* UK's first high-speed network complete * New 50Mb pricing now below GBP 30 * Virgin Media trials higher upstream speeds * Launch of first Virgin Media branded laptop
LONDON, July 15, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virgin Media (Nasdaq:VMED), the UK's only provider of fibre optic broadband services across the country, makes history this month with the completion of Britain's first next-generation broadband network. Having spent the last 18 months conducting significant upgrades using the latest DOCSIS 3.0 technology, Virgin Media has tripled its network capacity and is the first company to offer ultrafast speeds of up to 50Mb to over 12 million homes across the UK.
To celebrate the completion of the network roll-out, Virgin Media announced a new pricing structure for its 50Mb service. From 1st September Virgin Media will reduce the monthly cost of its 50Mb service for new and existing customers to GBP 28, when taken with a phone line, or GBP 38 if taken as a sole product, making the ultrafast service ultra-fantastic value. The 50Mb service continues to be free of traffic management.
Virgin Media will also start a new pilot to trial a range of upload speeds of up to 10Mb -- much faster than the download speeds of most ADSL connections. In addition to trialling the technical capabilities of the DOCSIS 3.0 network, the trial will explore the demand for higher upstream speeds for bandwidth hungry families, on services such as video conferencing, multiplayer gaming and home working.
This week the company will also launch the "Freedom" netbook, its first ever branded laptop. The bespoke laptop, available in black or Virgin red, has been optimised for 50Mb speeds and will be packaged with top of the line software. Both new and existing customers will be able to get the laptop at no additional charge when they take selected great value bundled packages.
Jon James, executive director of broadband at Virgin Media, said, "As the first company to bring broadband to the UK ten years ago, the completion of our next-generation network marks another pioneering moment for internet access in the UK. We are delighted with the performance and reliability of our 50Mb service, and with the customer feedback. Now the roll-out is days from being complete, we're ready to take 50Mb to the next stage of development and reinforce our leading position in the broadband market."
Virgin Media is currently piloting the real-world deployment of 200Mb speeds in Ashford, Kent.
For more information on Virgin Media products and services visit www.virginmedia.com
Notes to Editors
-- Upstream pilots will launch in selected areas in the North East
and Midlands area. With up to 10Mb upstream a customer could
expect to upload a media card full of high quality photos in as
little as 2 minutes (based on a 128MB card containing 75 photos at
1.6MB each)
-- With the new pricing structure, a typical user could enjoy a phone
line, a digital TV service featuring Virgin Media's pioneering TV
on demand system and the UK's fastest broadband at up to 50Mb from
as little as GBP 39 per month. A typical family could enjoy a
complete entertainment package including our top TV service
featuring 160 channels, a V+ HD box to enjoy HD content, as well
as the ultrafast 50Mb service and a phone line from as little as
GBP 60.50 per month.
-- The 50Mb service continues to be free of Subscriber Traffic
Management (STM) subject to Virgin Media's Acceptable Use Policy
(AUP). This can be found at www.virginmedia.com/acceptableuse
-- The Virgin Media Freedom Netbook will be available through all
retail channels, and features:
- 10.2" TFT LCD Backlight, Microsoft Windows XP (inc. SP3),
Microsoft Works suite
- PGguard security for antivirus, Virgin Media wallpaper and
screensaver
- Intel(r) Atom(tm) Processor N270, 1.60 GHz, 533 MHz FSB, 512K L2
Cache
- 1GB RAM (DDR2 533 MHz), 120GB SATA Hard Drive
- Wireless LAN 802.11 b/g/n, 2-in-1 Card Reader (SD/MMC), 0.3
megapixel webcam
- Li-Ion, 3Cell (2S2P), 3300 mAh (2 hours 30 mins standard use)
- Weight 1.1 kg, Dimensions - 265x182x26mm
- Colour -- Virgin Red or Black
-- The Virgin Media Freedom Netbook with additional features, is
worth around GBP 300, and is available at no extra cost with
certain 24 month bundles featuring both fixed line and mobile
broadband products. See www.virginmedia.com for more details.
About Virgin Media
With almost 10 million customers, Virgin Media is the UK's first quad-play provider of broadband, TV, phone and mobile.
The company is one of the largest residential broadband providers in the UK, using a unique fibre optic cable network to deliver next generation ultrafast internet access of up to 50Mb to just over half of all homes. Combined with a high speed ADSL service and mobile broadband products, Virgin Media is able to offer broadband internet access to virtually the entire country.
Virgin Media has the UK's most advanced TV on demand service and is the only TV platform to carry BBC iPlayer. It is the second largest provider of pay TV, was the first to launch a high definition TV service and offers a high-specification, HD-ready V+ personal video recorder.
The company operates the most popular virtual mobile network in the UK which, when launched, was the world's first such mobile phone service. It is also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the country.
Virgin Media also owns Virgin Media Television (VMtv) which runs eight entertainment channels, including Virgin1, LIVING, Bravo and Challenge. VMtv is a 50 per cent joint partner with BBC Worldwide in UKTV, which consists of ten channels including Dave, G.O.L.D., Watch and Alibi.
With operations based entirely in the UK, Virgin Media Inc. is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (VMED).
For more information, go to www.virginmedia.com