My home only has access to Virgin Media - help!

Marbrannmarti

I moved into my home 4 years ago and the only broadband available to me is Virgin Media. This is because there is VM cable installed at my property, but there is no Openreach network.

I am constantly getting flyers for EE, Sky, BT etc. but when I ring up, or try to apply online to switch providers, they then say they are unable to go ahead as there is no infrastructure. This has been going on for over 4 years!

The price of my VM package is now through the roof as they know I can't go elsewhere and it is increasing year on year! Yet new customers can get deals for £26!

Does anyone have any information about how to request, or express interest in, Openreach infrastructure to be installed in my area?

Otherwise, does anyone have this issue and if so, how are you successful in haggling down the price?

I have tried to use MSE's Broadband Unbundled Tool to compare broadband deals, but again only VM is available for my postcode.

iniltous

When was the property built , there can be areas where the developer did a sweetheart deal with VM and only allowed them onto the site during construction, once the site is finished and the roads and footpaths are adopted by the local authority although that allows other networks access to excavate etc , its a unappealing prospect, unlike Openreach , Virgin don’t have to allow access to their infrastructure, so they don’t .

Marbrannmarti

Thanks for your reply.

If that is the case and they don’t want to excavate, then I would question why I am being inundated with their promotional material across many months. 

That also makes it sound like there will be plenty of other people in my situation, and so would be keen to hear their tips. 

iniltous

Marketing like that is pretty indiscriminate, I seem to recall a conservatory company that sent out sales literature to residents of a tower block , TBH , the modern equivalent of this is companies like Persimmon, who provide their own FTTP network on certain developments and any one who buys a home from them as a choice of one provider, much like you .