LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leeds City Council Leader Judith Blake today joined forces with Virgin Media to launch a £40 million investment from the internet provider to boost ultrafast internet connectivity.
Middleton first area in Leeds to receive ultrafast internet boost
11,000 homes in Middleton are the first in Leeds to benefit from an ultrafast broadband connection, at least twice as fast as the fastest speeds available from BT, TalkTalk and Sky.
Middleton residents can now start to switch to the ultrafast broadband speeds available from Virgin Media as the network build there is completed.
Virgin Media to connect where demand strongest: simply sign up online at ‘cablemystreet’
80,000 consumers and small businesses across Leeds and the surrounding area can also benefit from first time access to ultrafast internet connectivity. Virgin Media is cabling new areas across the region based on the demand from people registering at virginmedia.com/cablemystreet.
Today’s announcement covers premises in the LS postcode which includes Leeds City, suburbs and surrounding communities. Virgin Media is also connecting more premises in the region prioritised according to demand from consumers and businesses.
As well as providing ultrafast broadband to consumers, this investment will also support businesses in Leeds. Virgin Media Business has over 700 business customers in the area with the majority of those being SMEs. It is also the primary connectivity provider to Yorkshire and Humberside’s Public Services Network which, with Leeds City Council, is a driving force in helping to deliver public services to 5.5m people across the region.
Leader of Leeds City Council Judith Blake said: "I am delighted that we have secured this investment for the residents of Leeds. Access to high speed broadband is the cornerstone of a thriving local economy helping residents connect and businesses to grow.”
Tom Mockridge, Virgin Media Chief Executive Officer, said: “Local authorities have an important role in getting ultrafast broadband to more people, more quickly. Virgin Media is investing £3bn to improve the UK’s digital infrastructure. We need more local authorities, like Leeds City Council, to work with us to cut the red tape and secure investment for their residents.”
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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.
