Virgin Media to offer free fibre optic broadband speed boost?

Virgin Media is reportedly set to offer its fibre optic broadband customers a free-of-charge boost to their download speeds in the coming weeks.

During the first quarter of 2012, the cable company will increase the speed of its up to 10Mbps broadband package to 30Mbps, while the headline rates of its up to 30Mbs and 50Mbps deals will rise to 60Mbps and 100Mbps respectively, reports Hardware Heaven.

It is believed the move will be made in response to similar plans from BT, which is set to roughly double the top speed of its fibre-to-the-cabinet service to 80Mbps in the coming months.

In its latest financial results publication covering the three months to October 27th 2011, Virgin Media report record growth for its super-fast broadband customer base.

Some 54 per cent of new subscribers opted for speeds of 30Mbps or higher over the three-month period and more than one million households receive download rates of at least 20Mbps from Virgin Media.