Virgin Media tops broadband speed test for September

Major internet service provider (ISP) Virgin Media has claimed the number one spot in a download speed test for September conducted by Broadband.co.uk.

Customers subscribed to the company's broadband services received an average download speed of 7.238 megabits per second (Mbps), which could also enable them to use VoIP solutions more effectively.

Rival O2 claimed second place, delivering average speeds of 5.535Mbps, with the average download speed from all ISPs in September coming to 4.361Mbps.

Broadband.co.uk said: "During September 2009 Virgin Media have yet again extended their lead as the UK's fastest broadband supplier; however, their average speed is no longer rising."

Virgin has been investing in next-generation fibre optic networks to help increase broadband connection speeds throughout the UK and it recently launched a 50Mbps service.

BT is one of its main rivals and is spending £1.5 billion on a next-generation network roll-out of its own. This includes trials on fibre-to-the-cabinet technology, which involves running fibre connections to street cabinets and linking these to existing copper wiring for the final link to individual homes.