VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Virgin Media says that it has identified around 500,000 homes which are currently close to its current network and it will pass around 50,000 of them during the rest of 2009.

http://www.theairwaves.net/index.php...=3759&Itemid=2

---------- Post added at 18:13 ---------- Previous post was at 17:58 ----------

also http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitalt...ore-homes.html

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Yey! I'm looking at moving to a new development off a cabled street. Hopefully I will stand a better chance of getting cable :)

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

I sincerely hope this includes the bulk of Lowestoft, otherwise I'll be majorly ****ed off. :D

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Struck me that you were never really a fan of VM reading through some of your other posts, so I was rather surprised by your latest comment

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Lowestoft needs some competition from Virgin Media to battle Sky for TV and others for internet. Currently the best broadband on offer at the exchange is Sky. I berate them quite happily for their callous methods, but cable's been wanting in Lowestoft for the last 20 years, and I really hope that Virgin Media's expansion includes this town, especially as there are new developments going on around the outskirts and Gorlestone 7 miles up the road has it.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

It's good news.

I wish they'd said in which places they are going to be expanding their network although one might assume they would try to end the anomolies such as one side of the street having cable and the other side not having cable and also cabling up new housing estates.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

prepare to bee "majorly ****ed off" then. I highly doubt this current round to network expation will mean adding coverage to a town thats not yet covered.

My understanding of the current programme (going by what mr burkett said to an invester meating about 6 months ago) was that this current programme will simply bee "infilling".

Example You have a town thats already cabled, and some1 in the town has demolished their house and build 20 new houses on that land, (or possiably new estates that sprung up in cabled towns) that new street doent get cable even though theres a pipe running just along the enterence to the street, under this current programme they will expand into that street.

The most ambousious that could bee expected under this current plan is for VM to start working with estate developers again and installing cable into new developments as there being build.

On the bright side this sound more like a "trial" of network expansion ie if say 75% of those 500'000 homes take up VM's services then it is extreamly likley they may start much bigger programme covering whole towns missed in the 90's

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

I for one would like to express the VM network build programme every success as I would like to see cable expanding not only for new builds estates but also into new areas around the country with insight that there is demand and infrastructure there to supplement the cost of installing and expanding the cable network.

Lets hope the new build programme is handled with care and efficiency and not spiral into debt and who knows if the numbers add up and there is demand for cable, there may well be a motion for grander plans. There seems to be a few members in this forum from Aberdeen are pleading VM to expand the cable network to the city. What was it before? Atlantic Telecom?:confused:

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Hopefully they are including the Analogue areas in this too.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

I am shocked but they have seemed to do very well in making a profit last quarter just wished they would like to keep my job.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

They have not released any info on which areas are going to be done ?

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

They have already started around here.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Have they started finishing off chesterfield ? Or which parts of Mansfield have they started:)

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Chesterfield WILL be activated (ducting dsa and csa already there and will be a priority) and this new estate (still building some and have been ducted with the BT ducting) is live. (although only small). is off Leeming lane north and not on the maps yet.:)

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

It's nice to see this at last - I'm sure there are plenty of 'pockets' in towns that are enabled where no service has been fitted, or when the early cableco's ran out of cash. It's what they call 'low hanging fruit' (cough spit horrible business term).

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

whats that, cachflow, or cashflow?

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

wonder if this covers new builds in areas cable already had been installed, but they never decided it was worth extending to the new flats in the same street.
Was just curious, as directly on theopposite side of the street are the CABTV slots, but only BT on my side bahhhhhh
But there are quite a lot of new builds in cabled areas over the last few years that have never had a sniff at being wired up.
If that was the case i'd consider satying a little onnger on their diobolical adsl service, just to get steady cable back again.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

So a fair chunk of their network will be turned off during their analogue switch off whereas the network will be expanding. This doesn't make much sense to me.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

I would imagine its cheaper to expand a little bit into new areas than to go an overhaul an old area of the network (from what I gathered by a thread i posted a while ago it seems that converting to digital may be more work than just putting new kit in).

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

if they got the money to do this I will be gobsmacked if they still prepared to turn of analogue areas.

The silence on the situation from VM is disturbing.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Aren't new builds automatically cabled when they're adjacent to existing cable areas? It would make obvious financial sense for them to already be doing it.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Unfortunatly not it seems, every street in our estate has CABTV in the streets, but several new builds added to the streets in the last 5 years, only have the BT manhole covers. while the older houses, on the otherside of teh street have the joys of both.
I agree it would make sense to, but all the new housing seem to be stuck with brand new BT cabling.
Not sure if companies would think it financialy viable or who would inform ISP's that there are new houses/flats being built, want you cables in, so nobody has to dig up a new path.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

I think BT are obliged by law to provide a telephone service to anyone that asks for it which is why new estates have the infrastructure provided. Cable companies are not bound by this requirement.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Thats very true as the BT infrastructure was build with help from the government using tax payers money so they have to install in new builds.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

There's talk of that obligation being removed. I was just thinking, wouldn't it be nice if they would extend into industrial areas especially now they're concentrating on Broadband.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Actually they are not,BT and Kingston networks only cover 90% of the UK because they were previously part of the goverment.

There is an island in Scotland,where BT's network does not exist and the residents requested they have BT's network expanded to the island supplying every property with a telephone line and a public telephone box,unfortunetly BT wanted £30,000 for the work to be done therefore it never happened!

BT are also NOT under any obligation to provide mobile or Cable TV services too, previously, they used to own Cellnet,Genie and a few cable franchises, they had the same freedom as Hutchison,Cable and Wireless and Vodafone.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

I hope this will be in stoke on trent ,i moved from a cabled house 200 yards up the same street in december and live opposite a cabled house in a new house built 4 years ago on the edge of a new estate so have to use bt and sky .so have to put up with a freezing sky plus box why isnt half as good as my old v+ box and getting 4.5 mb instead of the 20mb I used to get at the old house.
Anyone got any plans of where they will be doing ?

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

According to this article the is a petition for the Bradley Stoke area outside of Bristol to try and get Virgin to extend their network http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/12...l#post34798371

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

VM have just cabled a brand new development round our way, I was well shocked when I saw the brown VM boxes on the sides of the houses, it looks like VM have got in there before BT.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Not quite, where another operator is available BT are under no obligation, if you notice a very few areas have no BT just cable.

---------- Post added at 15:56 ---------- Previous post was at 15:55 ----------

Does every single house have such a box outside it?

If so could be that BT aren't going to be doing it and it'll be cable exclusive.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Any updated news on expanding ,areas or timeline or anything?

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Apparently the LE3 analogue only area will be upgraded "before the end if the year".

This is from the VM sales bods in the new VM shop in Leicester. They say loads of people are asking for service in the area and they cannot sell!

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

What about if they try and takeover Smallworld Media?

That will mean they will cover Southern Glasgow,Lancaster,Carisle,Morecombe and Ayshire. Adding 48,000 potential homes to the network as well as many businesses. Smallworld is all digital.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

If the price is right, they may consider it.

But over the next few years they will be adding 500,000 homes to the Network

Mainly through infill of areas within the VM footprint thaqt weren't cabled for various reasons, and new developments.

They aim to connect 70,000 homes this year. So as you can see that already dwarfs the potential 48,000 you mention.

They're upgrading Leicester and Bolton from analogue to digital.

Also in they're trialling a new system nr Bristol where people can send their desire to be connected to an email address. Once that area has enough prospective customers to make it financially viable they will build it.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

good news on leics, its something they should have done a long time ago.

With my amazing 5meg synch on a 50db attenuation copper line I will jump ship to cable the moment it is completed.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

I was always under the impression, that VM covered the whole of the UK, I heard a rumour that there was NTL and TELEWEST, AND CABLE COMMUNCIATION, IS THERE MORE.:)

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

The VM Cable network covers about 50% of the UK.

But you can also get VM services via ADSL

Smallworld Media, covers a bit of South West Scotland, Nth West England and the Isle of Wight.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Well if you shout loud enough there might be :)

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

i hope so i live in aston in sheffield and we have part of the area already built but they didnt finish it off any chance of coming back in to do it;)

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Any more news on VM expanding my 12 moths with sky and bt are up at Xmas and i would move tomorrw given the chance ,getting a crap 4meg on sky through bt because the exchange not up to speed ,so any other provider will be the same.
Cant beliver this time last year i was on 20 meg with VM and i only moved 200 yards up the road lol but new build housein the last 5 years.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

I hava Some Friends Still on Vm Service is theye News on Southampton East Giong Digael It Still Anorlog it not for me but Friends of mine .

it good news for theam if Vm Gose Digital in East Southampton

if it Heilps my Post cod Start with SO18 thers Start beetween SO17-SO19 and as wall as tv And Phone they get Cable Bb

i use to hava my Sevice from Vm But now i am withe Sky 4 Tv and BB and Bt 4 phone Apret from mabee the Phone and may chang from Bt to Skyi wot be change back to Vm anytime soon

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Virgin Media's second quarter results are announced at 8am tomorrow and there should be some more news on expansion, seeing as it was a feature in their last set of results back in May.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

No mention of expansion in the latest set of results but VM's number of marketable homes has increased in the last quarter, but only by around 5000, and the total is still less than it was last year!

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Following on from above, in the pdf document with today's results, expansion is mentioned, but nothing new from what we we told three months ago.

"• Network expansion: infill, new build– >50k new homes by end 2009"

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/at...edia090806.pdf

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Having listened to the webcast, expansion includes making analogue areas digital mostly by April 2010 in time for analogue shutdown

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

But at least new builds now get mentioned at last with regard to being connected to the cable network.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

I've got friends in Leeds desperate to know if VM will edge to Kipax. Their ADSL connection is worse than sh*te.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Does it not make sense to try and keep the VM network in buildings which originally had it?

Something I don't understand about Virginmedia is that in the area I live some of the ex Council owned blocks have been taken over by private companies and these previously had VM installed but no longer do.

Would it not make sense for VM to work alongside the redevelopers of these buildings and continue to provide VM services for any new tenants and owners. All of these buildings have VM equiment in them as they are high rise buildings so VM must be aware that they are being redeveloped as they would have to remove there main junction boxes from them.

It is now getting very hard in the Greater Manchester area to find a property where you can get VM unless you have a council property or an old property. I know of no new developments where VM is available.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Does anybody know when they done the rest of my road in Poole on the ringwood road. I moved into a new block of flats and they said we couldn't get it but now we can I just wanted to know from when.

I know we can because there is a flat that now has it and I've seen the cable.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

i also want to know if VM will infill with stevenage,great ashby area.cos i only can have 256KB with ADSL at the moment. but the street behind my house is cable area,so they can have wotever they want which is really upset me.................

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Try filling in this form
http://allyours.virginmedia.com/form...ableLeads.html

ps. Welcome to the forum!

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Thanks a lot. i hope this form can help me to get the VM cable BB in my street,,,,hoho,,,

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Hi Guys

There are no specific areas being cabled currently although we have some major projects going through approval stages as we speak. New Builds currently undertake jobs cabling new build developments which are most cost effective when you work with the developers to lay cable. We are also infilling areas that are within network areas that dont ahve cable. For example the old chestnut of one side of the street is cabled and not the other.

Major cabling projects probably wont happen for a few years, for this im referring to areas that dont have cable at all (think areas like Aberdeen that is totally "offnet").

Analogue upgrades are a massive project and areas like Bolton, Leicester, Chesterfield and West London are all on the cards but nothing is gauranteed at this stage.

I hope some of this info is helpful.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Well at least one of those is... *cough* Thursday *cough*

;)

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

could that happen to be Bolton by any chance? hopefully as i may be moving there soon

i heard it is due to be completed this Summer

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Bolton's still analogue? Unbelievable...that was "coming soon" in 2004 when I still worked for ntl. (Albeit I spent most of 2004 on notice of redundancy...yet again).

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

As you may already know, cable in Bolton is much older than the rest of the Nynex cable franchise.

It was launched in the late 80's as Bolton Cable Vision and then Nynex acquired around 1992 and then spread out to other areas.

Its probably the same around Slough.

In leicester it was also owned by someone else before Telewest, so these analogue only areas require a lot of work.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Leicester was Diamond, wasn't it? Or was it something else even before that?

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Think Leicester was either Diamond or Nynex. I know Nottingham was Diamond and Derby was Nynex I think, so seems likely Leicester was one of those 2. Owing to placement of one of the Diamond Cable offices I reckon Leicester was likely to be Diamond

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

It the some in Southampton i have since move over to Sky & Bt I was Feed up Withe wating I know some Pepiol Siill on Vm (ntl) who wood Love Dig Aug 2001 we told Dig was coming soon it now 2009

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Leicester was originally LCL (Leicester Cable Ltd), then Diamond, then NTL, now Virgin.

Now if they get their finger out and finally upgrade us to digital in LE3.......

I did see a tent over a cab today (wasnt raining!) not sure what was going on, no VM vans about, just a plain white van. Hopefully some work for the upgrades?

Cheers

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Did anyone catch Neil Berkett's answer in the Q&A's at the end of the invester conference recently? He said he wanted to move Milton Keynes and similar places onto digital before turning off analogue entirely. I understand Bolton, Leicester and other areas are currently being worked on.. Anyone 'inside' know the order of the upgrade programme?

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Hi chirsdtvuk

is there news on Southampton

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Anyone know of VM putting cable in Fleetwood near Blackpool? They're advertising on loads of billboards and many houses have had leaflets put through doors advertising TV and Internet.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

From today Virgin have started to add 4,500 properties in the Newbold, Inkersall and Hollingwood areas of Chesterfield

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

are these areas already covered and they're just filling the gaps?
or are they laying new cable down for previously "dark" areas?

cheers :)

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

They are analogue areas that have been digitalled.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

guys any news on LE3 area? I'm one of those people in ex ntl analogue area :(. Stuck on Bt broadband at 3.5mb! the fastest anyone in this area can get...
I had a phone call from VM a few months ago after I emailed them, I was told LE3 6FL area would definately be upgraded.

However I have read on another thread VM have started upgrading the Blackbird Road area of LE3,

I wish they would do this area :( we have everything installed, all the cables laid my house is still wired up for ntl analogue

please reply if you have any news, from a desperate guy who has waited over 6 years for digital cable :( & who is stuck on 3.5mb

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Parts of Glenfield are being released in the next few days.

Where I am (LE3 6DP) is "imminent". I saw work going on in the cabs last week, so shouldnt be long.

I spoke with some VM reps at Fosse Park on Monday and they are launching a big push selling digital into all the newly upgraded areas. They showed me the list that is due to go live next week and it was all Glenfield. I saw the cabs being done about a month ago.

Keep checking the VM postcode checker, but I am sure that you will get a leaflet/knock on the door when it's ready!

Im in the same boat with the crappy BT ADSL (managing to keep a decent 4.5/5.0 meg line thanks to AAISP) round here you are not far from me at all so I'd expect something very soon! Im sure you will get a knock on the door when its ready!

If only BT hadnt shut the old exchange on Hinckley Road! We'd all be laughing now! I wonder if BT will actually do anything about the crappy network around here when everyone with sense moves to VM?

Its a shame we will all have to pay a disconnection fee to cease the ADSL on our lines!

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

thank you so much for the reply, I haven't seen any work being done yet but as you say we are both in the glenfield area so hopefully it'll be done soon, please could you post more details as/when you get them, much appreciate, and i'll also update this thread as much as I can , I am literally checking the vm site 5 days a day!

you say you saw a list of all areas including glenfield I hope they include Letchworth Road as this is in glenfield/western park area !

also I know how you feel about the bt exchange on Hinckely road, last year I could get around 4-5mb now its gone down to 3mb because of cross talk I guess, if only that exchange was still open we would be at least 16-18 mb on sky!

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

OK thanks, can we try and avoid referring to overbuild as new build in this thread in that case.

Suggests new network when it is in fact overbuild of current network. Nothing added, 4,500 properties upgraded.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

With regard to analogue versus digital in certain areas, is this a case of upgrading the equipment in the cabs and exchanges or is it far more involved than that? If the cable can handle a good few analogue channels, I'm sure it can handle higher-speed broadband and a couple hundred digital channels.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

It depends ;)

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

I hate you. ;)

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

okay a quick update for you guys, I decided to ring VM to get more details , first I rang the VM general sales and the lady told me they have no plans at all to expand their network..LOL
So then I decided to ring the Leicester store and they told me LE3 6FL is not on their list for there 1st phase upgrade! and it is more than likely to be done in the 2nd phase commencing January 2010 - April 2010

I also was wondering what needs to be done to upgrade an analogue area to digital...

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

I was told in the shop that we should be done by the end of the year.

I saw the cabs being worked on on Woodville Road and Glenfield Road a couple of weeks ago. It was definetly contractors and not VM staff doing install etc. Ive had it from several sources now that we will get service very soon.

In my experience if VM telesales staff, they can only give the info provided to them (ie the postcode checker) so they dont really know.

As soon as I hear something I'll post here.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Next generation internet and digital TV services come to Cornwall for the first time.

Vtesse Networks and Virgin Media have today announced plans for an ultra-fast broadband trial in Cornwall. The trials will provide connectivity of up to 50Mbps and be used to deliver Virgin Media’s range of “next generation� broadband and digital TV services to two rural communities well beyond the reach of the company’s existing fibre optic cable network. The trials will begin during winter 2009.

“Subject to the satisfactory completion of these trials and to a supportive regulatory policy, our analysis indicates that it could be feasible to roll-out similar capability to as many as 2 million further homes and small businesses in current ultra-fast ‘not-spots’ across the country.�


http://www.vtesse.com/whats-new.asp?news=20

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/08/vm_cornwall/

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

This would be Virgin's play for the Digital Britain 50p tax money.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

IPTV eh? I wonder if the interface will be nicer than V+...

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

That is a interesting development, could we see Virgin remain responsible for the core cable network, channel carriage deals and VOD content but use other companies infrastructure to deliver content outside that area. There seem to be a number of areas that have a optic fibre network being running by small companies that have invested in a small area.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

It would make sense, VM have lots of Fibre all over the UK, not just in their CATV areas.

So yes VM could send their content across their backbone to some of these other areas and let a 3rd party handle the access network.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Hi,

Update, I am LE3 5FF area, due to be upgraded this month (Nov 09) promise to be done by 01/12/2009. Information from Virgin shop in town.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

thats great news, I'm in LE3 6FL, and still no confirmed news on the upgrade, Please keep us updated and let us know how it goes.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

im in the le31qp area and vm was doing some work on my street i asked what they were doing and the bloke said there removing the old cable ready for laying the new.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

doesnt look like vm are expanding there network just upgrading in already cabled areas ,i got a response from vm new build co-ordinator that it was to expensive to dig the road up and upgrade the green box just down the road from me, looking for another service provider now

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

just been into the vm shop in town to see when fibre will be avalible he said it will be servicable from monday.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

^^
please let us know what happens....

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

yupiiiiiiiiiiiiiii...
vm just started serving cable around here, NJ.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

^^
whats your post code?

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

it took 7 years, approx, from the pavement boxes and other work being done till we eventually had Virgin services around here !

thats quite some wait :)

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

If it takes that long to cable a area no wonder it so expensive :D

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Where are you?
Im still getting no joy from VM regarding timescales.
Cheers

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

I wonder if Cable will expand into Bangor Co.Down?

VM claimed there would be an announcement towards the end of 2009 about the expansion of the network.

If this isn't towards the end of the year, we must be damned close to it.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

well just rang vm up to see whats avalible and i can get there 50 meg service now im in the le31qp area

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Where they say it is too expensive to upgrade Westminster and Milton Keynes and any other analogue franchise, I'm sure the goverment ran a scheme offering Digital TV broadcasters money for converting users to Digital, so maybe if this is still ongoing, maybe Virgin Media should consider using the money to pay for the upgrade???

And maybe it's time for the goverment to intervene on the issue of Digital TV in Westminster. The amount of people I know that have so many issues getting decent TV reception, even Sky, most buildings aren't permitted or equipped with satellite TV nor terrestrial TV basics.

The Analogue Cable service in the area is crap, even if you don't want to pay for it, its stillm poor, bad picture plus a load of scrambled channels. What was Westminster Council thinking when they had this rubbish installed and handed over control to BT!

And if BT don't want Virgin Media to offer Digital TV over the network, then why don't BT take it back! They are gonna leave residents with a lot of hassle! BT can do it since they no longer have shares in BskyB. It would be better than that BT Vision or Tiscali rubbish thats on offer.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Sorry mate, imho there is no mission of that happening.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

How come mate?

It's a fairly big town and I was told by a local (i only recently moved their) that the main cable trunk was laid into Bangor years ago, but never expanded into streets to make it available.

But I don't know if that is true or not, it was just one of my neighbours saying so.

The ADSL is terrible, I was with VM when living in Belfast and the cable broadband was brilliant (in comparison).

Aww well, Looks like I'll have to rely on BT upgrading their services.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

The trunking is laid down to there, but I personally don't see them spending the money to cable all of Bangor. I am from Belfast and know what size it is.

I think the expansion is more areas that are currently beside on-net areas, like new developements.

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

Ahh so it's more like filling in blank spaces rather than expanding it's network in the purest sense?

Incidently I don't care about cabling all of Bangor, my house would do :D

Re: VM to begin expanding its cable network
 

I'm sure VM would cable every house in the UK if it was commercially viable, but in some areas they'd never recoup the cost of laying the cables. They are still paying for the cables laid down in the 90's.