Virgin Media O2’s network is now over 90 percent gigabit-ready, bringing the provider closer to completing an upgrade of its entire footprint by the end of the year.
The latest network activation connected an additional 1.6 million homes across towns and cities including Lincoln, Bath, Lancaster, Fife, Huddersfield, Ipswich, Slough and Salisbury.
A total of 14.3 million premises can now access the gigabit network, which delivers average download speeds of around 1,130 Mbps.
Lutz Schüler, Chief Executive Officer at Virgin Media O2, said:
“We’re making great strides in upgrading the UK and are within touching distance of bringing the benefits of future-proof gigabit broadband to everyone on our network.
With our gigabit rollout progressing at an unmatched pace, we’re building the next-generation broadband network that’s ready for the technology of tomorrow.”
This latest activation further cements Virgin Media O2’s position as the UK’s largest gigabit provider.
The company has committed to invest at least £10 billion in the UK over the next five years to extend and enhance its network.
Although Virgin Media O2 leads on gigabit availability, its overall fibre coverage remains behind rivals who rely on Openreach infrastructure. Part of the investment will focus on deploying full-fibre connections to millions of additional homes across the country.
In July, Virgin Media O2 announced plans to upgrade its entire UK network to full-fibre by 2028, a technology capable of delivering symmetrical speeds up to 10 Gbps for both downloads and uploads.
(Image Credit: Virgin Media O2)
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