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.

[PaulD41]

All I get is a page telling me what volt is, and a link to "find out more" there isnt an option to actually choose or add anything? 

[Shroko]

That's annoying! I don't know why that is happening, some others have reported the same issue, I don't know what the reason is. I assume you are not an O2 PAYG customer. 

Hopefully, one of the forum staff here will be able to advise you on what to do. 

You could try VM webchat, they may be able to help you. 

[Shroko]

@madasaf1sh bit presumptuous of you to assume I am a "He" given the array of gender options available these days 😂.

We no longer live in a binary gender world. 

[pgn]

So, as I fish for a boost to my VM from M100 to M200, as others in my house are all O2 PAYG, what happens in 14 days, @Shroko, now the MyO2 has accepted my Volt as a joint O2 and VM customer finally?

The Ts&C's on VM site say much is available, but neither site seems interested in finding out which I am after.

Btw: welcome to the O2 Community Forum @Shroko - Despite VM and O2 forums both being Khoros, the O2 one has always seemed more welcoming.😉

[Shroko]

You're right @pgn O2 staff have been very welcoming, kudos to them. I became an O2 customer so decided to join the forum, it's great to see such a vibrant community here. 

I appreciate your and others' warm welcome, thank you 🙂

My understanding is that it can take up to 14 days for your package to be supercharged. 

AFAIK only the customer who is named on both VM and O2 is eligible for the supercharging, however it's been reported that this will change to include all members of the household who have O2 to be included in the future. 

Be mindful, Supercharging only applies to non PAYG O2 customers. 

Any PAYG customers would need to migrate over to one of the monthly SIM packages, which means taking out a new monthly tariff and then migrating the numbers over, that's my understanding of it at least. 

[pgn]

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@Shroko wrote:

My understanding is that it can take up to 14 days for your package to be supercharged. 

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My question is: How do they know what aspect of the offer I wish to take up?

I had M200 originally, dropped it to M100 when the #1 Son left home, and would not mind it going up to M200 again.

Not interested in wifi extenders, already have my Decos to do that , and nobody else entitled to tariff upgrades.

Interesting times.

[madasaf1sh]

@Shroko 

They way you are talking about this sounds like you still work for VMo2 hence asking if you are still staff, as you seem to have a lot of insider information and knowledge of a product that has just launched. 

I always get suspicious when enployees  or even ex start posting on companies forums, when a new product is launched, and when it is such a complete mess as this one is, with seemingly incompetency on the Virgin Media side..... 

Maybe if VM and o2 where a bit more open about the conditions and Time scales this thread wouldn't be 12 pages of issues and complaints...

I should have said they so my apologies for the assumption....

[Shroko]

Since August No longer an employee, as I've pointed out to you already. Nothing I've said is not already in the public domain, unless you have evidence to the contrary, if so, please tell me what that may be.

I am experienced with VM products and processes, as far as O2 is concerned I only signed up with O2 4 days ago as a new customer, to take advantage of the Volt offer. Since I'm still a VM customer. That's why I joined this forum. 

Having been in the industry for a long time I suppose some might benefit from my experience, particularly on the VM side. 

[Shroko]

@pgn you would go up to the next tier. If you are on 100Mbps then Supercharging your package will move you onto the next tier which is 200Mbps. 

VM BB tiers are as follows 50, 100, 200, 350, 500 Mbps and Gig 1.

Whichever of the above tiers you are on, you will get supercharged to the next one if it's  available. 

Exception is Gig 1 customers, as far as I know this is the fastest speed VM currently offer. 

[madasaf1sh]

No worries  

To be honest you know more than 99.9% of the Virgin Media Staff... 

And its good to have someone who knows the pain of VM and there processes 🙂

Apologies for giving you a hard time, I think like a lot of people in both communities and on FB and Twitter its frustration... 

We are a friendly bunch on here

Gig 1, Oomph and Ultimate Oomph seem to be the pain points at the moment and the ones causing the most issues