Virgin Media O2 adds 1.5 million homes to gigabit network
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Virgin Media O2 adds 1.5 million homes to gigabit network

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Virgin Media O2 confirms the addition of 1.5 million homes to its gigabit network, as such more than half of its footprint can now access ultrafast broadband speeds.

Virgin Media’s next-generation Gig1 broadband service delivers average download speeds of 1,130Mbps and this latest upgrade across the UK, with residents in towns and cities such as Bournemouth, Bristol, Northampton, Sunderland, Wolverhampton, Wigan and York means customers now benefit from next-gen connectivity.

In total, more than 8 million homes across the UK have access to Virgin Media’s Gig1 service. By the end of 2021, Virgin Media O2 will deliver gigabit broadband speeds across its entire network comprised of more than 15 million homes.

“We are upgrading the UK to next-generation connectivity and today we’re hitting another important milestone with more than half of our network now able to access gigabit speeds," said Lutz Schüler, chief executive officer at Virgin Media O2.

“As the UK’s largest gigabit broadband provider today, with a clear plan to connect our entire network to these speeds by the end of the year, we’ll be delivering most of the Government’s broadband target ahead of schedule. Our continued investment is propelling the country up gigabit league tables and providing consumers with the connectivity they need both now and in future.”

Virgin Media O2 has pledged to invest at least £10 billion in the UK over the next 5 years, building on its existing fibre network expansion, to deploy fibre to millions of additional homes across the country.

This investment includes an accelerated monthly rollout of gigabit speeds to multiple locations across the UK between now and the end of 2021.

"We've kicked off the biggest broadband build in British history thanks to £5 billion of government funding alongside significant investment from telecoms firms," said Matt Warman, Digital Infrastructure Minister.

"I welcome Virgin Media O2's ambitious plans to speed up the delivery of lightning-fast gigabit connectivity to communities across the UK and give people what they need to keep pace with the digital revolution."

In related news, June saw Virgin Media O2 announce a free speed boost for its UK small businesses to help them bounce recover from Covid-19.

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