First batch of network upgrades to reach 1.5m homes
Virgin Media today announced the start of customer upgrades for its national Double Speeds upgrade programme. Following significant and ongoing investment in its network to support the upgrade programme, through the course of the next 18 months Virgin Media will be doubling the speeds of over four million cable broadband customers for no extra cost as the upgrades roll out across Virgin Media’s footprint of nearly 13 million homes. The upgrades will also see the company boost its top speed to 120Mb, solidifying the company’s position as the fastest broadband provider in the UK1.
Starting this week and throughout March and April several areas up and down the country will be upgraded to support double speeds, covering 1.5m cable homes. Initial areas include Newcastle, Ashford, Ipswich, Dundee, Belfast and Cambridge, with customers in other areas to be upgraded automatically as the Double Speeds programme rolls out. Customers can check when their area will be upgraded online through www.virginmedia.com/doublespeed.
Subscribers to Virgin Media’s current 10Mb, 20Mb, 30Mb and 50Mb services will see their speeds at least doubled, with 100Mb customers seeing an increase to 120Mb whilst also receiving a price reduction. These speeds will ensure customers get high quality broadband access to the huge growth in new online services, helping meet the growing demand for next generation broadband services in the UK
Jon James, executive director of broadband at Virgin Media said: “Virgin Media has driven broadband development in the UK and we’re delighted to be boosting our customers’ broadband speeds once again. Following our Double Speeds programme, all of our customers will be ‘superfast’ as standard and ready to access a new breed of high bandwidth entertainment services. By continuing to give our customers faster speeds and greater value services, we’re committed to providing our customers the best broadband in the UK.”
Virgin Media’s Double Speed upgrade programme follows an unparalleled track record of boosting its customers’ broadband speeds for free – in 2007 Virgin Media upgraded its 10Mb customers to 20Mb, in 2008 it upgraded 4Mb customers to 10Mb whilst also launching a brand new 50Mb service. In 2009, 2Mb customers were upgraded to 10Mb for free and in 2010 Virgin Media launched its 100Mb service whilst also giving all customers another free uplift, this time boosting upload speeds.
For more information on Virgin Media’s products and services, head to www.virginmedia.com
Notes to Editors
1 Virgin Media’s 100Mb service is, and its 120Mb service is soon to be, the UK’s fastest widely available broadband.
The first areas to be upgraded through March and April include:
- Newcastle
- Tilbury
- Southend
- Ely
- Melton
- Andover
- Poplar
- Dover
- Ashford
- Rawtenstall
- Belfast
- Solihull
- Maidstone
- Castlecary
- Grimsby
- Ipswich
- St Mellons
- Flitwick
- Preston
- Dundee
- Glenrothes
- Wakefield
- Doncaster
- Barnsley
- Cambridge
- Cosham
- Hemel Hempstead
- Mansfield
- Oldham
- Bedford
Customers can check to see when their Double Speed upgrade is scheduled through www.virginmedia.com/doublespeed
The speed upgrades will mean the following changes:
10Mb increased to 20Mb
20Mb and 30Mb increased to 60Mb
50Mb increased to 100Mb (then 120Mb when service rolls out)
100Mb increased to 120Mb (when 120Mb service rolls out. Customer will also see a price drop)
Virgin Media uses traffic management on its network to ensure the vast majority of customers receive the high quality of service they expect. As part of the speed doubling programme, customers will enjoy faster speeds alongside increased peak time allowances enabling customers to get even more out of their services. With significant additional investment being put into its network, Virgin Media will be trialling a variety of different approaches to traffic management over the coming months to make the system more intelligent and flexible.
About Virgin Media:
Virgin Media is the first provider of all four broadband, TV, mobile phone and home phone services in the UK.
The company’s cable network – the result of a multi-billion pound private investment – delivers ultrafast broadband connections to over half of all UK homes, with speeds of up to 100Mb, and is being expanded to reach thousands more people across the country.
Virgin Media has developed the most advanced interactive television service, bringing together broadcast TV, thousands of hours of on demand programming and the best of the web in a single set-top box powered by TiVo. The company was the first to offer HD TV and 3D on demand to millions of UK households.
Virgin Media also operates the most popular virtual mobile network in the UK which, when launched, was the world’s first such mobile phone service. It is also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the country.
Virgin Media Inc. is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market and the London Stock Exchange (VMED)
For journalist enquiries contact:
Asam Ahmad
Virgin Media
Tel: 0207 909 3286
Email: asam.ahmad@virginmedia.co.uk
Gareth Mead
Virgin Media
Tel: 020 7909 3289
Email: gareth.mead@virginmedia.co.uk