Virgin Media has recently announced (Feb 2015) its decision to end its broadband offering in Southend, Essex. With no Virgin Media fibre optic coverage in the area, existing customers were already limited in broadband speed and have now been automatically switched to TalkTalk (you can instigate a switch to another provider).
As a Virgin Media phone and broadband customer I received the following email,
Your Virgin Media services are moving to TalkTalk soon
Hello Andrew,
We recently sent you a letter about transferring our non-cable broadband and home phone services (Virgin Media National) to TalkTalk.
We’ve made this decision because we want to focus on our superfast fibre optic cable network, and feel that TalkTalk is best placed to meet your needs.
For now, only your network is switching while we get ready to move your account over to TalkTalk. This means you’re still a Virgin Media customer.
At a later date we’ll move your account and billing over to TalkTalk (this is when you’ll become a TalkTalk customer). We’ll be in touch to let you know when this is happening.
Southend Broadband
Whilst an inconvenience, using non fibre optic broadband had been a struggle. It became difficult to have seamless Skype video sessions, on demand streaming and internet use across more than one device at a time.
Since changing to BT fibre optic the connection is much more stable. However it’s a shame that Southend seems to have a lack of fibre optic broadband providers.
Has this also got something to do with Talk Talk taking over the virgin service as well? Just a question as i read that Talk Talk have acquired the broadband service and if existing customers change will they be offered some sort of compensation.