Virgin Media today announced that homes and businesses in Edinburgh will be next to benefit from an ultrafast broadband and entertainment boost.
As part of its Project Lightning expansion, Virgin Media plans to extend its fibre optic network to 38,000 homes and businesses in the Edinburgh and Lothian areas. Work has already begun in the area and is expected to be completed before the end of 2018. This is in addition to the almost one million premises Virgin Media’s network currently reaches across Scotland.
This follows the recent announcement from Virgin Media to connect an additional 360,000 homes and businesses in Scotland to its fibre optic network by the end of 2019, with the Edinburgh and Lothian expansion included in this overall figure.
Virgin Media has also recently committed to connecting at least two thirds of the 360,000 additional premises in Scotland directly with fibre to the premise (FTTP), which will be a major boost to the economy.
Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity, Scottish Government, said: “The quality of digital connectivity affects our lives in a way that we couldn’t have imagined a decade ago. Having reliable broadband and mobile services is now, rightly, seen as part of essential, everyday infrastructure: that’s why we’re committed to making superfast broadband available to every home and business by 2021. The market has a key role and responsibility to play, by investing fully in commercial areas and supporting our efforts to connect the hardest to reach parts of Scotland. That’s why I’m delighted by today’s announcement from Virgin Media, one of the key commercial providers in Scotland, bringing ultrafast connectivity to homes and businesses in Edinburgh. I look forward to following the Project Lightning rollout across Scotland.”
Martin McFadyen, Regional Director for Scotland at Virgin Media, said: “We’re delighted to be expanding our network to thousands more homes and businesses to help to make Edinburgh a world class digital city. Residents will soon be getting the high-speed connectivity and top-notch TV they deserve. We urge residents to come together and register their interest – your street could be next.”
Owen Thompson MP for Midlothian, said: “Broadband is crucial for the future prosperity of Midlothian – helping pupils with homework, supporting businesses and helping reduce social isolation by making it easier for people to communicate online.”
“I know from the huge volumes of correspondence from constituents that this will be welcomed by residents and businesses across Midlothian.”
Midlothian Council Leader, Councillor Cath Johnstone said: “This is great news for Midlothian, with Virgin Media’s network plans offering ultrafast broadband to local residents and businesses who will have access to the numerous benefits that high speed broadband offers for commerce, leisure, and communities.”
Backed by parent company Liberty Global, Virgin Media is investing £3bn to extend its ultrafast fibre broadband network to an additional 4 million premises, to reach a total of 17 million homes and businesses.
Those who wish to take Virgin Media’s services will be connected to ultrafast broadband with download speeds of up to 200Mbps for local residents, and 300Mbps for local businesses and home workers. Local residents can also benefit from the latest entertainment with the brand new smallest, smartest, fastest, 4k-ready Virgin TV V6 set-top box, with the ability to stream live TV, recordings, on demand shows and movies around the home. Plus, there is lots of great programming with up to 260 TV channels (including 66 HD channels) with Sky Sports, Sky Movies, BT Sport and Netflix, as well as an extensive TV on demand library of TV box sets and movies. As well as access to brand new TV shows such as Ash vs Evil Dead, Kingdom, Magic City, Billy & Billie and Full Circle – exclusive to Virgin Media TV customers.
ENDS
Virgin Media offers four multi award-winning services across the UK and Ireland: broadband, TV, mobile phone and landline.
The company’s dedicated, ultrafast network delivers the fastest widely available broadband speeds to homes and businesses. We’re expanding this through our £3bn Project Lightning programme, which will reach 17 million premises by the end of 2019.
Our interactive TV service brings live programmes, thousands of hours of on-demand programming and the best apps and games in a set-top box, as well as on-the-go for tablets and smartphones.
We launched the world’s first virtual mobile network, offering fantastic value and services. We are also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the UK and Ireland.
Through Virgin Media Business, we support entrepreneurs, businesses and the public sector, delivering the fastest speeds and tailor-made services.
Virgin Media is part of Liberty Global, the world’s largest international cable company, with operations in more than 30 countries.
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