Virgin Media responds to BT ad with – “B******T”!

Virgin Media has today called out BT’s dubious, unsubstantiated advertising with a cheeky and provocative stunt that highlights the strength of Virgin Media’s network and its continued speed superiority over the UK’s telecoms incumbent.

BT’s billboards, which are currently deployed in Bristol, claim that residents in the area shouldn’t “settle for Virgin” and instead opt for services provided by the century-old company which started life as a telegraph operator. Virgin Media’s billboard helps to separate B******T from reality given its ultrafast network passes more premises with faster speeds in the city and surrounding areas.

Virgin Media’s network covers almost 300,000 premises in Bristol with its top packages having an average speed of 516Mbps – significantly faster than BT’s Ultrafast Fibre 250. Virgin Media, through private investment, is also expanding its footprint and rolling out next-generation gigabit speeds (1Gbps) across its entire network of 15 million premises, delivering more than half of the government’s broadband target by the end of 2021. Currently BT’s gigabit ambition is limited to 4 million premises with the possibility of going further under the right conditions.

To kick off the #BornFast stunt, mobile billboards will be placed in front of the BT posters in locations across Bristol, ensuring residents get the message in a fun and humorous way – all in the spirit of clarity and competition. The stunt is also being supported by content on Virgin Media’s social media channels with the potential to bring the billboards to other areas in future.

Cilesta Van Doorn, Brand and Marketing Director at Virgin Media said: “BT’s broadband bunkum just couldn’t go unchecked. Residents of Bristol won’t be fooled by BT’s babble and we look forward to welcoming anyone who wants to experience life in the fast lane with our superior ultrafast speeds. With a reliable future-proof network that is bringing gigabit speeds to Bristol and more of the UK, Virgin Media is, as always, leading the charge – catch us if you can.”

Virgin Media has formally challenged BT’s advert and has contacted the provider. BT has not yet responded with evidence to justify the claims made on their billboard.

#BornFast was created by RAPP UK for Virgin Media.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Virgin Media’s network currently passes 15 million UK premises. Its top widely-available speed is 516Mbps with Gig1 (1 Gbps) broadband currently being deployed across its entire network to be completed by the end of 2021. Currently residents in Southampton, Reading and Manchester have access to these gigabit speeds.

Virgin Media has a network reliability of 99.96%

BT currently offers its full fibre product to around 2 million premises with a top speed of 300Mbps.

The Government has called for all UK premises to have access to “gigabit broadband” by 2025.

Virgin Media’s Ultimate Oomph package gives its customers the best of everything on offer. currently priced at £89 per month, includes the UK’s fastest widely available broadband with average download speeds of 516Mbps, 270 TV channels including Sky Cinema, Sky Sports and BT Sport in 4k as well as a mobile SIM with truly unlimited data, texts and calls.