VMO2 hits gigabit network milestone
August 11, 2021
By Colin Mann
UK multiplay telco Virgin Media O2 has added one-and-a-half million homes to its gigabit network, meaning that more than half of its footprint can now access hyperfast broadband speeds.
As part of the gigabit switch-on, Virgin Media O2 has upgraded its network in locations across the UK, with residents in towns and cities such as Bournemouth, Bristol, Northampton, Sunderland, Wolverhampton, Wigan and York now able to benefit from next-generation connectivity.
More than 8 million homes in all four UK nations are now able to access Virgin Media’s Gig1 service, making the operator the largest gigabit broadband provider in the UK.
By the end of 2021, Virgin Media O2 will deliver gigabit broadband speeds across its entire network of more than 15 million homes.
“We are upgrading the UK to next-generation connectivity and today we’re hitting another important milestone with more than half of our network now able to access gigabit speeds,” explained Lutz Schüler, Chief Executive Officer at Virgin Media O2. “As the UK’s largest gigabit broadband provider today, with a clear plan to connect our entire network to these speeds by the end of the year, we’ll be delivering most of the Government’s broadband target ahead of schedule. Our continued investment is propelling the country up gigabit league tables and providing consumers with the connectivity they need both now and in future.”
“We’ve kicked off the biggest broadband build in British history thanks to £5 billion of government funding alongside significant investment from telecoms firms,” added Digital Infrastructure Minister Matt Warman. “I welcome Virgin Media O2’s ambitious plans to speed up the delivery of lightning-fast gigabit connectivity to communities across the UK and give people what they need to keep pace with the digital revolution.”
As part of its mission to upgrade the UK, the company has committed to invest at least £10 billion over the next five years in the UK and, building on the success of its existing fibre network expansion activity, is actively exploring options to go further and faster by deploying fibre to millions of additional homes across the country. This investment includes an accelerated monthly rollout of gigabit speeds to multiple locations across the UK between now and the end of the year.
Virgin Media O2 has also recently announced its intention to upgrade its fixed network to full fibre to the premises (FTTP) with completion in 2028. This technology is capable of delivering symmetrical 10Gbps download and upload speeds, with Virgin Media O2 suggesting it will build on its existing leadership position today and be well equipped for the decades ahead as the demand for speed and capacity continues to rise.