Virgin Media are to trial fibre broadband delivered over existing electricity poles in the Welsh village of Crumlin in Caerphilly.
Although Virgin Media have deployed fibre over ground before in the village of Woolhampton in Berkshire that was done using purpose built infrastructure, however this aerial deployment in Crumlin will be the first time that existing infrastructure will have been used.
The deal between Virgin Media and Surf Telecoms, who are a Western Power Distribution company means that Virgin Media can potentially reach over 1 million new homes across South West England and South and West Wales as this is where the electricity infrastructure covers.
These fibre trials will mean that users of Crumlin will be able to receive fibre broadband up to 50Mb and also access Virgin Media’s TV packages.
Virgin Media’s executive director of broadband, Jon James said:
“We’re already bringing broadband speeds of up to 50Mb and, soon 100Mb, to over half of all UK homes and are pushing the boundaries to ensure that homes right across the UK benefit from ultrafast broadband. Working in partnership with companies like Surf Telecoms, we can more rapidly and efficiently expand the reach of fibre optic networks to towns, villages and communities right across the UK.“
Not only does utilising the electricity poles with an aerial deployment mean that Virgin Media can deploy their fibre broadband to new areas more cheaply than it would cost to dig up roads but it is also a new revenue stream for the companies who own the electricity poles.