Virgin Media reports growth in top-tier fibre broadband packages

Virgin Media has reported significant growth in the popularity of its fastest fibre optic broadband packages.

The cable company said more than 860,000 households were subscribed to speeds of 20Mbps and above at the end of the first quarter of 2011.

This figure represents more than a fifth of the internet service provider's (ISP's) total broadband customer base.

Over 150,000 customers have opted for Virgin Media's 50Mbps product, up 33 per cent since the end of last year and more than double the number who were signed up to this package 12 months ago.

Some two million homes are now able to access speeds of 100Mbps, with the ISP stating it is on track to roll the technology out across its entire network by mid-2012.

The "ultra-fast" service enables customers to download a high-quality version of a movie in less than a couple of minutes.

Jon James, Virgin Media's executive head of broadband, revealed more than 10,000 people signed up for the package on the first day it was launched.