A real-world trial by Virgin Media has achieved multi-gigabit broadband speeds using the company’s existing network.
The innovation trial took place in Thatcham, Berkshire and used DOCSIS 3.1 broadband technology to push performance on the current cable infrastructure.
Tests recorded peak speeds of 2.2 Gbps, roughly 34 times faster than the UK national average.
Phil Thompson, a resident who took part in the trial, said:
“The multi-gigabit speeds were a step forward and they made working from home much smoother.
I take part in many video calls and, at 2.2 Gbps, the calls felt near real-time while colleagues on slower connections experienced lag.
When my son—an avid gamer—visited, he described the speeds as ‘ridiculous’ because the low ping and minimal jitter gave him an excellent gaming experience.”
Ultrafast connections like these expand what is possible at home, particularly as remote and hybrid work becomes more common.
“In my role I work on peer-to-peer networks and often connect remotely to other people’s computers,” added Thompson. “With these broadband speeds the experience was seamless — it felt as though their PC was right in front of me.”
While widespread availability of multi-gigabit services may still be some way off, Virgin Media is accelerating the rollout of gigabit broadband today.
Virgin Media’s Gig1 package, which delivers up to 1,140 Mbps, is now available in seven regions across the UK, reaching approximately 3.7 million homes and positioning the company as the country’s largest provider of gigabit broadband.
Jeanie York, Chief Technology and Information Officer at Virgin Media, commented:
“We invest more than £1 billion into our network every year, and this trial demonstrates how Virgin Media’s existing, future-proof cable network can deliver lightning-fast, multi-gigabit broadband speeds. We are ready to meet our customers’ connectivity needs as demand evolves.
“We’re leading the charge to make the UK faster, and we remain on track to roll out gigabit broadband across our network by the end of next year. With this next-generation connectivity, customers can enjoy the best their broadband has to offer — whether that’s 8K gaming, instant streaming, high-quality video calls, or rapid file uploads — all in the same home at the same time.”
Virgin Media says that by the end of 2021 more than 15 million premises will have access to gigabit speeds.
(Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash)
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