Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

A new system is coming in place that will replace both STM and traffic shaping or so I hear.

Details so far indicate it will be extremely fair and protocol agnostic.

---------- Post added at 18:08 ---------- Previous post was at 18:05 ----------

No, it's completely different.

Instead of shaping and fixed STM limits, the new system will gradually reduce your speed on a sliding scale depending on how much you've downloaded and local port loads. You'll essentially get "de-prioritized" down to the same level as other people who have the same level of utilization as you.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

nope I mean the yet released comcast style management where it will slow everything and they abandon the p2p traffic management.

As currently both sets of traffic management arent up to the job. eg. right now I am downloading at 3mbit/sec, way below STM throttle levels and I am not even STM'd.

Ignition has hinted (and I heard of another source also) that new traffic management is coming soon which is protocol agnostic and based on local utilisation levels as well as own usage levels, however news on this has suddenly dried up.

---------- Post added at 18:45 ---------- Previous post was at 18:40 ----------

:clap:

seems some of us are the forgotten ones and people assume everyone has an equal quality of service.

why would I be patting VM on the back for doubling advertised speeds when I dont even get current advertised speeds.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

:ghugs:

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

That would be interesting, considering that traffing shaping just doesn't work and STM only annoys people. I completely get why VM would want to reel in those who throttle their connection 24/7, but the STM limits are a bit on the low side (in my opinion).

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Kushan the new system wont only affect certian protocols and as such wont be evadable other than to simply stop downloading so you dont let it trigger. That is the major flaw with the P2P system.

The flaw with the STM system is its far too generous on the upload limits allowing a lot of uploading to be done before it kicks in. Ironically its probably too tight on the download limits.

Whatever system is in place tho will have to not fall foul of new ASA regulations which state any throttling must be moderate only on unlimited products.

Another flaw of course is I feel VM will be expecting too much from traffic management, its ideal use is to handle short temporary spikes in traffic load, whilst VM seem to want to use it to manage sustained high utilisation.

I expect VM to make silly mistakes like making the new system downloads only and peak only.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

I'm sure VM will trial this new system and once the trial is successful, they'll roll it out to everyone. Note the choice wording of that statement.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Yes some of the money we all pay to VM goes into profit for them. They are a commercial organisation not a charity. Like other commercial organisations they will balance the service they offer with the prices they charge and the profit they make. I will be the first to say that there are too many companies out there that focus on pure profit and pay little attention to the service offering. A return to putting the customer first is long overdue in my opinion.

VM is not perfect - the laughable helpdesk is a great example of where they have got things totally wrong and seem to be ignoring cutomer views. Compare with many other organisations notably banks, bringing such service back in house.

You are absolutely right the phone line rental is a connectivity charge, however that does not come free to VM. They have to install & maintain the cable plant to get the connection to you. They have to host and maintain exchange equipment at their end of the line to provide service. They have to pay for interconnectivity between their voice network and other carriers. All of these elements cost them money.

In terms on internet costs, the new line cards, software upgrades, software licences etc are significant costs to VM. Node splits to increase effective capacity often require new fibre to be run between the central hubs and street cabinets. They have ongoing maintenance charges on all the equipment they use. Often this can be some 20% of the original purchase price annually.

Now on the other side there is a lot more they could be doing. The dire over-subscription in some areas is poor. They are selling a service in some regions that they cannot provide effectively, yet still continue to sell.

Overall I think VM provide a good service. Sure they can and should do more, but on the whole it's good. If you look at the doubling of speed at zero cost and also the general reduction in prices over the years the deal isn't bad.

As consumers we will always want more and pay less. However there comes a point where this is not sustainable unless service suffers.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

good post ccarmock you addressed both sides of the fence.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

I also find it worrying that you have been sending private messages to people that insult and belittle the Cable Forum Team. I do not believe that this is an appropriate way to behave/deal with any issues that you may have when part of a community. I was shocked when I saw some of them reproduced on Digital Spy.

I couldn't understand how two people could be both 43 and 59 at the same time! When it was pointed out that it was because I was getting two people mixed up, I immediately apologised. Fortunately, I don't have any severe sight problems, so i'm putting it down to the new strong painkillers that my GP has prescribed me and i'm sticking to that :D :D

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

You gave me a laugh confusing them both.:D

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Fair enough, but what I find worrying is Why the Hell do you care?

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Are you saying the cable forum team are reproducing pm,s on Digital Spy. Links would be nice as evidence of this ??

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

finally! boooooorrrrrriiiiiinnnnnggggggg!

anyway I know I've asked before with ignition answering that its a test. has it got anything to do with doubling?

http://ukinternetreport.co.uk/cmts/d...l&town=Croydon

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

You still aren't being charged to be upgraded so by anyone's definition it FREE.

I'd hate to think what your definition of free might be.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

That's not strictly true. Now I don't disagree with what you're saying (you're getting an upgrade at no extra cost for sure), however it's not strictly "free" because the monthly subscription goes towards the cost of the upgrade.

There is a saying, "there's no such thing as a free lunch" and I believe it applies here, but the important thing to remember is that Virgin didn't necessarily have to upgrade anyone, certainly at no additional cost - so it's still appropriate to be somewhat "grateful".

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Yet you contract for a fixed speed at a fixed price so anything above that speed at the same price is by all definition free, whether VM want to pay for it out of their profits is another matter

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Except it's not "free" because you still have to pay the initial price to get it. If it was truly free, Virgin would give you it at no cost at all. However, we are arguing semantics here and the important thing is that you specifically said "free by anyone's definition". I was merely pointing out that not everyone has the same definition of "free".

FUN FACT: Virgin specifically tells its agents not to use the term "free", but rather "complimentary" (particularly with Value added services like email, security, etc.) because both terms have slightly different meanings. So even Virgin themselves have a different definition of "free".

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Eh? It is free in the sense that what you contracted for, eg 30 or 50mb and you pay the fee for that. However you will be paying the same monthly fee but getting double the speed. That is double your connection at no extra cost which is a free upgrade.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

So would you, using that logic, say that should I get a car and in three years the dealer gives me four new tyres for "free", they are in fact not free because I bought the car ?

So if you buy a house .. and VM give you free services, they're not free .. because you bought the house :cool:

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

I've contracted for 50mb in March, when that goes up in March/April I'll be getting more than my contract states I should get, I'm not paying for any extra so it's free for the other 50mb.. The fact that someone else can get the same new speed for the same money is irrelavant to my contract

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

As I said, we're debating that not everyone strictly sees it as "free" as the money for the upgrade came from monthy fees - the difference is that Virgin has decided to upgrade everyone rather than pocket it. I'm simply saying that it's not strictly absolutely free, but it is worth praising Virgin for doing it.

That is correct and as I said before, by Virgin's own rules they're complimentary to your purchases. The point I'm making isn't that something is or isn't free, it's that not everyone uses the same definition of "free". Due to that earlier comment of "Free by anyone's definition".

Here's a good example of what I'm talking about - tesco does this thing all the time and it really annoys me - they'll have an offer on like a BOGOF, except they'll jack up the price of the item so you end up paying about the same as you would for two of them the week before. Is the second item free? Well, sure, it's free all right but at the same time it's not really free. Now that's not meant to be in any way analogous as to what Virgin is doing, merely showing that "free" isn't always "free".

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

The extra speed is free. As the extra speed is the 'upgrade' and there is no upgrade is free, the upgrade is by definition free. There is no debating semantics, you're just wrong.

Your example has exactly nothing in common with what Virgin is doing? Baffling.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Its free

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

I personally don't need the extra speed as I have access to high speed BB at various workplaces, should I need it.

What would be the best way to save money by "downgrading" to my existing (ish) speed after the upgrade?

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

No it is free in this sense. Your price isn't going up. So it's extra for nothing. The money for the upgrades doesn't come from your monthly payment. That just pays for what you are already getting.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

I think the best way to describe it is the upgrade process itself is free.

However the upgraded service isnt free by any means as there is still a monthly subscription fee to pay. The best way to describe that is its 'inclusive'.

What I didnt like was someone telling me I am ungrateful because I am not patting VM on the back. Someone in a congested area isnt getting upgraded speed they just simply getting a new config to their modem. The only thing upgrading their speed is extra capacity not a new config. VM certianly dont do things like this out of charity, in this case its been done as a reaction to what BT have done, in the past its been done as a way to obtain new customers as its cheaper than expanding their footprint.

What maggy may not realise is things like this can be a service downgrade, a area with just about good enough utilisation to keep gamers happy will probably tip over the edge with this and areas already congested will get an effective speed reduction.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

If you want to look at it from a contractual perspective, Virgin have provided regular speed increases as part of their natural service progression over the years. I think this will be the 4th one since I first joined Telewest.

Any judge in the country would look at a regular event like that and say it was reasonable for a customer to expect as part of the package in the future that there would be speed increases. Even if its not in the "legal stuff" it can be taken as part of your contract. You would find it hard to demand they do one in the future if VM secretly decided never to do them again, but with a crack legal team you could probably use it as a reason to terminate a contract early.

But they are nice bonuses either way :p

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Let's just change two words, and see how that reads....;)

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Free

Don't forget tp click on Expand..;)

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

You just had to use Npower as an example ;). Now i am going to be annoyed for the rest of the night.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

A double your speed upgrade at no cost to yourself is something for free as you are not paying any extra for that upgrade to me and every other English speaking person reading this post that is the definition of free.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

:clap::clap:

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

I don't think anyone is arguing that the service is free. They are arguing that the upgrade is free.

Obviously the millions of pounds VM have spent on upgrades to the network don't count, because, as you say, it's just a config change.

They don't do things like this out of charity. They do it for the same reason that the likes of Sky, BT etc offer upgrades and extra services "for free". They do it to keep their existing customers sweet and get new ones.

BTW, what have BT done recently? I don't recall them offering their entire customer base double speed.
Depend how the upgrades go.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Since I didn't even start this argument about what is and isn't free, clearly there's at least one other English speaking person who disagrees. I stand by my claim that there's no such thing as a free lunch. Yes, you're getting more than what you're currently paying for and yes there's no additional charge, but as someone has already pointed out, Virgin is not a charity, they're not doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. Either it's being paid for by the money you've been paying Virgin all this time, or they're extracting the money that the upgrade costs in some other way - future monthly costs, new customers, customer loyalty, etc.
As I have said numerous times so far, I feel it's a good thing and I am in no way complaining - I'm happy to get the upgrade and I don't know why anyone wouldn't be (apart from perhaps those in over-subscribed areas who fear it might make things worse), I'm merely saying that it's not as simple as saying "Free upgrade - hurrah!".
Notice that it has been announced during Q1 of the year, which is notoriously Virgin's worst quarter for subscriber loss each year. In fact, I think only once in the last 4 or 5 years has Virgn actually gained customers. Ulterior motives and all that.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Everyone gets a free lunch at my place.. I don;t charge and I certainly don't expect anything in return.. If though you've got a reason to be at my house come lunchtime it's always on offer.. ;)

The VM motives behind the upgrade is irrelavant to the customer, as stated by myself and others the only thing relevant to the customer is the contract, if VM alters that contract to give more for the same money then that more is free to us no matter what VMs intentions. I don't give two hoots if VM is using the offer to increase it's profits as to me I only care about what I contracted for..

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Not arguing with you or anyone but simply stating everyone is getting a free upgrade by virtue of the the speeds doubling for the majority at no extra cost, that is a free upgrade and if anyone thinks otherwise because they are paying for a service already then the is something wrong with their reasoning.

I used your post for no other reason and it was not aimed at you.

If for instance you went into a shop and paid for a pint of milk and after a while they said take 2 pints but do not pay for the other, that means the 2nd pint would be free as you were not paying for it even though you continued to pay the original price for a single pint.

If no one can get their head around that simple analogy then the is something wrong and maybe they should go to nightschool for a few maths lessons.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

They gave them triple when they went from 8mb ADSL to 24mb ADSL2+, rumours have it they're doubling 40mb Infinity customers to 80mb.

---------- Post added at 22:02 ---------- Previous post was at 21:56 ----------

[mod edit: off topic argumentative comments removed]

Far as the service goes you pay a price for the service. The service is being improved at no extra cost. The service is not free. The increase in service is part of the service charge.

You don't get to keep the "extra free" if you don't pay for the initial service, therefore if you must pay to receive the "free" upgrade it is not free. It is simply increased service at the same cost. If you cannot get the "free" item without paying money, then how is it free? It is only free relative to the existing contracted speed, i.e. complimentary. In all other respects it is simply increased speed for the same money.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

My feelings are its another headline grabber I'm currently on Sky BB at a speed of around 9mb however I was a VM 30mb BB subscriber who had an absolute nightmare with contention resulting in a connection that can best be described as dial up , it seems pointless to increase speeds when in certain areas they seem to be struggling already , hopefully they will put the network resources in to ensure this type of problem becomes a thing of the past I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

did i ever mention your a wonderful lady Kymmy :D

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Hello there,

Oops! That last email, 100Mb Broadband Announcement, was sent in error.

Please ignore this, and rest assured current Virgin Media Cable Broadband customers will be receiving some good news about their broadband in the next 2 weeks. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

The Virgin Media team

Just had a email from virgin telling me to ignore their first email, they will send a new email
michael

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

bt will be upgrading bt infinity FTTC customers from 40/10mb to 80/20mb, this will likely be free. FTTP customers will be upgraded from 100mb to 300mb. Both of these speed upgrades will happen this year.

So BT is actually doing a hell of alot as well as rolling out fibre to 2/3rds of britain by 2015. It would be nice to see Virgin lobby the govt to allow the laying of fibre of cable on cobbled/bricked roads and to just tarmac over the trench instead of having to re-cobble/brick assuming you get consent of the residents on the road that you are digging on. This would allow virgin to roll out cable to alot more customers.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Dig up a cobbled/brick road and tarmac the trench? Sounds like vandalism to me.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Indeed

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Thety have to reinstate anything they dig up to an as good condition if not better, especially pavements and cobbled roads as otherwise they would receive large fines and bills from the council for reinstating them and the council inspectors are very thorough as they want to fine and bill them if at all possible.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

can anyone help me, i've got one of these emails but was thinking of upgrading the package to include tivo and 2 extra boxes (rather than the 1 extra i have now) and was going to go on the VIP 50 deal now would i still get the speed upgrade if i moved package?

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Whatever package you go onto will be automatically upgraded for free some time over the next 18 months.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

i realise this, thats why virgin should lobby the govt so that if the residents of the road are happy for the area that would be dug up to lay fibre to be tarmac'd then that should be allowed to happen, the council shouldn't have any say as they don't live on that road. Alot of people in britain would love cable and aren't bothered by a 30cm or so wide tarmac line on their pavement where the cable/fibre goes under.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

It would cost billions and anywhere that has pavement or cobbles has to be reinstated as tarmac would never be suitable.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

i'm not saying upgrade all of britain lol, just where commercially viable and where customers have asked for cable. Why wouldn't bricked/cobbles roads be suitable? surely you just lay the optical fibre on a pipe and then fill in the hole tarmac?

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

If they do it in the roads, why shouldn't Virgin be allowed to do that at customers properties. Much easier for them then relaying a block paved driveway.

I'm sure all those customers would much prefer to have a strip of tarmac down their drive

:rolleyes:

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Wouldn't make a blind bit of difference.

---------- Post added at 12:06 ---------- Previous post was at 12:00 ----------

The council are responsible for mainaining the public highway.

Bitmac reinstatement to a modular surface wouldn't be suitable for several reasons, including the lack of a uniform leading edge, and a uniform surface.

The bitmac on the surface and around the edges would break away, water would get in the joints and as soon as winter comes the frost would break the bitmac up.

So no it wouldn't work.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

For one, I think you underestimate just how many people would prefer to keep their cobbles than have superfast broadband - I mean, didn't you hear about how much grief BT got just for putting some green cabinets on the streets? never mind digging them up and laying Tarmac on top of them.

Plus, there's plenty of areas that are commercially viable for Virgin to roll out on that don't require dealing with cobbles - Virgin has several reasons for not really rolling out much atm.
I'm hoping these major upgrades are a precursor to some major expansion, but we'll see what happens.


Also, I'm dropping the "free or not free" debate as I was simply pointing out that one person's definition of "free" is not the same as another's. I think I've made that point and there's little sense going around in circles about it. Perhaps I'm just cynical but there you go!

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

A friend of mine has BT broadband. They called him up over Christmas and offered Infinity for the same monthly charge as he was paying for ADSL. He lept at it and they installed it just before New Year.

The call centre girl was clear that she couldn't say it was "free", just the same price as he was already paying. :)

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Still though a different product and probably a brand new contract locking him in for another year. Hardly free at all.. Totally different to this scenario where there's no new contract.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

This has nothing to do with you by the way.

But when people answer comments about the free issue some clown comes along and post utter drivel and they know who I mean as I expect do many others.

What is even more strange they do not post about the other people posting similar comments, now if that seems odd to you does it not make you wonder what kind of agenda they are on.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Or across the lawn....

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Sorry Kymmy I did not find this thread before.

So what I understand is that the updates will be automatically? but if I want to upgrade now to 50 some one has to come to my house?

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

I don't think it would be allowed because of aesthetic and historical reasons.

I think that's a reasonable analysis and a sensible decision :)

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Living in a 'conservation' myself I can safely say its made very little difference here. Sure it took a little longer than most, but we got cable here eventually!

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Virgin Media need to be buried under tarmac for their lame joke of a service...

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Just popped on to myvirginmedia to make sure the bill i paid last week had went through before phoning them to cancel my TV service and it shows i'll be upgraded to 100mb in March/April so that's a nice surprise. I'd been thinking of doing the upgrade and paying the extra but doesn't seem much point now :)

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Although this is about the e-mails sent in error, there is a little bit of news in here http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/01...a_email_error/

So that means current 100Mbit customers go up to 120Mbit and get the price reduced to the same as current 50Mbit customers - who also get an increase to 120Mbit. Effectively merging the two tiers

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Well that is a nice bonus for 50MB customers and also means those 100MB customers will get a price discount to equivalent of the 50MB price now when the change happens as you say.

Not affecting me as I am on 20MB and happy with the move to 60MB, nicely timed as my family Internet usage is growing.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Nice. I think having 100 go to 120 for the same price that new tier 100 customers would be paying would have caused a few gnashed teeth. Great to see they are merging the two. Whoosh?

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Pretty good news! Just to add a minor detail:

So if anyone's getting upgraded soon and wondering why they're "only" on 100 and not 120, that'll be why. I think I can live with that, myself.

Once all the upgrades are done, I can see Virgin offering to move the "new" 20meg customers over to 30 to get everyone on DOCSIS 3. That way each tier will be double the previous, 30 -> 60 -> 120. But that's entirely raw speculation on my part, based on the idea that it's probably cheaper to support one type of network and one type of modem.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

It is, but the old network isn't disappearing anytime soon. Plus they've still got to shift 100mb somewhere to make it a smooth 30-60-120 transition (though frankly I much prefer 50-100-200)

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

the longer the old networks stay active the longer it'll take VM to sort out the new network.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Rubbish

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

How do you come to that conclusion

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

They're shifting the 100 to 120 (Along with the 50), so all that would be left would be the 20 -> 30. Of course you're right, long term we might well see 50/100/200. Virgin seemingly has a nice upgrade about once a year or so, so it isn't impossible to imagine that'll be the case by 2013 or 2014. Especially when you include that rumour about 200Mbit for the olympics (Although I'll expect that to be a new tier like the 100Meg was).

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

I tried BT once and regretted it.. am staying with VM no matter what now, they are the only isp that ever gave me the speed advertised.. bt infinity probably wont be any good any way..

its good that vm are giving faster speeds..I Just hope I will reach 60mbit speeds on my macbook pro over a wifi connection.

I love VM's upgrades.. wish I could be on the 100mbit but 60 should be good enough

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

It's already been said the FAQs over on the Community Forum that is untrue. There will be no 200Mbit for the Olympics

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

I hope it is.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

50 is being shifted to 100, not 120. So that'd leave 30, 60, 100, 120.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

I think he's referencing this post

hhttp://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/35363404-post964.html

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

50 to 120 makes much more sense. They probably got a lot of people booking engineer visits to shift to 100 in time for the 120 lift and realised their area by area plan was about to crumble. Nice one VM! Ta very much. :)~

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

You might think your getting it free but in my head it just goes to show that VM have been overcharging us all for years and now are giving some back in way of a "free" upgade.


This is true of all companies or do you really think MARS really give 20% extra free on mars bar or in pedigree tins or safe style really give away a window with a payed for window. Its just them trying to look good.









PS
Dear Mr Branson thankyou for the very nice gift you'll be giving us all this year.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

He will have no idea what you are on about as oddly he does not own Virgin Media as the name is leased and for his shares he appears in advertising campaigns, do keep up.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Why buy Mars, Snickers or Twix when you can get an identical bar from supermarkets for half the price.. Yet Mars/Snickers/Twix are the best sellers..

If people didn't want cable they wouldn't buy cable, it's cost is irrelevant instead what is relevant is that people do pay for it and agree to a value/speed contract.

Value for money is another argument and doesn't belong in this thread

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Next you'll be telling me he isn't black either :shocked:





Yes I'm a BIG fan of Aldi (other shops might be available) they were just examples dear boy to show its the way of the world nothing is free not even the pallets I get for nothing and burn save putting the central heating on. I have to drive to fetch them so am spending money on diesel but its still cheaper.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

dear boy???

There's lot of free things in the world all you have to do is open your eyes and look for them.. As for driving to your local Aldi there's a lot more options than what they offer.

My local supermarket has for example lots of cheap biscuits that are just as good as Mcvitaes but probably produced in the same factory..

I could go on and on and on but you'll just try to make up another expense..

As the saying goes you can lead a horse to water and if he wants it he will drink :p:

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

So it's going to be an upgrade from 50 to eventually 120Mb in the next 18 months plus a price reduction...

http://m.reghardware.com/2012/01/16/...a_email_error/

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Yes Mars makes Smash and out the same factory comes own brands as well.
No I never said I drove to Aldi dear boy

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

50Mb will go to 120Mb for the same price as they pay now, 100Mb will go to 120Mb with a price reduction merging the 2 tiers.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

That's what I call a right result!!

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Oh. Missed that - sorry. Thanks for point it out.

Although that'd mean less than half of VM's tariffs are actually getting their speed doubled (with the remainder more than or less than doubled, mostly more than). So much for doubling everyone's speeds :P

Either way, I don't plan on waiting another year to see it happen, my Infinity order will be on its way shortly.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

I can't believe people didn't see this anyway. The E-mail stated 100Mb will be increased to 120Mb with a price reduction to match 50Mb.

So if 50Mb was only getting a speed increase to 100Mb you would end up with 2 tiers of service at the same price point. So some people pay £35 for 100Mb after the upgrade and some pay £35 for 120Mb after the upgrade.

An as for the comments about own brand food be the same as premium brand food. You're all very wrong, very very wrong. I know of supermarket brand biscuits that contain hydrogenated fats or TRANS FATS,basically the worst thing a human being can eat.

Its like minced beef(if you could ever eat such a thing) or farmed Salmon and wild salmon. You really do pay for what you get ingredients wise.

Also I never read my notifications so stop PMing me people I just flashes away in the top right corner but I'm really not interested.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

You really are new to cable aren't you. You seem to have more faith in VM's pricing sensibilities than they do themselves. Different price points for the same service is par for the course, and has pretty much always existed. There'll be two differently priced 20mb tariffs after the upgrade - M and L. And I pay less for 50mb than some people do for 10 or 20, yet some people on 100mb pay less than me. Not everything in the world is as logical as you think it should be.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

do you think capacity will be added to handle this influx of users? given that most of VMs customers are on the bottom tier this will be a very significant demand added.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

I think that's the idea of moving to 8 downstreams - doubling DS capacity, upstream bonding, and node splits left right and centre. I think the quetion you want to ask is will enough capacity be added - we both know plenty of capacity is being added :-P

So far as the 20 to 30mb goes, the users would be getting moved from a bunch of single 38mbps downstreams onto a bonded 400mbps downstreams, and thanks to the rules of statistical contention, should receive far better service as a result (you saw yourself the improvement associated with going onto a bonded 200mbps DS). However downstream capacity isn't an area where VM are particularly weak, outside of a fault situation, upstream is usually the big problem.

Still, I've always thought 50mbps down a 200mbps pipe was a bit of a tight squeeze and 100mbps to be borderline insane, so the move to 8 downstreams should improve matters more than would be expected out of direct proportionality.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Every rumour is "untrue" until stated otherwise. Virgin clearly has 200Mbit plans as they're trialling it in places, just like they have 1.5gbit plans. The only thing that really matters is when they'll be rolled out, which possibly Virgin themselves don't quite know yet. Basically, what I'm saying is that Virgin plans ahead, like any good company does and eventually 200mbit will hit. It might be the Olympics, it might not - it might have been a plan at one point and shelved, it might not have been, but it will happen eventually.

I'm certainly not an expert, but it's my understanding that DOCSIS3 scales a hell of a lot better than DOCSIS1 or DOCSIS2 does, mostly thanks to the oft-mentioned "channel bonding". I believe in its simplest implementation, it's better to have customers share channels than to have the customers split into separate groups with a channel between them. Plus, you can always add more channels.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Moving 50mb up to 120mb does make sense.

So basically, after the upgrades they will have three tiers on offer - 20mb, 60mb and 120mb. That's much more sensible. It's a shame the lowest speed wasn't 30mb, that would really highlight how fast cable can be if the lowest offered is higher than is even achievable on standard consumer ADSL.

Also, would I presume correctly that the VIP50 package will become VIP120? Basically having the 120mb included as the broadband for that bundle?

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

I can't see them leaving 50 upgrades at 100 and 100 upgrades for the same price at 120.. a 30-60-120 package spacing seems to be indicitive of where they might be going.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

They won't. It's already been confirmed that 50Mbit will actually got to 120 ;)

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

I missed any official link, do we have one?

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Well this is an official quote from VM

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/01...a_email_error/

In regards to the rest of the information, I think it's being look at, as I don't think it was part of the original plan to advise of the two stage increase yet.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

ThanX Ben,

It'll be interesting to know what will restrict some 50Mb customers in relation to a direct 120Mb "free" upgrade, I wonder if that will that be the upload restricted areas?

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

I think it's more that some customers will get upgraded before 120Mbit is avaliable. So they'll get two upgrades, one to 100 and another to 120

I think that is why it wasn't immediately announced as going to 120.