Virgin Media extends super fast broadband coverage

Virgin Media is preparing to offer consumers download speeds of up to 50 gigabits per second (Gbps) later this year.

The move comes after an initial 'North-South' trial, which carried online traffic between London and Manchester, proved successful.

The trial employed technology from Nortel and Jupiter to increase the speed of a normal 10 Gbps network.

"Our aim for this trial was to ensure that we continue to meet the growing capacity needs of the high-speed services we deliver," said Daniel Hennessy, director of technical architecture at Virgin Media, in a statement.

The firm declared in its first-quarter financial results that four packages with network speeds of 2 Gbps, 10 Gbps, 20 Gbps and 50 Gbps will be offered to customers.

Telecoms regulator Ofcom recently launched a consultation looking at how existing infrastructure such as underground pipes, sewers and underground ducts could be used to deliver super fast broadband connections.