Virgin Media Creates New Superfast 30Mb Service

• ‘XL’ broadband boosted by 50%, from 20Mb to 30Mb
• Take-up of smartphones and devices driving need for faster speeds
• Virgin Media signs 4 millionth fibre optic broadband customer

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Virgin Media (NASDAQ:VMED)(LSE:VMED), the UK’s leading broadband provider, today announced the launch of a new 30Mb broadband service, due to replace the existing 20Mb service from February 1^st. Unlike other fibre optic broadband services based on VDSL technology, such as BT Infinity, Virgin Media customers can expect to receive speeds close to the stated headline 30Mb speed¹, and aren’t subject to the ”speed lottery” that plagues broadband delivered over telephone wires.

With the huge take-up of smartphones, the growing interest in WiFi-enabled tablets, coupled with the increased demand on broadband bandwidth from consumers watching TV shows online, the new service will give Virgin Media families 50% more bandwidth to share between all their connected devices at no extra monthly cost.

The new ‘XL’ service will cost just £18.50 per month, down from the previous price of £20 when taken with a Virgin Media home phone. The new service offers unlimited downloads and with speeds cranked up to 30Mb, is expected to give customers faster average speeds than BT Infinity whether it’s catching up on the latest TV shows, or downloading games and music. With the new 30Mb service Virgin Media customers can enjoy a consistently faster, unlimited service, for significantly less than BT Infinity products.

Prices correct at time of press and based on paying by Direct Debit. One-time Installation/Set-Up fees apply. Virgin Media expected download speeds based on Broadband Performance Monitoring; see www.virginmedia.com/speedhonesty. BT Infinity speeds are dependent on copper line length and degrade over increased distances. BT does not disclose real-world typical performance of its BT Infinity service.

Jon James, executive director of broadband at Virgin Media said: “As consumers continually demand more and more from their broadband, the unique power of our next-generation network means that we’re able to turn up the dial to meet their needs. With so many devices connecting to the internet at home these days, our new 30Mb service will give Virgin Media families that extra boost needed to make everything run smoothly, with speeds that don’t slow down depending on where you live.”

Existing customers already on ‘XL’ broadband at 20Mb are being invited to upgrade to the new ‘XL’ at 30Mb from 1^st February, with only a one-off upgrade fee of £30 to cover activation and exchange of their old modem and router for Virgin Media’s state-of-the-art ‘SuperHub’³. The ‘SuperHub’ combined DOCSIS 3.0 modem and router is capable of Gigabit wired connectivity as well as dual-band ‘N’ WiFi for the ultimate in wireless connectivity to make the most of Virgin Broadband throughout the home.

Virgin Media’s fibre optic broadband product range from February 1^st will feature 10Mb, 30Mb, 50Mb and 100Mb, and is now enjoyed by over 4 million homes with a true next-generation network delivering consistent speeds wherever a customers lives – making Virgin Media larger than TalkTalk and second only to BT Retail. With a total footprint covering nearly 13 million homes, Virgin Media services will be made available in new areas as Virgin Media expands its network⁴ across the UK.

To find out more about Virgin Media’s products and services, please visit www.virginmedia.com.

- Ends -

Notes to Editors

• ¹ Speed Honesty: Virgin Media is the only ISP in the UK to publish average speeds, generated by millions of tests per month from a sample of customers’ connections across the UK. Results show that Virgin Media consistently delivers within 10% of advertised speeds, and double comparable ADSL services (OFCOM Broadband speeds report July 2010). More at www.virginmedia.com/speedhonesty
• ² Product Details: see www.virginmedia.com/fasteruploads for information on Virgin Media’s rollout of increased upload speeds. The service comes complete with Virgin Media Security for antivirus protection, 10GB of online storage through Virgin Media’s VStuff and up to 50 free photo prints per month (initial 12m contract period) to bring to life digital photography. See http://shop.virginmedia.com/broadband/broadband-extras.html
• ³ SuperHub: The SuperHub (worth £75) comes complete with Gigabit wired network connections, and 802.11n wireless with switchable dual-band (2.4GHz/5GHz) capability.
• ⁴ Expansion: As well as traditional expansion through in-fill and new-build opportunities, Virgin Media has conducted successful trials of innovative new methods of deploying high speed networks over telegraph or electricity poles and will be exploring potential opportunities to connect new towns and villages to its next generation network.
• * Prices correct at time of press. Standard Virgin Media line rental (Talk Weekends) will be £12.99 from April 1^st.

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 delivers ultrafast broadband connections to over half of all UK homes, with speeds of up to 100Mb, and is expanding this cable network – the result of a multi-billion pound investment – to reach thousands more people 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 UK households.

Virgin Media also operates the most popular virtual mobile network in the UK which, when launched, was the world’s first such mobile phone service. It is also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the country.

Virgin Media Inc. is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market and the London Stock Exchange (VMED).

For more information, go to www.virginmedia.com.

CONTACT:

Virgin Media
Media Contacts:
Asam Ahmad
+44 (0)20 7299 5707
asam.ahmad@virginmedia.co.uk
or
Investor Relations Contacts:
Richard Williams
+44 (0)20 7299 5479
richard.williams@virginmedia.co.uk
or
Vani Bassi
+44 (0)20 7299 5353
vani.bassi@virginmedia.co.uk
or
Reuben Wheeler
+44 (0)7891 588861
reuben.wheeler@virginmedia.co.uk

KEYWORDS:   United Kingdom  United States  Europe  North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Technology  Internet  Networks  Telecommunications  Mobile/Wireless

MEDIA:

Logo