Virgin Media has announced new broadband speeds that more than quadruple those planned by BT.

The company claims its new cable network is able to provide users with broadband speeds of up to 200meg - following BT's statement suggesting 15meg upstreaming on its proposed 40meg offering.

It was announced by the latter this week that it's fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) network would initially be launched to connect with 500,000 premises across the UK in a number of regions including Greater Manchester, London and Belfast. The group also stated this could rise to 60meg.

However, Virgin currently offers a 50meg service potentially covering half of the UK once the right technology is fully rolled out and now claims to be able to more than match the current plans of its rival.

Neil Berkett, chief executive officer of Virgin Media, said: "If BT were to meet the time frame they have suggested - of finishing by 2012 - I would see us as having much, much faster upstream speed, running at a minimum of 100Mbps downstream and possibly more."

Commenting on both, the thinkbroadband website has noted the announcements are largely inconsequential at this time as there is currently no business case for either 100 or 150meg products in the market as it stands.

"The headline speed may not be so useful, but the incremental increase of the lower speed products may be of more use, particularly when fibre to the cabinet reaches those in more rural areas who are still on lower speed products," the site adds.

Categories: BT, Virgin Media

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