LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Virgin Media, the UK's ultrafast internet provider, today announces that Manchester is the first city to benefit from “Project Lightning”, unveiled earlier this year. This major expansion of ultrafast connectivity to 4 million premises over the next five years is the single largest investment in the UK’s broadband digital infrastructure for more than a decade.
World first: Manchester set to be ‘blown away’ by speed of Virgin Media
To mark the launch of its ultrafast broadband network expansion, Virgin Media is celebrating with a world-first ‘High Speed Selfie’ photo booth experience in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester. The two day public experience is the first of its kind ever created and gives visitors the unique opportunity to be photographed in the face of g-force speeds. Former Girls Aloud member Sarah Harding trialled the results in a London studio last week. As Virgin Media continues its rollout in towns and cities across the UK, the ‘High Speed Selfie’ will be there to mark the occasion.
Up to 150,000 Manchester premises to secure first time access to ultrafast broadband
An extra 150,000 Manchester premises benefit from ultrafast broadband for the first time as Virgin Media expands its network based on demand from consumers and communities which register their interest at virginmedia.com/cablemystreet.
Today’s announcement covers premises in Manchester. Virgin Media expects to connect more premises in neighbouring postal towns prioritised according to demand from consumers and businesses.
Virgin Media ‘breaks ground’ on first 20,000 premises
Work starts this week to connect the first 20,000 Manchester homes and businesses to broadband speeds of 152Mb, at least twice as fast as the fastest speeds available from BT, TalkTalk and Sky. Broadband speed and the capacity it delivers matter for consumers and businesses. Data usage on the Virgin Media network is growing at 60 per cent every year which, if this trend continues, will be 10,000 per cent higher in ten years.
Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey, said: "This is wonderful news for Manchester residents and businesses. We are in the midst of a remarkable transformation of the UK's digital landscape, and Virgin Media's £3bn investment will play an important role in ensuring our cities are fully equipped to meet the challenges of the digital age in which we live."
Tom Mockridge, Virgin Media Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our message is simple: help us to cable your street. If you want to switch to broadband speeds twice as fast as you can get today, simply register with Virgin Media to ‘cablemystreet’.”
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Notes to Editors
About Virgin Media
Virgin Media is the first provider of all four broadband, TV, mobile phone and home phone services in the UK. The company’s cable network – the result of multi-billion pound private investment – delivers ultrafast broadband to over half of all UK homes, with speeds of up to 152Mb, as well as market leading connectivity to thousands of public and private sector organisations across the country.
Virgin Media has developed the most advanced interactive television service, bringing together broadcast TV, thousands of hours of on demand programming and the best of the web in a single set-top box powered by TiVo. The company was the first to offer HD TV and 3D on demand to millions of British households.
The world’s first virtual mobile network was launched by Virgin Media and it is also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the country.
Virgin Media is a part of Liberty Global plc, the world’s largest international cable company. Together Virgin Media and Liberty Global serve 27 million customers across 14 countries, helping connect people to the digital world and enabling them to discover and experience its endless possibilities.
