Virgin may open 150Mbits/sec network to other ISPs

 

Gallery

By Barry Collins

Posted on 24 Mar 2009 at 17:34

Virgin Media says it may open its high-speed cable network to other broadband providers.

Speaking after BT revealed which towns will be the first to be connected to its fibre network, Virgin claimed it will be offering speeds of between 100-150Mbits/sec by the time BT's completed its 40-60Mbit/sec fibre rollout in 2012.

"We have an opportunity with our network to provide significantly higher speeds," Virgin Media's chief executive Neil Berkett told the BBC.

Berkett says the company will also consider allowing other broadband providers to sell services on the back of its network, in the same way as BT does.

"We had this conversation with a bunch of investors recently. Our position is 'Let's prove the market'," Berkett said.

"Wholesaling is not off our agenda but right now it is not a priority for us. Who knows, by the time BT has rolled out its next-generation network we may be in position to explore wholesale."

Wholesale access on Virgin's network could reinvigorate competition in the broadband market, not least because Ofcom has granted BT permission to charge what it likes for wholesale access on its new fibre network.

BT has previously lobbied for Virgin's cable network to be opened up, arguing that it shouldn't be the only company to be forced to offer wholesale access.