Virgin Media to trial ultrafast broadband over electricity poles

Virgin Media announced that residents of the Welsh village of Crumlin, Caerphilly, will be the first in the UK to trial ultrafast broadband delivered over existing electricity poles. Following a landmark agreement with Surf Telecoms, a Western Power Distribution company, homes in the village of Crumlin will be connected directly to Virgin Media's fibre optic network, effectively increasing local broadband speeds ten-fold in a community that has previously relied on BT's copper infrastructure. As well as 50Mb broadband, villagers will be offered Virgin Media's TV service, including around 5,000 hours of catch up TV and on demand content. The trial will start next monthand is scheduled to run into 2011.

The agreement with Surf Telecoms marks the first use of existing commercial infrastructure to aerially deliver ultrafast broadband to a community currently beyond the reach of a fibre optic network. Virgin Media began trialling aerial deployment in the Berkshire village of Woolhampton in March this year using purpose-built infrastructure.

The trials are part of Virgin Media's efforts to expand its network and identify ways of bringing next generation digital services to people who live in rural or harder to reach areas of the UK. Initial analysis suggests that 'non-traditional' approaches of the kind being explored in Crumlin and Woolhampton could, with some focused measures from government, significantly accelerate delivery of next generation broadband to millions of extra homes right across the UK.

Jon James, executive director of broadband, Virgin Media, 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."

Richard Doble, Design and Policy Manager, Surf Telecoms, said: "Western Power Distribution's electricity infrastructure reaches over 2.5 million homes across South West England and South and West Wales and, with this trial, we're exploring an innovative new approach that could bring ultrafast broadband to many customers for the first time. The possibilities of aerial deployment promise a valuable use of existing infrastructure and an interesting new commercial opportunity for utility companies. We're pleased to be at the forefront of this innovation."

Virgin Media has previously announced plans to extend its cable infrastructure, which today passes more than half of all UK households with speeds of 10Mb, 20Mb, 50Mb and, soon 100Mb, to 500,000 new build homes.

For more information on Virgin Media products and services visit virginmedia.com.