SamKnows to test Virgin's super-fast broadband

Broadband

Virgin Media has appointed SamKnows to conduct independent trials on its broadband network.

SamKnows, the official broadband tester for Ofcom, will analyse 750 customer connections to Virgin's fibre optic network over the next year.

"This deal represents a significant shift in service provider attitudes. Instead of simply complying with external regulation, in a pioneering step, Virgin Media is proactively looking to assess itself to make sure its customers are getting value for money," Alex Salter, chairman of SamKnows, said in a statement.

"The move can only be good for the consumer, especially if it encourages other ISPs to follow Virgin Media's lead," he added.

Virgin Media said the trial was driven by the completion of its "next generation ultra-fast network," which it claims provides broadband speeds of up to 50Mb for over 12 million homes.

Jon James, Virgin Media's executive director of broadband, said in a statement: "The superior reliability and accuracy of its data make it an ideal partner to help us fine-tune and improve the products we offer our customers."

The trials start this month and current Virgin Media customers can sign up here to take part.

Jennifer Scott

Jennifer Scott is a former freelance journalist and currently political reporter for Sky News. She has a varied writing history, having started her career at Dennis Publishing, working in various roles across its business technology titles, including ITPro. Jennifer has specialised in a number of areas over the years and has produced a wealth of content for ITPro, focusing largely on data storage, networking, cloud computing, and telecommunications.

Most recently Jennifer has turned her skills to the political sphere and broadcast journalism, where she has worked for the BBC as a political reporter, before moving to Sky News.