Virgin Media O2 to Expand FTTP Broadband Cover in N.Ireland
Broadband ISP Virgin Media UK (VMO2) has confirmed that they intend to continue to expand their gigabit-capable fixed line connectivity – via Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) technology – to “tens of thousands more premises” across Northern Ireland over the coming years.
At present, VMO2’s existing Project Lightning deployment has already covered a total of 15.75m UK homes and their current goal is to reach 16 million by the end of 2022. Some 14.3m of this is via their older Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) network, with the rest using full fibre (FTTP) on Radio Frequency over Glass (RFoG) technology.
However, aside from upgrading that HFC to FTTP (XGS-PON) by 2028 (Project Mustang), the operator also plans to deploy full fibre broadband to an additional 7 million UK premises – via a new Joint Venture (JV) – in new greenfield areas by 2027 (here). The same company may also bid on the Government’s Project Gigabit contracts. Access to all this will be offered at wholesale for rival ISPs to harness.
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One of the first indications of this may have just come from N.Ireland, where VMO2’s existing civil engineering contractor – EJC Contracts – has just signed a new “multi-year” deployment partnership that will see them working to extend the operator’s network to “tens of thousands more premises.”
Rob Evans, MD of VMO2’s Fixed Network Expansion, said:
“We are very happy to continue our relationship with EJC Contracts, who will play a vital role in expanding our broadband network across Northern Ireland. Virgin Media O2 is deploying network connectivity that will support businesses, customers and communities, shoring up these services for future generations.”
The operator’s network currently reaches over 44% of homes and businesses in N.Ireland (equivalent to somewhere around 380,000 premises), although in recent years rival builds by Openreach and Fibrus have put them on the back foot, which is something they must tackle.
We should point out that adding tens of thousands of premises won’t enable them to match Openreach’s full fibre reach (82%+ – according to TBB), but then EJC aren’t the only contractor they work with and others may be making similar preparations.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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I called VM yesterday, about gig1. Now i’m 100% sure I read on this forum that they had completed their DOCSIS 3.1 rollout and that gig1 was available across their entire network. They told me that gig1 is not available in my area “yet”.
Off to openreach fttp then.
Hi Brian,
In areas where capacity is limited, it’s common that VM offer the lower tiers to avoid impact to existing customers.
So May well be unavailable at present, 3.1 has rolled out over the whole network as far as I am aware.
What does the website say for your postcode?
Hi James.
The checker shows max of 350 (which i’m on) I know this is 100% wrong as next door has 500mbit.
Yep, that’s a capacity protection situation
Stop new customers taking bandwidth
I see, thank you all. Have just given VM my notice now. They’re offering new customers gig1 at cheaper than what i’m paying for 350, and they just told me they want £69 for it (and that it is available !?) I don’t think they have a clue.
XGS-PON on the cards? I wonder if it’ll be symmetrical speeds by the time it rolls around…
Mark, are these “tens of thousands” of properties going straight to some PON based system, or is it still RFoG, later becoming PON?
It’s possible there might still be a little RFoG left to do, but after this year everything looks set to be XGS-PON.
Unless we are told otherwise it’s RFoG. The migration to XGS-PON will take years and even then I expect RF overlay in the interim so that there will be no change regarding STBs (which in time of course will change when all linear TV is delivered via IPTV).
Is there any way to tell if its an RFoG or XGS-PON they are installing?
They are currently installing in my area using a mix of openreach poles/ducting and new ducting even though we had CATV ducting which Virgin own installed years ago just seams odd to not use the current ducts.
You can tell if they’re installing fibre to coax converters on the outside of signed up properties.
I suspect they’re not using the ducts as they’re probably full with existing coax and using Openreach PIA is a cheaper & quicker solution.
Hi , I have a copper cable running to my home is there anyway of how to get it upgraded to a full fibre line ? Postcode is BT13 1RP Door No 34C ? If you could drop me an email back I would appreciate it?
Hi Philip Mannis,
I checked BT website and you can get full fibre up to 900meg at 50.99 quid per month.
Its as simple as going to BT website and order it or ring them.
Recently had works completed by EJC in our area and we have been signed up to VM for a couple of months and I must say the speed of internet we are now getting is night and day to our previous Openreach service. Contractors normally get a hard time when carrying out utility works, telecoms especially, but I must say if what we experienced with the EJC workers is anything to go by you won’t have any problems! They were courteous and allowed access at all times for our disabled daughter which was the polar opposite of contractors operating for Fibrus when they were operating there beforehand, the Fibrus commanches completely blocked our drive then said they couldn’t move the van until their man had finished working on the telegraph pole forcing our Kelly to miss the school bus!! Definitely get VM in when you get chance it certainly does what it says on the tin ‘Lightning’
I got BT full fibre 900 in Larne myself. Its great as well!