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06 May 2009
Virgin Media is conducting trials of a 200Mbit/s broadband service that effectively doubles the best currently available fibre connections.
Around 100 residents in Ashford in Kent will be the first to test the service, which is run on Virgin Media's recently established DOCSIS3 network.
The pilot started last week, and will run for six months. User habits and behaviour will be monitored as Virgin Media assesses how best to deploy such a service in the future.
"We are really excited to be embarking on this journey of discovery," said Neil Berkett, chief executive at Virgin Media.
"With the only true next-generation network in the UK, we are at the forefront of innovation and understanding when it comes to ultrafast broadband services. The pilot will give us further insight into how true 'wideband' services might be used by consumers."
Virgin Media will also evaluate the commercial viability of such a service. The trial is limited to consumer connections, but the company will also look at providing services to enterprise and business customers.
However, Virgin Media acknowledged that most consumer hardware is not up to the job of handling such speeds.
"Virgin Media will be working with a range of suppliers to help ensure that advancements in broadband technology are able to be fully maximised," the firm said.
"For example, there are no wireless routers able to deliver throughput of speeds as high as 200Mbit/s, and computers require a very high specification to handle data at such a high rate."
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My initial thought wasn't unique then
I have a so called 20 meg connection that delivers dial up speed most of the time, on the rare occasion i get near 20 meg and i use it for anything else but web brousing or e mails i get limited for over use. WHY OH WHY would anyone need 200meg to send and recieve emails .005 of a second or whatever faster?
Posted by: hacked of Virgin user 09 May 2009
?speeds
How do you find out what speeds uyou are actually getting Editor: There are several sites and applications that can test your actual broadband speed. A quick search for 'Broadband speed test' should point you in the right direction.
Posted by: technophobe 07 May 2009
Finish what you start before moving to the next thing
Virgin Media - moving ahead but not finishing the job first. I don't think I'm alone in having problems getting the bandwidth promised. How about they get what they sell now working before doing the next thing. I've had an average less than 2Mbps since starting to pay for 10Mbps three months ago! Infrastructural issues are the cause according to their technical support team. With no fixed dates promised for correction. BT sent me a cocky letter when I switch from them to virgin media, saying I'd regret it. Guess what, they were right.
Posted by: savaged 06 May 2009
Hi spec computer?
200mbits equals 20mbytes roughly.. pretty much any PC can handle that.. Its less than half the Speed of USb2.0. SO even an Atom powered PunyBook wont choke. The modems need to be top notch tho
Posted by: Dromo 06 May 2009
200? Huh they havent been able to get the current rate right yet
I reside in East Herts and have been on the 20 meg service since its roll out. It has been plagued by problems of slow speeds and cut outs for approx 2 years. Many months ago it was admitted that the area was oversubscribed but they will not or cannot sort out the speeds which are as low as 1.6 meg at times or even less on occasions. How can they possibly offer 100 meg let alone 200 meg when their service is so bad for so very long?
Posted by: Barzey 06 May 2009
Good news for British Public
If the 100 customer preview is successful, and it will come out for the rest of the public, this will be massively succesful. Especially as Sky is more expensive but the down side to Virgin seems to be that in some areas, as it is cabled, residents are unable to recieve the signals for the service, making them opt for sky which is a pity. But nevertheless this is great news for internet users, well who can hack this speed, but I feel for the sky customers who can do nothing about this but hope for the best....
Posted by: TechCombo 06 May 2009
Laughable
Our household was on a 20meg line (when it was the maximum Virgin did). We managed to actually achieve 20meg speeds from 10pm to around midday the following day. Sick of paying for something that in no way came close to what was promised, and in an effort to save money, we cut it to the 10meg line. This means we get 10meg speed from roughly 1am to 9am, the rest of the time we have, in effect, a 3meg line. Maybe they could use the money from this new venture to actually improve the existing lines in order to give their present customers what they are paying for - rather than just trying to grab flashy headlines to hook other suckers in.
Posted by: steve 06 May 2009