Virgin Media to expand fibre network

Virgin Media’s high-speed fibre network will pass at least 100,000 additional homes by the end of 2011.

During the first six months of the year Virgin Media has extended the infrastructure to an additional 73,000 homes and the network now reaches half of the UK. The cable operator said a “substantial new construction project” is about to begin in Southampton and that further projects are planned for 2011 and beyond.

Jon James, Virgin Media’s executive director of broadband, said: “By extending our unique fibre optic network to parts of the country previously outside our traditional heartland, we’re ensuring more people can experience the compelling advantages that a superfast connection can bring and in doing so, support the government’s digital ambitions. Today’s increasingly digital lifestyle requires better broadband and we’ve seen a strong response from the communities we expand into who are crying out for quality services. We’re adding thousands of homes to our network every month as our expansion programme continues and we look for opportunities to give more people access to the fastest broadband and best in home entertainment.”

Virgin Media’s fibre network is being rolled with the help of £13 billion (€15 billion) of private investment, the company said.