Virgin to launch 100Mbits/sec broadband

Virgin Media has announced it is to begin the rollout of a 100Mbits/sec broadband service by the end of 2010.

The internet service provider (ISP) has not yet announced who will get the service first but it planned to choose a number of regions to start with and expects to finish the rollout by the end of 2011.

“Rolling out the service will be a relatively swift process, but as we haven’t finalised details yet we are not announcing the areas. Pricing details have also to be finalised,” a representative for the ISP said.

The new speed tier is designed for tech-savvy users, according to Virgin. Users will be able to download a music album in as little as five seconds, an hour-long TV show in 31 seconds and an HD movie in seven minutes 25 secondsm according to the company.

Neil Berkett, Virgin Media’s chief executive officer, said: “There is nothing we can’t do with our fibre-optic cable network, and the upcoming launch of our flagship 100Mbits/sec service will give our customers the ultimate broadband experience.

“Just as we led the way by launching the UK’s first ever next-generation service, we want to keep giving our customers the very best broadband available, by investing in technological innovation and transforming the experience they have when they are online.

"The launch of Virgin Media’s 100Mbits/sec service will be a historic moment and will mean the UK will be comparable to other leading broadband nations.”

The ISP also plans to extend the trial of its 200Mbits/sec consumer service to the Coventry area. Although it said it had not yet set a date for this, it was hoping to recruit hundreds of customers to test the service. A pilot trial of the service has been running in Ashford, Kent, since May last year.