Virgin Media UK Launch Unlimited PAYG Mobile Broadband Data Tariff

Virgin Media’s mobile division, which is aptly called Virgin Mobile, has today announced the launch of a new tariff (Big Data and Texts) for its Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) customers that offers unlimited data and 300 texts for a top-up of just £10. But beware the expiry date.

The new service, which claims to be “bigging up” the old PAYG tariffs with “unbeatable value for customers“, also offers a £15 top-up that includes unlimited texts as well as data. On top of that there’s a new Big Talk package that starts at £10 for unlimited calls to any landline plus 120 anytime mobile minutes (adding an additional £5 will also provide unlimited texts).

But a quick glance at the T&C’s show that, initial one-time joiners bonus aside (45 day expiry), the top-ups are added on the first day of the month following the top-up and are only “valid for one month or until used if sooner“. The press release also says that the Big Data and Texts tariff costs “from just £10 a month“, which sounds more like a monthly contract deal than PAYG.

Jamie Heywood, Director of Mobile, said:

“Unlimited data is a must to get the most out of the amazing smartphones available today. People want to be connected wherever they are so we’ve introduced unlimited data without the ties of a contract.

Having introduced unbeatable pay-monthly tariffs earlier this year, we’re now introducing incredible value pay-as-you-go tariffs too which makes Virgin Media the unbeatable choice for unlimited data, whether you’re willing to sign up to a new contract or not.”

Virgin Media claims to have seen a 100% increase in the amount of data consumed by its PAYG customers in the past year and expects more of the same going forward. Apparently Smartphones now make up approximately 40% of the handsets PAYG customers purchase from Virgin Media (up 20% from a year ago).

Take note that customers will also benefit from unlimited calls to other Virgin Mobile numbers.