Best Business Broadband: Virgin Vs BT

Connectivity keeps businesses afloat. In our modern world, it is rare to find a business that does not rely on broadband. Ecommerce companies, call centres, and international businesses all over the UK need guaranteed speeds to support day to day operations. 

Business owners have lots of suppliers to choose from. With so many offers and confusing contracts flooding the market, it might seem like Virgin Media business broadband and BT business broadband are the easy options. These suppliers are household names and they have amassed hundreds of thousands of customers in the UK. 

At Love Energy Savings, we encourage customers to think about more than just connectivity. Broadband suppliers should also be compared based on packages, speeds, prices, customer ratings, and new customer incentives. Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about these well-known telecom companies.

Why Compare Business Broadband?

It is easy to overlook business broadband prices. Broadband is an essential part of operations, which means that lots of business owners accept their monthly bills without a second thought. 

The easiest way to save a large amount of money on broadband bills is to switch suppliers and contracts. Thousands of business owners across the UK could lower their monthly bills by simply switching. We recommend using a business utilities comparison generator to get a clear view of all the deals on offer. 

By comparing suppliers, business owners can also invest in companies that better reflect their values. More and more suppliers are beginning to understand the importance of eco-friendly practices. 

Lots of business owners also compare broadband suppliers to receive tailored support. Even the best business broadband supplier cannot provide adequate support to large businesses if its packages are designed for small businesses. There are lots of suppliers that have tailored offerings for small, medium, and large businesses.

Virgin Business Broadband Vs BT Business Broadband

Virgin business broadband services used to trade under the name ntl: Telewest Business. It was first established as recently as 2010, but in 2013 it became part of Liberty Global plc. As part of this partnership, Virgin Media business broadband serves 25 million customers in 14 countries. Whereas a lot of big-name suppliers cater to businesses of all sizes, Virgin only caters to small and medium-sized businesses. BT owns BT Openreach, a company that maintains connectivity ducts, cabinets, and exchanges across the UK. 

BT was founded in 1980. It was founded to support domestic customers but has since expanded its offering to cater to business customers. There are 700,000 BT business broadband customers all over the UK. Customers can expect seamless switching and customer support services. 

Which Has Better Speeds and Packages? (Winner: BT Business Broadband)

There are four Virgin Media business broadband packages to choose from. All the packages are called Voom and are designed to support small and medium-sized businesses. No matter which package customers choose, they can expect lightning-fast speeds. Each package has download speeds of up to 500Mbps and upload speeds of up to 50Mbps. Virgin claims that its speeds are up to six times faster than Sky and BT’s average speeds. 

Voom Fibre 1 guarantees download speeds of up to 350Mbps and upload speeds of up to 20Mbps. Customers can also expect a dynamic IP and report response times of less than 48 hours. Static IPs are not available on this Virgin business broadband plan. All the Voom plans are available on 24-month contracts. 

Voom Fibre 2 is pricier but has better resolution times and speeds. Customers can expect download speeds of up to 350Mbps and upload speeds of up to 30Mbps. Dynamic IPs and Static IPs are available, and any errors or glitches will be resolved within 24 hours. 

Voom Fibre 3 features download speeds of up to 350Mbps and upload speeds of up to 40Mbps. This is one of the best Virgin Media business broadband plans for customers who need up to five static or dynamic IPs. Any glitches will be resolved within 24 hours. 

Voom 500 has the fastest speeds. Business owners can expect download speeds of up to 500Mbps and upload speeds of up to 50Mbps as well as five dynamic or static IPs. Any errors will be fixed within 12 hours. 

There are four BT business broadband packages to choose from. BT specialises in comprehensive deals that include phone lines. Comprehensive deals are perfect for people who do not want to deal with separate monthly bills. The most popular BT broadband deals are called Halo.

Halo for Business is the most popular Halo deal. It features download speeds of up to 900Mbps and upload speeds of up to 104Mbps. Customers can also expect Content Controls, Web Protect, landline calls on the go, Guest WiFi, 4G backup, 1 static IP, and expert tech support. A minimum speed guarantee is also included. The only difference between Halo for Business and Halo with Complete WiFi is that the latter has complete WiFi services. 

The cheapest comprehensive BT business broadband deal is called Essential. It comes with download speeds of up to 900Mbps and upload speeds of up to 104Mbps. Content Controls, Web Protect, and a minimum speed guarantee are also included. 

Business owners can also secure a Broadband Only deal. This deal comes with download speeds of up to 76Mbps and upload speeds of up to 19Mbps. It also features Content Controls, Web Protect, guest WiFi, and a minimum speed guarantee. 

Winner: In terms of packages and speeds, BT is the best business broadband supplier. This supplier offers tailored packages and download speeds of up to 900Mbps. 

Which Is Better for Small, Medium, and Large Businesses? (Winner: BT Business Broadband)

When it comes to connectivity, it is important to find a tailored deal. Whether you operate a small, medium, or large business, you can find a deal that suits your needs.

Virgin Media business broadband is only suitable for small and medium-sized businesses. The prices are set. A lot of suppliers advertise package prices ‘from’ a set amount. Customers might be shocked to find the actual price of their package rate once they have received a quote. Virgin customers can expect set package prices. This is perfect for small business owners that need consistent bills. 

Whereas Virgin business broadband is perfect for small and medium-sized businesses, BT business broadband creates packages for businesses of all sizes. BT Halo packages are designed for businesses that have 20 or more employees. Customers can also expect a minimum speed. This offering is perfect for professionals who want guaranteed connectivity. 

With BT Openreach at its disposal, it is no surprise that BT offers guaranteed resolution times. Business owners who secure Voom deals can expect guaranteed resolution times. The more expensive the package, the better the time scale. The longest resolution time is 48 hours from the first report, and the fastest time is 12 hours from the first report.

Winner: BT cinches the win! There is a Voom package for every kind of business.

Which Has Lower Prices? (Winner: Virgin Business Broadband)

This is a common question. Even the best business broadband suppliers fall at this hurdle. It is normal for suppliers to hide their package prices. In lots of cases, prospective customers have to request a quote to get a clear indication of the sort of prices that they might pay. 

Potential customers will be pleased to learn that both Virgin and BT are transparent about package prices. Virgin has created four Voom packages for business customers. Voom Fibre 1 is £32 a month, Voom Fibre 2 is £47 a month, Voom Fibre 3 is £50 a month, and Voom 500 is £62 a month. 

Prospective BT business broadband customers can choose from three comprehensive broadband and phone line packages and a Broadband Only package. Halo for business is the most popular deal and it is available from £36.95 a month. Business owners can secure Halo with Complete WiFi from £43.95 per month and the Essential deal from £26.95 per month. The Broadband Only deal is available from £22.95 per month.

Customers should note that these prices do not include 20% VAT. This also applies to Virgin Media business broadband deals.  

Winner: Virgin is the best broadband supplier for competitive prices. Virgin’s Voom packages are much cheaper than BT’s comprehensive Halo deals. 

Which Has Better Customer Service? (Winner: BT Business Broadband)

Customer service is almost as important as connectivity speeds. Customer service representatives are the people who bridge the gap between services and customers. If your broadband is ever down, they will help you get your business up and running again. 

Even the best business broadband providers fail to deliver an adequate level of customer service. That is why it is important to read customer reviews. At Love Energy Savings, we rely on Trustpilot for up-to-date reviews. 

Virgin has created a Trustpilot account specifically for its business customers. Prospective business customers do not have to worry about reading reviews that are intended for domestic customers. Virgin Media business broadband has 1.2/5 stars on Trustpilot and an average rating of bad. Only 3% of customers think that the services are excellent, which is astonishing compared to the 94% of customers who think that the services are bad. 

Some broadband suppliers have lots of Trustpilot accounts. This could be a sign of poor reviews. If a company is overwhelmed by poor reviews, it can create another account with a different name to direct prospective customers away.

BT has three Trustpilot accounts. For this comparison guide, we will choose the account that has the most reviews. BT business broadband has 1.8/5 stars on Trustpilot and an overall rating of poor. This account has amassed almost 350 reviews. 7% of customers think that the services are excellent and 89% think that the services are bad. Excellent reviews mention friendly support staff by name and negative reviews warn potential customers to steer clear of BT. A representative from BT replies to negative reviews with solutions. 

Winner: Both Virgin and BT have poor Trustpilot reviews, but BT wins this round because it has a better overall score. Customers might want to check BT’s other Trustpilot accounts before they commit to this supplier. 

Which Has More Transparent Customer Service Information? (Winner: BT Business Broadband)

Accessibility is an important consideration for new broadband customers. Household names in the connectivity industry usually understand the importance of transparent contact information. 

Luckily for new customers, it is easy to find customer service support for both Virgin business broadband and BT business broadband. Virgin’s contact us page features filters for customers who want tailored support. Business owners have to select a button for small, medium and enterprise, public sector, and wholesale businesses before they can access a number. Once customers have chosen an option, they will be directed to a range of teams for tailored support. For example, small business owners can choose from the customer care, fault, and sales teams. Virgin even tells customers which option to choose on the phone to streamline their experience. 

Likewise, BT’s contact us page is very detailed. Customers can choose from a number of options and find links that help them solve their issues online. There are links to deal with bills, fix faults, and check orders. This is perfect for BT business broadband customers who do not like speaking to people over the phone. BT even embeds popular FAQs into the page to solve common problems quickly. 

BT also lets customers know how much their customer support call will cost them. 0800 and 0808 calls are free from UK numbers, whereas charges may vary for 08702 numbers. Customers can expect to pay 5p per minute plus network provider charges on 0845 numbers.

Winner: When it comes to detailed customer support information, BT is the best business broadband provider. With FAQs, links, and even call charge information visible on the website, it is no surprise that business owners all over the UK depend on BT for transparent information. 

Which Has Better Incentives? (Winner: BT Business Broadband)

New customer incentives often cinch the deal. Incentives often take the form of vouchers and account credit, but there is no limit to what suppliers can offer interested customers. 

Lots of the best business broadband suppliers on the market create incentives for domestic customers. Unfortunately, many suppliers do not offer the same incentives for business customers. Virgin is just one of the connectivity giants that rely on its reputation for new business.

BT does have a deal for new customers. Whilst it might not be an incentive, it does allow business owners to save £168 on Fibre 38. This brings the price of the package down to £22.95 a month. The offer ends on the 8th of May 2022. 

Winner: BT business broadband wins this round because it offers a genuine deal to new customers who want to save on their monthly bills. 

Overall Winner: BT Business Broadband

In the battle of the broadband giants, BT is the clear winner. BT is a telecommunications giant that has an impressive offering. Business owners can expect a range of packages that suit all business sizes, detailed customer support information, and guaranteed resolution times. BT also has BT Openreach at its disposal to fix any errors and glitches that business owners experience. 

That being said, Virgin is not without its positives. Virgin Media business broadband is best suited to small and medium-sized businesses that would benefit from low package prices and transparent customer support information. 

Discover the Best Business Broadband 

Virgin business broadband and BT business broadband are not the only options available to business owners. There are more suppliers to choose from than ever. With the right research, business owners can secure a competitive package that reflects their needs. 

At Love Energy Savings, we understand that it is difficult to find time to survey broadband suppliers. Business owners have hundreds of things to think about, and finding the best business broadband supplier can fall to the bottom of the to-do list. That is why we have created a hassle-free business utilities comparison generator. This generator is perfect for people who want to survey the market in under 60 seconds. Put in your details, wait 60 seconds, and find the best deal for your business. 

Fibre broadband might not be the right solution for your business. If you need faster speeds and added security, you should consider VoIP. VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a cloud-based solution for professionals who need faster connectivity.

Related Articles