Only a fraction of Virgin Media’s broadband customers actually take the fastest services. According to the financial results to September 2011, at that time only 187,000 customers subscribed to 50Mb or 100Mb services out of some 4 million broadband users. Thus although the 100Mb service is making headlines, it remains less popular. Perhaps this explains why Virgin Media are so eager to publicise their rollout of doubling of customers speeds.

By comparison, BT with over 6 million subscribers can now offer it’s FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) broadband to over 7 million households (Dec 2011 financial results). This currently offers a 40Mb download service although BT are hot on the heels of Virgin with plans to offer an up to 80Mb speed, with premium services offering greater upload bandwith than that of their rival. BT also have outline proposals for FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) which has a current potential of 300Mb download. The fly in the ointment could be Ofcom’s recent ruling that BT should be charging less where copper lines are unbundled to other providers, whilst the jury is still out regarding costs to others for access to fibre, ducts or poles.