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24 Nov 2010
Virgin Media is looking at rolling out a nationwide Wi-Fi network which could challenge BT and offer more connectivity options to on-the-go workers.
There has been much speculation in the past few days that Virgin is investigating such a possibility, and a spokesperson confirmed the news to V3.co.uk today.
"It's in the early stages, but we are actively exploring opportunities around Wi-Fi and speaking to a number of organisations, including local authorities, with a view to seeing how we can provide great outdoor connectivity," said the spokesperson.
The statement seems to indicate that it could be some time before Virgin challenges BT in the Wi-Fi market, but it is likely that any Virgin network will operate in a similar way to BT Openzone, offering existing broadband customers extra connectivity options when out and about.
Virgin pointed out that it has some experience in this area, having operated a small Wi-Fi network at this year's V festival.
BT currently operates the largest Wi-Fi network in the UK with around 1.5 million Openzone and FON Wi-Fi hotspots, and plans to increase this to 2.5 million by the end of 2011.
Virgin and BT have been engaged in a fierce race over the past year to roll out superfast broadband across the UK, and a continuation of this rivalry in the Wi-Fi space will only be good news for end users.
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Broadband Speeds
I recently received an upgrade to the BT 21CN 20mb service however the best speed is 7mb due to 0.4mm copper wires between the exchange and the cabinet. Some cabinets around the country are served by 0.6mm cables, which will not degrade the service so badly. To improve on this I will have to wait for BT Infinity next year as Virgin is not in my area.
Posted by: Anthony Oliver 26 Nov 2010
Here here !!!
Yes..I am another with Virgin phone, TV and broadband - but I have the 20 MBit service, and am continually being throttled back, so am considering switching to BT too
Posted by: Neale Bacon 25 Nov 2010
WIFI on the Move
So its a race at opposite ends, BT to roll out fibre optics and Virgin to roll out Wifi, as a Virgin on customer i was about to jump to BT for there wifi service but now ..oh let me see Virgin constantly curbing my 10 meg service because of bandwidth throttling i have a 4 kids and not a spare set of eyes in the back of my head if 1 bit of torrent is detected(they watch what you watch) going up or down bang thats its throttled back by 80% for 5 hours and they have also all sorts of inane rules that you fall foul off this for 70 quid a month inc phone and tv. So BT here I come at least for a year, never thought I would hear myself say that.
Posted by: Dr JD McSorley 24 Nov 2010