Virgin Media O2 has today extended gigabit broadband to an additional 1.5 million homes, bringing more than half of its network online with speeds capable of supporting the most demanding applications.
The upgrade has gone live in multiple areas across all four nations of the UK, increasing availability of ultra-fast connections for households and businesses.
Lutz Schüler, Chief Executive Officer at Virgin Media O2, said:
“We are upgrading the UK to next-generation connectivity and today we’re hitting another important milestone with more than half of our network now able to access gigabit speeds.
As the UK’s largest gigabit broadband provider, and with a clear plan to connect our entire network to these speeds by the end of the year, we’ll be delivering most of the government’s broadband target ahead of schedule.
Our continued investment is propelling the country up gigabit league tables and providing consumers with the connectivity they need both now and in the future.”
Homes in parts of Bournemouth, Bristol, Northampton, Sunderland, Wolverhampton, Wigan and York can now sign up for Virgin Media’s gigabit package and enjoy speeds strong enough to handle multiple simultaneous video calls, large file transfers and high-bandwidth streaming.
Digital Infrastructure Minister Matt Warman added:
“We’ve kicked off the biggest broadband build in British history thanks to £5 billion of government funding alongside significant investment from telecoms firms.
I welcome Virgin Media O2’s ambitious plans to speed up the delivery of lightning-fast gigabit connectivity to communities across the UK and give people what they need to keep pace with the digital revolution.”
Virgin Media O2 has pledged to invest at least £10 billion over the next five years to modernise the UK’s digital infrastructure. Last month the operator also confirmed a commitment to upgrade its entire UK broadband network to full-fibre by 2028.
UK telecoms regulator Ofcom recognised Virgin Media O2 in its latest Connected Nations update for contributing to the 37 percent year-on-year increase in homes able to access gigabit-capable connections.
Virgin Media O2’s Gig1 service delivers median download speeds of around 1,130 Mbps — roughly 14 times faster than the national average — offering a future-proof option for heavy users. Pricing starts at around £62 per month on an 18-month contract.
(Image Credit: Virgin Media O2)
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