Virgin doubles UK broadband speeds

In a huge boost to cable-based IPTV in the UK, incumbent MSO Virgin Media has doubled the speeds of over four million of its broadband customers. Mass roll out of the network upgrade is slated to begin in February 2012 and continue over 18 months until mid 2013. The upshot will be that subscribers to Virgin Media’s current 10 Mbps, 20 Mbps, 30 Mbps and 50 Mbps services will see their speeds at least doubled, with 100 Mbps customers seeing a significant increase to 120 Mbps. The upshot says Virgin is that the speeds will ensure customers get high quality access to the huge growth in new online services. This will provide particular bandwidth in ever more connected home with multiple users for bandwidth-hungry HD IPTV applications which will only become more popular, and require more bandwidth, with the arrival into the UK of services such as Netflix and the enhancement of other OTT products such as LOVEFiLM. Commented Virgin Media chief executive officer, Neil Berkett, said: “The burgeoning market for better connectivity has given us an opportunity to transform the digital experience of millions of our customers and to bring about a massive step change in the number of UK consumers who have access to exciting, next generation services. Virgin Media has a track record of leading Britain’s digital development and this major initiative will meet the growing demand for faster broadband as well as provide significantly more value to our customers.”