ users, regularly work with very large files (video editing, 3D rendering), or want the absolute fastest speeds available, the Gig1 + Phone + Netflix bundle offers more than double the speed for just £2 extra per month. However, for most households, 516 Mbps provides more than enough bandwidth with excellent value.
Understanding Netflix Standard with Ads
This bundle includes Netflix's Standard with Ads tier, which launched in late 2022 as a more affordable Netflix option. Here's what you need to know:
Content Quality
You get full HD (1080p) streaming quality, which looks excellent on TVs up to 65 inches. The picture quality is identical to Netflix Standard (without ads). You'll have access to Netflix's complete library of movies and TV shows, with very few exceptions.
The Advertising Experience
Expect an average of 4-5 minutes of ads per hour of viewing. Ads appear before content starts and during natural breaks in shows. They're typically 15-30 seconds long and are targeted based on your general viewing preferences. Most users find them less intrusive than traditional TV advertising since they're shorter and less frequent.
Download Capability
You can download content on up to 2 supported devices for offline viewing - perfect for long journeys or areas with poor connectivity. This is a feature that many users don't realize is included with the ads-supported tier.
Simultaneous Streaming
The plan allows one stream at a time, which works well for individuals or couples. If you need multiple simultaneous streams, you can upgrade to a higher Netflix tier separately, though this will be at your own additional cost outside the bundle.
Value Assessment:
Netflix Standard with Ads costs £4.99/month if purchased separately. Having it included in this bundle at no extra cost means you're essentially getting £90 worth of Netflix per year for free. For most users, the minimal ads are a small trade-off for this significant saving.
Anytime Chatter Phone Plan Explained
The Anytime Chatter plan is Virgin Media's most popular calling package, providing excellent value for households that still use a landline. In an age where many have abandoned home phones entirely, having one included can be surprisingly useful.
What's Included:
- Unlimited UK landline calls - no time limits or call charges
- UK mobile calls up to 60 minutes - per individual call, not total per month
- Voicemail service - never miss important calls
- Caller display - see who's calling before you answer
- 1571 voicemail - standard Virgin Media voicemail service
Why It's Still Valuable:
- • Many businesses still use landline numbers
- • Better call quality than mobile networks
- • Emergency services can locate you precisely
- • Elderly relatives may prefer calling landlines
- • Some services (banks, utilities) prefer landlines
- • Works during mobile network outages
Cost Comparison:
If you were to add just a basic landline to broadband-only packages, you'd typically pay £5-8 extra per month for a similar calling plan. With this bundle, it's included in the price, making it essentially free when you consider the overall package value.
Hub 5 Router: WiFi 6 Technology
The Hub 5 is Virgin Media's latest router, featuring WiFi 6 (802.11ax) technology. This represents a significant upgrade from the Hub 4 that comes with slower packages, providing better performance and future-proofing for modern homes.
WiFi 6 Advantages
Faster wireless speeds: Up to 40% faster than WiFi 5 in optimal conditions
Better range: Improved signal strength throughout your home
Device capacity: Can handle 50+ connected devices simultaneously
Lower latency: Better for gaming and video calls
Battery efficiency: Connected devices use less power
Future-ready: Compatible with the latest phones, laptops, and tablets
Technical Specifications
- • Dual-band WiFi (2.4GHz and 5GHz)
- • 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired connections
- • DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem technology
- • Supports channel bonding for maximum speeds
- • Built-in firewall and security features
- • Virgin Media Connect app for easy management
Real-World Performance
With WiFi 6, you'll typically see wireless speeds of 400-500+ Mbps on compatible devices in the same room as the router, and 200-300 Mbps even in distant rooms. This is a dramatic improvement over older WiFi 5 routers that might only deliver 100-200 Mbps wirelessly even on fast connections.
WiFi Pod Compatibility:
If you have WiFi dead zones in your home, the Hub 5 is compatible with Virgin Media's WiFi Pods (sold separately). These mesh network extenders work seamlessly with the Hub 5 to provide whole-home coverage, which is particularly useful in larger properties or those with thick walls.
Complete Bundle Benefits
- ✓516 Mbps Average Download Speed: Half a gigabit for seamless family connectivity.
- ✓Netflix Standard with Ads Included: HD streaming with full library access at no extra cost.
- ✓Incredible Intro Offer: Completely FREE for the first 3 months - save over £125.
- ✓Anytime Chatter Phone Plan: Free calls to UK landlines and mobiles up to 60 mins each.
- ✓Hub 5 WiFi 6 Router: Latest wireless technology for faster speeds and better coverage.
- ✓52 Mbps Upload Speed: Perfect for video calls, cloud backups, and content sharing.
- ✓Complete Triple-Play Bundle: Everything you need in one convenient package.
- ✓FREE Setup: No installation charges or upfront costs.
Contract Terms and Future Pricing
Understanding the full pricing structure and contract terms helps you make an informed decision and avoid surprises down the line.
Contract Length: 18 Months
This is a standard 18-month contract with Virgin Media. If you cancel before the end of the contract period, you'll need to pay early termination charges, typically calculated as the remaining monthly payments. The contract covers all three services - broadband, phone, and Netflix.
Introductory Period (Months 1-3)
The first three months are completely FREE - you pay £0.00. This is an exceptional offer that saves you £125.97 compared to paying the standard rate from day one. There are no hidden catches; you genuinely pay nothing for the full triple-play bundle during this period.
Standard Period (Months 4-18)
From month 4 onwards, you'll pay £41.99 per month. This rate is fixed for the duration of your contract, with one exception: the annual April price increase (see below). This is still excellent value for 516 Mbps broadband, home phone with free calls, and Netflix combined.
Annual Price Increases
Like all major UK broadband providers, Virgin Media applies an annual price increase each April, calculated as CPI (Consumer Price Index) + 3.9%. Based on recent inflation rates, this typically means an increase of around £4-5 per month. So if you start in month 4 at £41.99, expect to pay approximately £45.99-46.99 from the following April.
Post-Contract Pricing
After your 18-month contract ends, the price increases significantly to £80.00 per month if you don't take action. However, Virgin Media typically offers retention deals to existing customers who contact them before the contract expires. Many customers successfully negotiate new contracts with continued discounts by calling retention services 2-3 months before their contract ends.
Pro Tip:
Set a calendar reminder for month 15 of your contract to contact Virgin Media's retentions team. Customers who proactively reach out typically secure better deals than those who let their contract roll to the standard rate. Be prepared to negotiate or mention competitor offers for the best results.
Who Should Choose This Bundle?
This triple-play bundle isn't right for everyone, but it's perfect for specific household types and situations. Here's who will benefit most:
Ideal For:
- Families of 3-6 people who need reliable broadband and still value having a home phone
- Netflix subscribers currently paying for Netflix separately - you'll save by bundling
- Households with elderly members who prefer landline phones for important calls
- Remote workers who need reliable broadband and a backup phone line
- First-time broadband buyers who want everything set up in one package
- Value hunters who want to maximize what they get for their money
Consider Alternatives If:
- • You never use landline phones and won't start - save money with broadband-only
- • You don't watch Netflix - you're paying for something you won't use
- • You need multiple simultaneous Netflix streams - this plan only allows one
- • You're a heavy content creator needing faster upload speeds - consider Gig1
- • You live alone with minimal internet needs - M250 or M350 may be sufficient
- • You want the absolute fastest speeds available - Gig1 offers more future-proofing
Bottom line: This bundle delivers exceptional value if you'll genuinely use all three services. The 3-month free period makes it virtually risk-free to try, and even after that, £41.99/month for half-gigabit broadband, home phone, and Netflix is highly competitive. If you're already paying for Netflix separately and considering getting broadband with a phone line, this bundle is a no-brainer.
Installation and Setup Process
Virgin Media makes the installation process straightforward, and setup is typically completed in a single engineer visit.
What's Included in Installation
- Cable connection to your property (if not already present)
- Hub 5 router installation and setup
- Phone line activation
- Connection testing to ensure everything works
- Netflix account setup or linking
Installation Timeline
From order to activation typically takes 1-2 weeks, depending on engineer availability in your area. The actual installation appointment usually takes 2-3 hours. The engineer will:
- Install or locate the existing Virgin Media cable point
- Set up the Hub 5 router in your preferred location
- Activate your broadband and phone services
- Test the connection and WiFi coverage
- Provide your Netflix activation details
Activating Netflix
If you're a new Netflix customer, Virgin Media will provide activation details and you'll create your Netflix account. If you're an existing Netflix subscriber, you can either keep your current account and pay for it separately, or cancel it and use the included Virgin Media Netflix subscription (you'll lose your viewing history if you switch).
Phone Number Options
You can either get a new Virgin Media phone number or transfer your existing landline number for free. Number transfers typically take 10-14 working days to complete, during which time you'll have a temporary Virgin Media number.
Installation Cost:
Standard installation is FREE with this bundle. This is a significant perk as installation can cost £35-50 with other providers. Virgin Media absorbs this cost to make getting started as easy as possible.