Virgin Media fibre broadband network prepared for rise in data

Virgin Media has claimed its fibre optic broadband network is well equipped to cope with a predicted "explosion" in bandwidth usage.

Jon James, the cable company's executive director of broadband, claimed consumers will become increasingly reliant on their internet connections over the coming years.

"Only Virgin Media's unique network is primed to cater for the UK's impending data explosion," he remarked.

As part of its plans to cope with the surge in usage, the internet service provider launched its up to 100Mbps fibre broadband product late last year.

The 'ultra-fast' speeds offered by the package will be rolled out to 12.7 million households throughout the country by mid-2012.

Prime minister David Cameron was one of the first to praise Virgin Media on the launch of the service, which he described as an "exciting" development.

"We want to see super-fast broadband brought to people's homes and businesses right across the country," the Conservative leader added.