Virgin Media 50Mb Broadbands

Virgin Media have recently launched their new 50Mb broadband service in certain areas. This is around nine times faster than normal, advertised broadband. Virgin Media's CEO has said "This service will transform the way people interact and entertain themselves online".

I can see how too! With the increasing use of popular streaming services such as the BBC's Iplayer and Channel 4's 4OD service and large amount of bandwidth this uses there is no suprise that broadband speeds are having to increase. One of the main benefits of this high speed broadband is the fact that for families and where a lot of people will all be utilising high bandwidth internet applications at the same time there will be an increasing need for high speed broadband. At the moment around 53% of the UK population watch Tv programme or clips online (according to a YouGov survey) and a whooping 88% of us go online every day. Virgin Media have found that over the past 18 months the amount of data downloaded by their customers has doubled and they believe it will go up 4 times more by 2013.

You could download:

What we have to thank for this increase in capacity is the fact that Virgin Media have invested in their network. Hopefully this will make other ISPs invest some money in their networks as well.

Virgin Media are hoping to have 40% of the network covered by this super fast broadband by the end of 2008 and they hope to complete the roll out to the other homes covered by their fibre optic network by the summer of 2009 (in time for some sunner, out-door internet browsing hopefully!).

More information about this 50Mb broadband can be found on their website. - http://allyours.virginmedia.com/websales/50Mb/index.do

If you'd like to hear or watch some news articles on Virgin Media's Broadband speeds you can watch a BBC news slot or a Radio 4 interview - "What broadband speed do we need?".

David Macfarlane, Internet Consultant, Future in Sites Ltd.