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Virgin speeds up Britain's broadband to a record 50Mb
Mark Prigg, Science Correspondent15 Dec 2008
A MAJOR battle for the future of Britain's internet access began today.
Virgin Media has launched the fastest broadband connection in Britain, at 50Mb per second — about
nine times faster than current connections.
The service will allow high-definition TV programmes and films to be broadcast online.
Other internet service providers are expected to launch similar services to compete.
“This is a much-needed service that everyone should have access to,” said Paul Allen, editor of Computeractive magazine.
“But this is something of a postcode lottery, as only Virgin customers in certain areas will get it.
“The Government needs to work with providers to ensure everyone has access to these services, or we will end up with a nation of digital haves and have nots.”
The 50Mb service will allow users to download a music album in 11 seconds, a TV show in about one minute, a movie in three and a half minutes and a high definition movie in around 15.
The service, expected to cost about £35 a month, will initially be available in south London.
Virgin hopes to roll the system out across its entire network of 12.6 million by summer.
Neil Berkett, Virgin Media's CEO, said “Today marks a historic moment, for both Virgin Media and the UK.”
More British consumers than ever are watching TV online. A YouGov study found in the past year 53 per cent of Britons had started watching TV programmes or clips online, and 88 per cent go online every day.
Reader views (4)
This is classic Virgin PR - a hand full of customers in cherry picked areas such as inner cities where most of these firms operate will have access to this service. The rest won't as the Virgin network is small.
It's all smoke and mirrors until a national fibre network is in place - and BT will have to pay for that.
- Steve, Hereford, 15/12/2008 17:44
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Godd news then,this will get the country off it's knees & back on track won't it!!!!.Something else that's going to be trumpeted as a 'must have' & all it's doing is dragging more of your hard-earned cash out of your pocket.Who's really bothered that they can download a film in 3.5mins,Virgin's money would have been better spent getting the existing service right & reducing prices to a more affordable level.
- Mick, beckenham uk, 15/12/2008 16:52
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Mark, you will find they already have done it. Same as me
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 15/12/2008 16:45
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I'm still waiting for Virgin to double my speed as they informed me they would be doing about a year ago!
- Mark, South-East London, 15/12/2008 14:22
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