Cable giant Virgin Media has today announced a "major upgrade" that will see its up to 100Mbps "fibre-optic" broadband, phone and TV network being expanded to cover 30,000 homes in Derry (Londonderry, Northern Ireland). The new services are expected to be available from June 2011. Ashford, Staines and Southampton are also on its forthcoming rollout map.


The move will pit Virgin Media in a head-to-head battle with BT's new up to 40Mbps FTTC broadband services. BT announced similar plans in January 2011 to fast track the city onto its new "fibre optic" based internet access platform through an additional investment of £3m.

The BT deal was part of a 5-year partnership with Derry's City of Culture team and related to the fact that the area was officially set to become the annual City of Culture in 2013. However, BT is not due to complete its work, which aims to connect 21,000 homes and 6,000 businesses in the city, until the autumn.

Crucially BT's original goal had been to make Londonderry the first city in Ireland to be totally connected via superfast broadband services. It now looks as if Virgin Media could be about to steal their thunder or at least some of it. Derry consumers will certainly benefit from having plenty of new choices.

UPDATE 18th May 2011

Virgin Media informs that Ashford and Staines are rolling out as we speak.