Virgin to launch 50Mbps broadband in 2008

Virgin Media will launch 50 megabits per second broadband across its network next year, it has confirmed.

It has recently been trialing the service and, at a technology conference with ministers this week, announced it had proved successful and would be expanded.

A Virgin spokesman confirmed today: "We'll never know exactly what demand there'll be for super-fast broadband until it's in people's homes and workplaces up and down the UK.

"What we do know is that our cable network has a unique potential to revolutionise consumers' experience and we're convinced that 2008 is the moment to take the lead with the commercial launch of a 50 megabit product."

Virgin's acting chief executive Neil Berkett has recently indicated the company should focus on fast broadband as its strength over rivals.