Introducing Volt – the new supercharged service from Virgin Media O2

[Chris_K]

UPDATE: We've seem some repeat questions and common issues being raised. We've added an update here so if you're experiencing issues, please read this first and see our post-weekend update here too.

Good morning all. What a week this is going to be! This morning we have introduced Volt to the world, the new supercharged service from Virgin Media O2. Our press release was published here this morning with notes and sources, but I've copied the juicy bits below.

Whether you're an O2 customer, a VM customer, both, or none, you can check out our handy website here which will show you how you can get supercharged.

Can I get Volt benefits for everyone in my household who’s on O2?

If you have Virgin Media broadband in your name, you’ll be able to get Volt benefits for all O2 Pay Monthly plans in your name, in your household. But we’re expanding this. Soon, anyone in your household with their own O2 Pay Monthly plan will be able to get Volt benefits through the household’s Virgin Media broadband account. Keep an eye on My O2 and you’ll see the option to activate Volt benefits when it becomes available to you, and you can also stay up to date by visiting https://www.o2.co.uk/virgin-media-o2

First joint product gives customers the best of both brands, with even greater value on UK’s fastest major broadband provider and award winning mobile network

• Volt marks the first major launch since Virgin Media and O2’s £31bn merger earlier this year
• Gig 1 broadband available for the first time in a bundle, combined with an unlimited data O2 SIM and TV favourites
• Existing customers simply need to register to get their services supercharged – for free
• Volt brings faster broadband speeds, double mobile data and discounts

London, UK: Virgin Media O2 is today lifting the lid on its first ever joint product, Volt, bringing together award winning connectivity and amazing entertainment from both Virgin Media and O2, to give customers even more from their services – more speed, more data and more value.

Virgin Media and O2 customers can now supercharge their services and reap extra rewards simply by being customers of both brands. Volt offers double the broadband speed, double the mobile data and discounts on connected devices when customers have or choose to take a broadband service from Virgin Media and a Pay Monthly plan from O2. What’s more, customers with an O2 plan can access exclusive rewards, perks and experiences from Priority – one of the UK’s best loyalty initiatives.

The new joint offering comes less than 150 days since Virgin Media O2 launched, building on the company’s momentum of almost 13 million gigabit premises passed and 5G coverage from O2 expanded to 210 locations. Volt highlights Virgin Media O2’s commitment to offer more choice, convenience and innovation with seamless broadband, entertainment and mobile services all available under one roof.

Exclusive Virgin Media O2 Volt benefits include:

• A broadband speed boost to the next tier available (e.g. 100Mbps boosted to 200Mbps)
• Double mobile data on all eligible O2 Pay Monthly plans (e.g. 10GB boosted to 20GB)
• Up to £150 off a connected device such as a tablet or smartwatch when taking a new O2 Pay Monthly Custom plan
• WiFi Pods available to bolster connectivity around the home
• Roaming in 75 countries including USA, Australia and Spain with O2 Travel

Volt is available to both new and existing customers, offering exclusive benefits to account holders no matter what broadband package or eligible Pay Monthly plan they take. Those new to either Virgin Media or O2 will be able to upgrade to Volt when they add relevant services to their connectivity line-up, while existing customers of both Virgin Media and O2 simply need to enrol via MyO2 to get their services supercharged – at no additional cost.

Jeff Dodds, Chief Operating Officer at Virgin Media O2 said,

“With Volt, we’re combining the speed and reliability of Virgin Media’s broadband and O2’s mobile networks alongside a variety of incredible perks to give our customers more.

“The launch of converged services in less than 150 days as a business is a huge milestone moment and demonstrates the momentum we have behind our commitment to supercharge connectivity across the UK. This is just the start.”

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This exciting milestone for Virgin Media O2 means that consumers who do not currently take services from either brand can supercharge their package with Volt from the get-go, with new bundles containing an O2 SIM and Virgin Media broadband available on 18 month contracts. The new packages include the ‘Big Volt’ bundle, ‘Bigger Volt’ bundle and ‘Ultimate Volt’ bundle, all of which come with the exclusive Volt benefits and boosts to offer customers more. Pricing for Volt bundles start from £40 per month for 200Mbps Broadband (boosted from 100Mbps), Talk More Weekends and a 10GB O2 SIM (boosted from 5GB). The top Volt bundle (Ultimate Volt bundle) includes Gig1 broadband, an unlimited data O2 SIM, tonnes of TV favourites and two TV 360 boxes, available for £99 per month.

Supercharging small businesses

Small businesses and start-ups who take a Voom broadband service from Virgin Media Business and an eligible O2 Small Biz tariff can also supercharge their services, with 4G start-up and back-up, double mobile data and exclusive perks from Priority.

Virgin Media O2 is the leading converged challenger in the market, pairing O2’s award winning mobile network and the UK’s fastest major broadband provider to enhance connectivity for customers at home and on the go. With Virgin Media’s rapid gigabit broadband rollout and O2’s commitment to deliver 5G to half the UK population in 2023, Virgin Media O2 is just getting started.

[madasaf1sh]

@Shroko 

I meant for existing customers of both, i use a different email for both VM and o2 and never the twain will meet.. 

I 

[pgn]

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@madasaf1sh wrote:

@Shroko 

 i use a different email for both VM and o2 and never the twain will meet.. 

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Until Vo2lt showed up 😬

[madasaf1sh]

Lol, they still will never meet and no reason why they should... unless o2 and VM are that incompetent.... This reminds of the mess of the o2 5G launch, and the mess of the Vodafone VM migrations that are currently ongoing.... 

Looks as well as the VM Community is having the same head scratching experience 

Solved: Re: VOLT - Virgin/O2 - Anyone got a speed increase... - Page 2 - Virgin Media Community - 48...

[Shroko]

The email is only an issue if you're taking the O2 SIM and you're an existing VM customer or a new VM and O2 one, the email that you use must not have been used before for an O2 service. 

The only other criteria is that the customer name must be the same on both Virgin and O2 accounts.

If that makes sense! The service was only launched on Monday, two different companies essentially, using two separate systems. Sounds like a recipe for causing a few glitches here and there I guess. 

Customer services will definitely have their work cut out, that's for sure. 

[Shroko]

The left hand right hand analogy does seem rather apt at this moment in time😆

[Mejjo]

Just seems this has launched too quick, As though Monday was the deadline and it was rushed out.

I've found information on here that should appear on the FAQ. Here it says that customers names must match O2 and Virgin, and then something about an email address never used? This is very confusing.

As per the first post, any ideas on timescale when it will be available to customers with different names? For example in my case I have o2 and virgin but virgin is in my wife's name and o2 in mine.

[Shroko]

@Mejjo  you're pretty much stuck im afraid, I'm assuming you would like to keep your O2 contract and take advantage of the double data? This you will not be able to do, since the account holders names are different. 

Alternatively, your wife could Volt her VM package by adding an O2 SIM, then you get a PAC code and transfer your number over to the new O2 volt one. 

Two possible problems with this, firstly you may not get as good a deal, your current O2 deal may be better suited to be doubled rather than taking out a new Volt SIM.

Secondly you may still be in contract with your existing O2, therefore cannot leave. 

Not much more I can advise you I'm afraid. 

[madasaf1sh]

Agree @Mejjo 

Seem's like no testing of systems, or any proper comms between the 2 entities.... 

Can already here the cogs in some people's heads heading off to Ofcom and ASA for misleading adverts and what's turning into unfair terms and conditions..... 

[pgn]

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@madasaf1sh wrote:

unfair terms and conditions..... 

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I can't even *find* the Ts&Cs, never mind going to OFCOM or anywhere else about them.

All I would like to see is my VM M100/Hub3 upped to M200 (same hub), as I am happy with my data etc on my O2 bundled tariff (with O2, but bought from a reseller, not directly from O2 🤔).

And I know M200 us available here, as I started out with that on VM 4 years ago, then dropped to M100 as the largest Network Bandwidth Hog moved out and took his own VM contract out himself 😎

[Mejjo]

Stuck for how long though is the question. There is no point in taking out a new bundle with sim because the original post says in due course it will be shared in the household right?

Also, currently have the ultimate oomph bundle with Virgin which already has a sim.