By the end of 2011 Brits will be able to use ultrafast broadband after Virgin Media’s announcement that they will be rolling out a 100mb broadband service throughout the UK.

Virgin will be beginning this service at the close of 2010 and in 2011, and will be extending its pilot 200Mb program. Virgin Media have just connected 28,600 households to a net basis in the fourth quarter of 2009 and its superfast broadband will no doubt attract even more customers.

Virgin Media already has a total of 4.77 million cable customers. 55% of which have 20Mb sppeds or above, which is up 45% on 2008′s statistics.

Virgin’s 100Mb broadband push will help us keep up with the likes of Japan and Korea that are implementing 1Gb broadband, and US where Google has already stated they will be pilotting their 1Gb broadband service.

Chief executive of Virgin Media, Neil Berkett, explained:
“The launch of Virgin Media’s 100Mb service will be a historic moment and will mean the UK will be comparable to other leading broadband nations.”

What does this mean to us?

Virgin Media customers on a 100Mb service would be able to download a music album in five seconds, an hour long TV show in 31 seconds and a high-def film in under eight minutes.

by Richard Armitage