Virgin Media aims for fastest cable at Silicon Roundabout

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Virgin Media today confirmed it would be trialling a 1.5Gb cable broadband network in London’s Old Street technology hub, dubbed “Silicon Roundabout.”

The pilot will kick off this month, with four companies in the area already signed up to try out the connections.

Virgin Media claimed, if the trial is successful, it will become the world’s fastest cable broadband and achieve speeds over 240 times faster than the current UK average.

“Demand for greater bandwidth is growing rapidly as more devices are able to connect to the internet and as more people go online simultaneously,” said Jon James, executive director of broadband at Virgin Media.

“Our growing network provides a highly competitive alternative to the fastest fibre networks of the future and, with our ongoing investment plans, we can anticipate and meet demand as it develops over time, ensuring Virgin Media business and residential customers continue to enjoy world-class broadband.”

The network will use the DOCSIS3 technology used throughout its commercial network and will be funded by the £13 million the company pumped into connecting its cable up to fibre through coaxial lines.

Celebrating a strong Q1

Virgin Media made its broadband announcement on the same day it released its results for the first quarter of 2011.

Overall revenues rose by 5.7 per cent, compared to the same period last year, amounting to £982 million. Operating income also increased by an impressive 58.9 per cent to £111 million.

The number of cable customers only rose by 1.2 per cent – totalling 20,200 new connections – but there was a 22.6 per cent rise in mobile customers – up to 1.3 million.

Business contract revenue also lifted, hitting £159 million – up 13.7 per cent from last year – mostly thanks to a new contract win from the London borough of Lambeth.

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