Oct 14 2010
Virgin Media will expand its ultra-fast fiber-optic broadband network in the United Kingdom, by utilizing BT’s network infrastructure. The company is willing to operate aerial deployment projects, by installing fiber-optic cables over the existing telegraph poles of BT.
Virgin Media, in July 2010, conducted a trial of high-speed broadband delivery over the present electricity poles in the county of Caerphilly, UK. The company will use this technique to extend its network to reach a maximum of 16 million homes in the UK.
Ofcom, a telecommunication legislator, recently ordered BT to enable rival operators to utilize its telegraph poles and underground ducts, to offer high-speed broadband. This will help in decreasing the expense of deploying broadband networks. Ofcom hopes that network providers will be able to provide broadband services to regions, where BT does not serve.
Virgin Media has requested BT to provide access to its ducts and poles, which is a cost-efficient method to reach remote regions. The company’s super-fast fiber-optic network presently covers 12.7 million houses. It will provide broadband services to an additional 400,000 houses by the end of 2012.