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.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

It was this line I was talking about

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Yes, that's what I mean. The upgrades are starting next month I think, but 100 > 120Mbit upgrades aren't starting until the Summer

So some 50Mbit customers will get an increase to 100Mbit, as 120Mbit isn't available. They'll then get a further increase to 120Mbit when it is

Others will likely go straight up to 120Mbit as their area won't be upgraded until after 120Mbit is available

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Yet my area says March/April I presume that was for all speeds..

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Not for 100 > 120Mbit. From the doublespeed site:

If you have our up to 100Mb connection, you've already got the fastest widely available broadband in the UK. So we'll be taking a bit off your monthly bill, instead. And as an extra thank you, we'll be boosting your speeds up to 120Mb. Your upgrades start this summer. We'll be in touch to let you know.

Re: Virgin Media to Double Broadband Speed
 

Ahh..thank you again