Re: Virgin Media to build again
 

More and more congestion on the network for virgin media

Re: Virgin Media to build again
 

So essentially is this a program to now fill the areas that lack Virgin Media but have BT's FTTC to enable a choice and price war?

I'm just outside of their network but you can get Virgin further into the town about a mile each way missing my estate out in the middle but we can get fibre from BT.

There are cable ducts one side of the main road below the estate but I've been told they contain the link to the two networks either side. It's weird because there are even paths to the properties and caps but no service. Money probably ran out at the time.

Re: Virgin Media to build again
 

New nodes attached to new CMTS cards with core network scaled to match. No new congestion at all.

Also congestion peaked late last year and is improving now as upgrades come online.

Re: Virgin Media to build again
 

Thank you for making that correction.


What do you reckon to the network architecture issue. Will VM go for fibre to the node as now or something more like FTTC, but with multiple coax out to the properties? I think they would be mad to repeat the weakness of the current, ex-NTL. configuration.

Re: Virgin Media to build again
 

The current build is FTTC, the weaknesses come in old equipment and design eg 2000 home nodes, with reseg work these are gradually being phased out anyway, and new build will be a maximum of 500 home node, probably more like 250

Re: Virgin Media to build again
 

Certainly is Bill

---------- Post added at 18:27 ---------- Previous post was at 18:25 ----------

It'll be a mixture of HFC, Deep Fibre and FTTH. It'll be horses for courses

Re: Virgin Media to build again
 

Bit more info on VM's plans courtesy of Liberty Global's investor relations page.

From page 8 of this slide http://www.libertyglobal.com/pdf/pre...tion-FINAL.pdf
The 4m premises targeted will be less than 50 metres from VM's network and two-thirds are less than 20 metres away. VM is targeting about 40% penetration and is looking at an average revenue per user of £45.

From page 3 of VM's Q4 results http://www.libertyglobal.com/pdf/pre...ease-FINAL.pdf
"In order to achieve what we believe will be attractive returns, we plan to undertake a network extension programme pursuant to which we may connect up to an estimated four million additional homes and businesses to our broadband communications network from 2015 through 2020 (the U.K. Network Extension), thereby enabling these incremental homes to subscribe to
our market-leading services.
These additional premises were identified through a detailed review of our existing network that highlighted an opportunity to drive further scale by targeting accretive network extensions. The U.K. Network Extension will be completed in phases and will initially focus on the most accretive expansion opportunities. Depending on a variety of factors, including the financial and operational results of the earlier phases of the programme, the U.K. Network Extension may be modified or cancelled at our discretion ."

---------- Post added at 18:34 ---------- Previous post was at 18:27 ----------

Liberty Global's investor relations statement on the UK network expansion has this to say this on the subject. "Liberty Global is a global leader in innovation and new technologies and is preparing trials of DOCSIS 3.1 technology across Europe later this year. This technology could extend Liberty Global’s speed leadership to up to 10Gb when it is fully deployed in the future."
http://www.libertyglobal.com/pdf/pre...astructure.pdf

Re: Virgin Media to build again
 

I am struggling to believe that there are 4.5 million premises with 50m of network or that this would need £3 billion to achieve, but if that's what the man said it is what it is.

Actually if I am honest I am quite sure that's not the case. Thinkbroadband ran some numbers that seem to disagree.

Re: Virgin Media to build again
 

To be a nitpicker - 4m. They're quite definite about it (on page 8 of these slides) so maybe all those semi-cabled areas add up? Particularly if they're blocks of flats. I don't know enough to agree or disagree with you.

Re: Virgin Media to build again
 

New housing developments and MDUs are also part of the plan from what I can gather.

Re: Virgin Media to build again
 

Andrew at Think Broadband is going to run the data over the weekend.

If VM are targeting 60% coverage the need to pass about 4.4 million more premises.

---------- Post added at 19:29 ---------- Previous post was at 19:13 ----------

Have to correct myself. If the build is all going to be so close to existing network rather than actually building out to adjacent areas some of the premises will probably be fed from the existing coaxial network.

I was, it seems, optimistic. Only building within 50m gives a big FTTPR vibe and continues to leave me bemused as to why it would be so expensive. I was quoted £600-ish per home passed for an entire estate.

Re: Virgin Media to build again
 

thats a bit of shame as my mates estate is half mile away from the nearest cab... god only knows why they didnt cable it as it was a council estate back then with some sizable private properties too, and going through this estate/village would give them access to the next one as its pretty much nextdoor,

i.e. the nearest network is just outside Guildford Town Centre (1 - 2 miles) ---> Shalford is offgrid (2 - 3 miles from town 1/2 mile from nearest cab) ---> Chilworth could be served if shalford was... makes no sense as to why they left it out...

Re: Virgin Media to build again
 

BT were not 'given that infrastructure' they bought it when they were privatised through share holdings. The government were paid by share holders when they sold their stake in the company in 1991 - 1993 and they were also paid previously when BT privatised and floated on the stock market. I hate this attitude that BT were given their network and given the monopoly on telecommunications in this country.

BT do use government subsidised finances to fibre up the rural areas where it wouldn't otherwise be profitable for BT to do so.

These are all areas where Virgin already is and there are huge service gaps, so it looks like Virgin won't be coming to any new areas any time soon.

---------- Post added at 19:44 ---------- Previous post was at 19:40 ----------

Yes, this is fantastic. 6,000 jobs created. The Tories will be happy, as they can tout it as their doing.

Re: Virgin Media to build again
 

And on top of a good bonus

Re: Virgin Media to build again
 

Perhaps then, if you think it is s bit expensive for more of the same network architecture, VM are seriously thinking of something closer to FTTC. This would leave them able to offer FTTP at a price, but cheaper than if they tried to offer it to residential customers and small businesses from the node.