Virgin Media rolls out 2Gbps broadband over its cable network
Key Points
- Virgin Media O2 is rolling out Gig2 services across its existing hybrid fibre coaxial network.
- The company is conducting cost-effective upgrades to deliver download and upload speeds of 2Gbps and 100Mbps, respectively to customers on its gigabit cable network.
- This connection is delivered through it hybrid fibre coaxial network using the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS).
- More than 3 million homes on this network are now able to get Gig2 services, making the total number of homes served by Virgin Media 2Gbps-capable connections more than 10 million.
Virgin Media O2 has announced that for the first time, it is rolling out 2Gbps broadband services over its gigabit cable network.
The broadband provider said that upgrades were already complete in 18 locations and will expand to the majority of its network next year.
The company is upgrading its existing gigabit network to support its Gig2 broadband services, which offer download speeds of 2,000Mbps and upload speeds of 100Mbps on its hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) network.
This type of network runs high-speed fibre to a node close to customer’s homes, from where the signal is converted and carried through a last-mile coaxial connection using the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS).
This type of configuration has less theoretical bandwidth than a full fibre network connection, but it is cost-effective to deploy.
For this reason, symmetrical upload and download speeds are not available on 2Gbps broadband packages served over Virgin Media’s HFC network.
Virgin Media said upgrades to its cable network have already taken place for around 3 million homes bringing the total number of households that have access to its Gig2 services to more than 10 million, including those covered by its full fibre network.
The company said that locations with 2Gbps capability now include:
- Newcastle
- Bournemouth
- Lancaster
- Peterborough
- Ipswich
- Bath
- Southend-on-Sea
- York
- Blackburn
- Cambridge
- Harrogate
- Chelmsford
- Manchester
- Oxford
- Preston
- Portsmouth
“This is an important milestone for our fixed network. Ultimately, people don’t care what kind of pipe is connecting them as long the service is fast, reliable and delivers what is expected,” said Virgin Media O2 CTO Jeanie York.
“By making 2Gbps speeds available over cable for the first time, we’re extending multi-gigabit capability to more parts of the UK and showing the continued potential of our existing network infrastructure that still very much meets the increasing needs of consumers.”
“As demand for data continues to grow, we’re investing across our network to deliver faster, more reliable connectivity,” York said.
