Virgin Unveils Its 50Mbit Cable Modem

It will be the UK's fastest nationwide broadband service when it launches and clearly that as-yet-unknown-date is imminent...

How can we know? Well Virgin Media has kicked off a viral campaign for the stunningly quick package today as it revealed the stylish new modem that will be provided to all customers looking to access these breakneck speeds. And here it is:

Taking cue from the ever fashionable piano black, the device has to meet key specs to attain its ballistic top end including:

• EuroDOCSIS 3.0 / DOCSIS 3.0 Operation
• EuroDOCSIS / DOCSIS 1.0 / 1.1 / 2.0 Compatible
• Support for four channel bonding
• Ethernet Interface (RJ-45) (10/100/1000 Mbps compatible)

Complicated these may sound (Ethernet aside) but in essence they are fundamental in establishing and maintaining what will represent a new high watermark in mainstream broadband connections. Of course, Virgin is well placed to make these jumps since - unlike BT which began an extensive and long-term £1.5bn fibre optic roll-out in July - Branson's baby already uses fibre optics across its entire cable network.

Equally interesting, is that while DSL based technologies see performance drop off markedly with increased distance from an exchange, cable is only affected by customer congestion meaning outside peak hours you can expect to hit almost all, if not all, of your quoted speed. Late night download nirvana...

So, now we just await pricing and availability. Please Virgin, tells us - after all, we've been teased with your 50Mbit service since November 2008...

Link:
Virgin Media

http://www.trustedreviews.com