Cable broadband provider Virgin Media (www.VirginMedia.com) launched its long-awaited 50Mb broadband service at the end of 2008, making it the fastest provider in the UK.
It was the first next-generation broadband service to go live in Britain, offering connections nearly nine times faster than the average headline speed in the UK.
When it launched, Virgin Media described its new package as the “coming of age” of its unique fibre optic cable network. “Today marks a historic moment, for both Virgin Media and the UK,” said Neil Berkett, Virgin Media CEO.
| Supplier | Speed (up to) | Usage limit | Contract length | Monthly charge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broadband: L + Phone: M + TV M+ with TiVo | 10Mb | Unlimited | 18 months | £3.00 | Call Virgin Media on 0808 189 0514 |
| Broadband: L + Phone M | 10Mb | Unlimited | 18 months | £4.00 | Call Virgin Media on 0808 189 0514 |
| Broadband: XL + Phone M | 30Mb | Unlimited | 18 months | £5.00 | Call Virgin Media on 0808 189 0514 |
| Broadband: XXL + Phone: XL + TV XL with TiVo | 50Mb | Unlimited | 18 months | £11.00 | Call Virgin Media on 0808 189 0514 |
It claims that the new 50Mb service allows users to download an entire music album in as little as 11 seconds; a TV show in around one minute, a high quality movie in as little as 3.5 minutes and a high definition movie in just 15 minutes.
It will come with a new modem and high-speed wireless broadband kit including an N router and USB dongle to make the most of the super fast, unlimited downloads. Free internet security is also included.
Michael Phillips, BroadbandChoices.co.uk product director, said: “As one of the UK’s leading ISPs, Virgin has been at the forefront of broadband developments and the launch of their 50Mb package is an important first step towards bringing the UK up to speed with other parts of Europe."
However, Virgin Media is only available to 51% of the UK, so people living outside of the its cable areas will have to use ADSL2+ broadband through a phone line or wait for another next-generation service to be launched where they live.
Although Virgin Media was the first provider to offer a next-generation service, BT Broadband (www.BT.com) has also committed £1.5bn to developing its own fibre network.
It has already been trialling speeds of up to 40Mb in some parts of the country, and offering speeds of up to 100Mb in some new-build areas, like Ebbsfleet, Kent, where it is easier and cheaper to install a completely new network.
Virgin Media has also been trialling faster downloads at eye-wateringly fast speeds of up to 200Mb - faster than even Japan or the USA.
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