Virgin Media To Connect Business Parks To 300Mbps Broadband

Virgin Media will connect thousands of firms in business parks as part of its £3 billion ‘Project Lightning’ network expansion, starting with two locations in Andover in Hampshire.

Portway and Walworth business parks will be the first to be connected by Virgin Media Business, which claims many sites are underserved by superfast broadband.

Firms there will be able to access speeds of at least 300Mbps and 9,000 organisations are being targeted within the next six months.

It is expected Project Lightning will expand Virgin’s footprint from 12.9 million premises to 17 million by 2019, with half a million added this year alone.

Virgin Media Business broadband

Business parks have often been excluded from rollouts of superfast broadband but there has been drive to improve connectivity. BT is trialling fibre to the premise (FTTP) technology with a view to connecting businesses and other firms across the UK are also carrying out projects.

“Too many business parks and office blocks are stuck in the analogue age and business tenants are suffering as a result,” said Mike Smith, director of Virgin Media Business. “With our ultrafast network we can make a big impact to thousands of businesses across the country.

“Thanks to the support and cooperation of Test Valley Borough Council, the Portway and Walworth business parks will soon rival anywhere in the UK when it comes to digital capacity. Existing tenants will be able to do more with digital and new types of business will be attracted to the area.”

Virgin Media says its current network plans will not be affected by the UK’s decision to leave the EU but have warned future investment could be discouraged by a Brexit.

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