Virgin Media and Bloor Homes Push Ultrafast Broadband into New Builds

Virgin Media has unveiled a new “nationwide agreement” with property developer Bloor Homes, which will push their 300Mbps cable / FTTP broadband and TV network into over 2,000 new homes across 8 urban and rural sites in Manchester, Exeter, Coventry, Leicestershire, Nottingham and Malmesbury.

The deal, which follows a related partnership with the Home Builder’s Federation (here) and Redrow (here), will increase the delivery of “ultrafast broadband” services to new homes across the United Kingdom and help to support Virgin Media’s on-going £3bn Project Lightning network expansion that aims to reach an extra 4 million premises by 2019 (around 65% UK Coverage).

Paul Buttery, Virgin Media’s Chief Operating Officer, said:

“We’re delighted to have signed a nationwide agreement with Bloor, proving that Virgin Media has the backing and the people to create the connected homes people deserve. Bloor is among the first homebuilders to benefit from working with Virgin Media at scale and we look forward to our future together.”

Chris Burton, Bloor Home’s Group Commercial Director, said:

“Ultrafast broadband access and engaging entertainment sit at the heart of any leading-edge household today. We build every home with its future owners in mind so I’m delighted to be working with Virgin Media. Together we will ensure our customers can get the best home technology and are able to make the most of a connected digital home first hand.”

Virgin Media are also encouraging developers of all sizes to register their construction plans via a brand new portal (here), which offers “essential technical guidance” that can help them to prepare for the network (view their technical document). Meanwhile Openreach (BT) has also done a similar deal with the HBF (here).

Mind you it’s worth remembering that BT and Virgin Media aren’t the only games in town for property developers, with others like IFNL / GTC and Hyperoptic also being available in different parts of the country.