Virgin Media wants to boost your broadband even if you use Sky or BT

Virgin Media wants to help boost the signal around your home even if you use a rival Internet Service Provider (ISP) such as Sky, TalkTalk or BT. The UK broadband supplier has just announced that it’s working with a company called Plume to bring a bunch of bonus features to all UK broadband customers even if they can’t or don’t want to use Virgin.

The smart service, called HomePass, includes numerous features such as a self-optimising WiFi network which makes sure the signal is always performing to its best potential. For those with larger properties, there are booster Pods that can be plugged into any room to make sure every corner of a property gets a strong connection to the web.

One Pod comes as standard with customers then able to buy additional boosters if they need them.

And that’s not all as Virgin is also promising that its HomePass smart home service can offer in-home motion sensing for added security with instant alerts sent straight to a smartphone if anything, or anyone, is spotted inside a property.

There’s also full device management so users can see who and what is connected to their network and you can create a guest Wi-Fi network with unique passwords to keep those visiting from getting full access to your broadband.

Virgin says that HomePass is also designed to help keep users and connected devices safe from unwanted ads, hacks or threats, including the seven most frequent types of cyber-attacks.

The system will alert users when connected devices such as smart speakers, baby monitors or doorbells exhibit unusual behaviour such as trying to connect to new unknown connections – and put at-risk devices in quarantine to keep customers’ home network and sensitive information safe.

Speaking about the update, Sigrid van den Houte, Director of Products & Propositions (Fixed & FMC), said: “By teaming up with Plume, we’re able to offer a smarter, faster, and safer WiFi experience to everyone – even people living in areas where our services aren’t yet available. With HomePass’ plug and play pods and host of smart home features, we’re excited to be transforming WiFi in homes around the country.”

HomePass is available for an annual charge of £99 and comes with one SuperPod as standard. Additional pods are available starting at £99 each.

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