Virgin Media tests broadband via telegraph poles

The trial in Woolhampton will offer speeds of up to 50Mbit/s using telegraph poles

Virgin Media is testing the use of telegraph poles to deliver high-speed broadband, in a move that could have wider implications for the future delivery of broadband to rural areas.

A trial in the Berkshire village of Woolhampton will offer speeds of up to 50Mbit/s by connecting homes to Virgin Media's fibre optic network.

The company claimed that the speeds are 10 times faster than those available through BT's copper network.

Jon James, broadband product director at Virgin Media, believes that the pilot is the first of its kind in the country.

"The demand for high-speed services means we are looking at innovative ways of providing broadband to areas where our current broadband footprint doesn't extend. This trial is just one of a number of ideas," he said.

Virgin Media has built its own telegraph poles to for the trial, but James explained that planning regulations would make it hard for the technology to go further. However, he is confident that this will change.

"The government is consulting on changing the regulations around this issue, and it is something we are encouraging them to do. We are confident that it will be changed, which is one of the reasons we have gone ahead with the trial," he said.

Virgin Media announced in February that it will soon launch a 100Mbit/s service, and is planning 200Mbit/s services.

The government is keen to address the issue of broadband in rural areas, and has proposed a 50p levy on all landlines to help fund the rollout of UK-wide broadband networks by 2017.