Virgin sets cable broadband world record

Virgin has successfully powered 1.5Gbps broadband speeds, delivering speeds up to 240 times faster than the UK average, the ISP announced today.

Silicon Roundabout is now enjoying the uber fast speeds thanks to the 1.5Gbps download and 150Mbps upload trial announced in April.

The technology used to power the trial is the same used to provide 100Mbps to residential customers, Virgin said.

"It is fantastic to see the fastest internet speeds in the world over cable being trialled here in the UK," said communications minister Ed Vaizey.

"This exciting development will help attract new companies and entrepreneurs to the area, bringing new jobs and growth to this part of the capital."

Vaizey said such projects will help make London's East End a rival to Silicon Valley.

"Superfast broadband is critical to continued innovation across the UK and Virgin Media's 1.5Gb trial is a great opportunity to explore the future potential," added Elizabeth Varley, co-founder and chief executive at TechHub - one of the organisations enjoying the 1.5Gbps connections.

Virgin said the speeds were possible thanks to a 13 billion investment, "which means that every cable home is connected to a state-of-the-art fibre optic network by a high-grade coaxial line."

"As people are simultaneously connecting more gadgets to the internet and doing more online than ever before, we wanted to explore what our unique fibre optic network is capable of," said Jon James, executive director of broadband at Virgin Media.

"At speeds of up to 1.5Gbps, Virgin Media is delivering some of the fastest broadband in the world and, thanks to our ongoing investment, we're able to anticipate and lead the way in meeting growing demand for bandwidth as future services and applications come online."

Despite such positive trials, the rollout of fibre connections in the UK could be in jeopardy thanks to industry in-fighting over infrastructure.