Virgin Media are to extend their fibre optic cable network to a further 100,000 homes by the end of 2011.

Virgin currently cover half of the UK with it’s network and so far during 2011 has seen the network expanded to cover a further 73,000 homes in places such as Derry in Northern Ireland and Staines in West London. The current expansion is going to start in Southampton where Virgin Media plan to double it’s current presence in the city.

Virgin are keen to point out that all homes connected to it’s fibre network are by a high-grade coaxial line unlike BT’s which on the whole is done with the existing copper wire which is inferior for the job than the coaxial line Virgin Media use. Virgin Media’s network has currently cost around £13bn in private investment to get to where it is today.

Jon James, Virgin Media’s executive director of broadband, said:

“By extending our unique fibre optic network to parts of the country previously outside our traditional heartland, we’re ensuring more people can experience the compelling advantages that a superfast connection can bring and in doing so, support the Government’s digital ambitions. Today’s increasingly digital lifestyle requires better broadband and we’ve seen a strong response from the communities we expand into who are crying out for quality services. We’re adding thousands of homes to our network every month as our expansion programme continues and we look for opportunities to give more people access to the fastest broadband and best in home entertainment.”

Virgin have also recently completed trials of the world’s fastest cable broadband which achieved broadband speeds of 1.5Gb, this was done using the existing network infrastructure that Virgin Media have in place and showing that they are able to future proof their network for going forward as and when they need to meet future demands.