Virgin Media UK Launch Plume Powered Intelligent WiFi Plus

Broadband ISP Virgin Media UK has today launched a new service called Intelligent Wi-Fi Plus, which combines improvements to the firmware of their HUB 3.0 and 4.0 routers with Plume‘s smart home Mesh WiFi system in order to deliver improved wireless connectivity around your home. Some customers will get this “at no extra cost“.

Virgin’s original Intelligent Wi-Fi service first launched in 2019 (here), which combined router software improvements (e.g. channel optimisation, band steering and airtime fairness etc.) with optional Mesh WiFi boosters and a new Smartphone App. Last year this was followed by a special discount on Plume‘s own smart home Mesh WiFi pods (here).

By the looks of it the new Intelligent WiFi Plus service includes various firmware optimisations for the original service (e.g. further improvements to channel optimisation) and has also been more closely integrated with Plume’s hardware (the Plume pods being used for this service is the same as last year’s, but the software/firmware inside has been upgrade – v9.1.1912.304).

“Together, this technology will transform in-home WiFi by combining faster speeds with more reliable connectivity, giving customers WiFi speeds up to three times faster in more locations in the home … In-home WiFi coverage is extended through the creation of a cloud-controlled ‘mesh’ network which constantly adapts and evolves,” said the operator.

Features of Intelligent WiFi Plus

Firmware (HUB 3 and 4)

— Channel optimisation 2.0: More channels have been included into the existing channel optimisation technology, which is designed to keep gadgets out of WiFi traffic jams. With more 5GHz channels available, mostly used by newer devices, Intelligent WiFi Plus will reduce WiFi traffic delays even further by finding quieter channels for devices to use.

–Adaptive band steering: This improvement analyses WiFi use continuously and adapts device connections to help make sure that they are on the right WiFi frequency at the right time. This helps to ensure in-home WiFi is optimised with all gadgets able to perform at their very best.

— In-home roaming: This slick new feature makes the most of the new Intelligent WiFi Pods to predict which WiFi Pod or Hub is best for a device to connect to. It uses WiFi signal strength around the home and determines how busy things are at certain times of day to choose the best point of access for each connection.

Plume’s Pods (Mesh)

The super-smart Intelligent WiFi Plus service includes new Intelligent WiFi Pods, which pack in next-level mesh WiFi technology to create a connectivity bubble that covers the whole home – including those hard-to-reach broadband blackspots.

The WiFi Pods are also designed to reduce the impact of neighbouring WiFi networks by automatically changing settings to stop interference. Upon sign up, a WiFi Pod will be sent in the post and doesn’t require an engineer visit to set up.

The WiFi Pods can be simply placed between a strong-signal spot and low-signal spot in a home and will automatically build a mesh network to bring faster speeds to more rooms in the house. They can also be unplugged and moved to any location in the home, hassle free.

Connect App

Customers can use this app to test the strength of their WiFi in each room; manage devices connected to their home network; pause devices – handy when the children are up past their bedtime – and access in-app customer support to help resolve any issues.

As usual there are a few key points to note. Firstly, all Virgin Media customers with Hub 3 or Hub 4 routers will be able to benefit from the new Intelligent WiFi features, which have been rolled out at no extra cost. Secondly, the Connect App currently only works with the Hub 3, but the operator has said that owners of their new Hub 4 (i.e. mostly those on their gigabit broadband plan – Gig1) will “gain access later this year.”

All Ultimate Oomph and Gig1 customers can add this service “at no extra cost“, while all other customers must optionally upgrade to Intelligent WiFi Plus for £5 per month. Such customers will be eligible for up to 3 WiFi Pods (repeaters) if they continue to experience WiFi issues in the home.

Jeff Dodds, COO of Virgin Media, said:

“Intelligent WiFi Plus is our most advanced and impressive WiFi service to date that will help remove broadband blackspots and bring faster and more reliable speeds throughout the home. Whether our customers are working, streaming, browsing, playing or keeping connected online, the combo of new Hub features and WiFi Pods provides a step change in connectivity that won’t let you down.”

A clever end-user will already know how to setup their home network in order to minimise problems on the WiFi side (see our – WiFi Tips Guide), but not everybody is comfortable with doing that. Similarly, some consumers will often wrongfully attribute WiFi problems to the broadband side of their internet connection. Those in this boat will no doubt benefit more than most from simplified ways of improving WiFi.

Indeed, anything that improves WiFi is usually welcome, although the more tech-savvy users will often prefer to buy their own Mesh kit rather than become tied to an additional monthly fee, which could cost you more in the long run. On the other hand, Virgin’s system is backed up by related support if things go wrong.