Virgin Media completes ambitious network expansion trial

LONDON – Virgin Media has completed an ambitious expansion of its network in Swadlincote, South Derbyshire, combining a variety of engineering methods for the first time.

In addition to the more commonly used narrow trenching techniques, Virgin Media also installed new cables in existing underground ducts and used Openreach's overhead telegraph poles to connect the area.

This meant it was able to connect homes and businesses to ultrafast broadband services much faster than would have otherwise been possible. The scheme went from planning to delivery in just four months – far quicker than is normal for a project of this size – and was delivered with disruption and digging minimised for local residents.

This is the first time that Virgin Media has combined these three engineering methods in one location to expand its network. The scheme was made possible by Ofcom's physical infrastructure access (PIA) remedy which gives internet service companies access to Openreach's duct and pole infrastructure.

Using existing infrastructure can deliver significant cost savings and Virgin Media is looking to use these techniques where possible for other network expansion projects, paving the way for a more rapid rollout of gigabit services across the UK.

Some Swadlincote homes and business have already benefitted from Virgin Media's network expansion programme. In 2019, the company decided to take over an abandoned Sky network in the area connecting 4,000 homes to the UK's fastest widely available network. To ensure premises could be connected as quickly as possible, the firm used Sky’s existing infrastructure to complete the required work.

The company will also continue to expand in the area, with the next phase of work set to begin in April 2021, and Swadlincote residents will soon benefit from Virgin Media's gigabit broadband rollout which it is bringing to its entire network of 15 million homes by the end of 2021.

The company has continued to expand its network and install new customers during the global Covid-19 pandemic to bring ultrafast connectivity to more homes and businesses across the UK when they need it most.

Virgin Media