- Edinburgh and Liverpool become the next cities to benefit from Gig1 offering average download speeds of 1,104Mbps
- Almost one in five Virgin Media premises (2.7 million) now have access to next-generation gigabit speeds as the operator remains on track to cover its entire network (more than half of the UK) by the end of 2021.
- Edinburgh becomes the first city in Scotland to benefit from Scotland’s fastest home broadband service
Virgin Media has switched on gigabit home broadband in a further two cities as part of its plan to bring gigabit speeds to more than 15 million homes across its entire network by the end of 2021.
Edinburgh and Liverpool are the latest cities to benefit from the hyperfast service, and follow the launch of Gig1 in Birmingham and Coventry earlier in the year.
Today’s launch makes gigabit broadband – offering blisteringly fast average download speeds of 1,104Mbps – available to a further 600,000+ homes and means that 2.7 million properties across Virgin Media’s network can now access this future-proof connectivity.
Thanks to Virgin Media investment, nearly 20 per cent of its network is now gigabit enabled. Recent analysis by thinkbroadband suggests that of the top 20 local authorities for gigabit coverage in the country, 17 are served by Virgin Media’s Gig1. The Government has set a target for all UK premises to have access to gigabit speeds by 2025.
Jeff Dodds, Chief Operating Officer at Virgin Media, said: “Whether people are working from home, learning or gaming online, video calling friends and family or binging on a box set in 4K, with Gig1’s hyperfast speeds, more than 17 times faster than UK’s average, busy households can do everything they want online, at the same time, without delay.
“Through continued investment, we’ll be bringing this next-generation connectivity to many more cities this year as we rollout gigabit broadband across our entire network at a speed and scale unmatched by anyone else. Whatever the future holds, we’re connecting our customers to what’s next.”
Virgin Media will announce which further cities are set to benefit from its Gig1 service later in the year as the operator continues its national gigabit rollout plan. Recent investment means that residents in Southampton, Manchester, Reading, Birmingham, Coventry, and now Edinburgh and Liverpool, are able to access these next-generation broadband services.
The power of Gig1
With Virgin Media’s hyperfast gigabit connection, ultra-high definition 4K films and TV programmes, very large files and videos can be downloaded almost instantaneously, even with multiple devices using the connection simultaneously.
Covid-19 has accelerated moves towards digital technology, with Virgin Media research finding that consumer’s digital habits have shifted permanently in recent months. Nearly half of people (45%) would like to carry on catching up with friends and family via video calls and group messages, while a fifth have purchased VR headsets to play video games.
Over the first 10 weeks of lockdown, Virgin Media households have downloaded an extra 325GB on average making use of their ultrafast speeds – a trend set to continue in future even as lockdown measures begin to ease.
Gig1 broadband – faster speeds, new router and competitive pricing
Customers taking Gig1 will benefit from Virgin Media’s new and best ever equipped gigabit capable router – the Hub 4. The new router is Virgin Media’s fastest to date and features improved WiFi hardware to provide speedy and reliable connectivity throughout customers’ homes.
The Hub 4 boasts more antennae than its predecessor, the Hub 3, meaning it can manage multiple devices at the same time around the home which can all share the hyperfast speed.
The new router makes use of the operator’s next generation broadband technology, known as DOCSIS 3.1, which it will deploy across its entire cable network over time.
Gig1 broadband is available to new and existing customers and can be packaged with or without telephone, TV and mobile services. Prices start from just £62 per month on an 18 month contract with a guaranteed price freeze for at least 24 months.
Virgin Media’s gigabit-capable network
Virgin Media has the largest gigabit-capable network in the UK which currently passes 15 million UK premises. The network consists of both fibre-rich cable and fibre connected directly to the premises, both of which can provide customers with gigabit speeds. Upgrades to the network mean that Virgin Media has been able to introduce the gigabit service without needing to excavate roads and streets to install new cables.
Virgin Media, through its Project Lightning programme, is also continuing to expand its ultrafast network to more homes and businesses across the UK. More than 2.2 million premises have been passed since the project began.
Customers can find out more and buy Gig1 at www.virginmedia.com/Gig1Fibre
Notes to Editors
Source for broadband speed claims
- The UK’s average download speed is 64Mbps. Source: Ofcom, UK Home Broadband Performance, published 13 May 2020.
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