Virgin Media has announced that it’s launching Intelligent WiFi, complete with a Connect app, in order to boost home broadband speeds by up to three times in the home. Intelligent WiFi has already been rolled out to the Hub 3 router and has several tools that will automatically improve coverage in the home without the need for boosters, but they can be ordered if needed.
The features included with Intelligent WiFi include Channel Optimisation, Band Steering, and Airtime Fairness. Channel Optimisation ensures that devices are switched to less crowded WiFi channels which reduces interference; Virgin said this could improve the service for 18% of homes.
With Band Steering, devices will switch between 2.4GHz and the 5GHz frequency in order to get better performance; with this feature, Virgin saw 25% of devices switch to 5GHz allowing them to achieve greater speeds. Describing the third feature, Virgin Media said:
“[Airtime Fairness] helps to share out WiFi evenly across connected devices. Some older devices can’t keep up with ultrafast broadband speeds which can impact WiFi performance in the home. Intelligent WiFi will improve the share of WiFi to devices throughout the home.”
These features can all be controlled by users who install the new Connect app. It provides tools to test the WiFi strength from room-to-room so that blackspots can be found and mitigated; users can also manage and pause devices with Connect too.
If the new innovations are not enough to get WiFi coverage over the entire home, Virgin is offering a free booster for Full House or VIP customers. Those on packages below Full House will have to pay £3 per month in order to get and use a booster.