- Gigabit broadband with average top speeds of 1,130Mbps now available to more than 8,500 additional homes in Burnham-on-Sea.
- For the first time, homes in Burnham-on-Sea are now able to benefit from Virgin Media O2’s hyperfast network.
- Residents can now sign up to Virgin Media’s services which provide broadband speeds up to 23 times faster* than the local average, making it possible to download Ultra-HD TV shows and the latest computer games in minutes.
23 August: Virgin Media O2 has today announced it has connected more than 8,500 additional homes in Burnham-on-Sea to its ultrafast network, bringing the benefits of gigabit broadband to thousands more people for the first time as it upgrades the UK.
As part of its ‘Project Lightning’ network expansion programme, Virgin Media O2 is expanding its network to bring ultrafast broadband, TV and phone services to more residents and small businesses.
The homes in Burnham-on-Sea are now able to benefit from Virgin Media’s services, including Gig1 which offers top speeds of 1,130Mbps – 23 times faster than local average* – which is perfect for busy households working remotely, streaming TV shows and films, video calling friends and family and playing games online.
The network expansion is just the latest in a long line of investments in Somerset. Since 2015, it has invested around £34.5m to expand its network and bring ultrafast broadband to more than 58,000 homes and businesses across Somerset.
Rob Evans, Managing Director of Fixed Network Expansion, said: “With staycations still a staple of the British summer, investing in coastal locations has never been more important.
First and foremost, to give residents and the business community access to ultrafast connectivity at a time when it’s never mattered more, but also to help tourists capture and share memorable moments. We’re proud to continue our mission to upgrade the UK by delivering network expansion at pace – with Burnham on Sea the latest town to benefit.”
Virgin Media O2 is leading Britain’s gigabit charge and became the only major broadband provider to have rolled out next-generation gigabit services to its entire network in 2021.
Alongside this, the company has committed to invest at least £10bn over the next 5 years in the UK and, its shareholders and investment firm InfraVia Capital Partners are also investing approximately £4.5bn to further expand its fixed network to 5 million homes and businesses not currently served by Virgin Media O2’s network by 2026, with the opportunity to expand to an additional 2 million homes.
In July 2021, the company announced it will upgrade its entire fixed network to full fibre to the premises (FTTP) technology with completion in 2028, capable of delivering symmetrical 10Gbps download and upload speeds and beyond.
In addition to its ultrafast broadband network, Virgin Media O2’s mobile network covers 99% of the nation’s population with 4G, with the business continuing to upgrade its 4G and 5G services to boost mobile connectivity around the country. It recently announced that it would be the only mobile network operator not to reintroduce roaming fees in Europe and committed to reaching 50% of the UK’s population with 5G coverage in 2023.
Virgin Media O2 recently launched its first ever joint product, Volt, enabling customers to supercharge their services and reap extra rewards simply by being customers of both Virgin Media and O2. Alongside double mobile data, roaming in 75 countries and up to £150 off a connected device, new and existing customers who take a Virgin Media broadband service and an eligible O2 Pay Monthly plan will receive a broadband speed boost to the next tier available – meaning customers on a 500mbps Virgin Media package could be boosted to Gig1 at no extra charge.
Ends
press enquiries
press enquiries