Virgin Media’s Evolving Network From DOCSIS vs Full Fibre (FTTP) Explore Packages Virgin Media’s Network Evolution: DOCSIS vs Full Fibre (FTTP) Virgin Media is one of the UK’s leading broadband providers and has been a pioneer in using Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) technology to deliver high-speed internet over its Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial (HFC) network. While DOCSIS has played a crucial role in Virgin’s offerings, the landscape of broadband technology is shifting, with Full Fibre (FTTP) becoming the future of high-speed internet. Here’s a breakdown of the differences between DOCSIS and FTTP, and how Virgin Media is planning its transition. Virgin Media Network Upgrade Timeline Virgin Media’s Network Upgrade Timeline 2017 DOCSIS 3.1 2017: Introduction of DOCSIS 3.1 Virgin Media upgrades to DOCSIS 3.1, allowing download speeds of up to 10 Gbps and upload speeds of up to 1 Gbps. 2020 RFoG Rollout 2020: RFoG Rollout (Radio Frequency over Glass) Virgin Media starts using RFoG, where fibre is converted to coaxial for in-home connections, eliminating some older infrastructure issues. 2022 XGS-PON Rollout 2022: XGS-PON Full Fibre Rollout Virgin Media begins rolling out XGS-PON, a full-fibre solution supporting symmetrical speeds of up to 10 Gbps for both downloads and uploads. 2024 Gig2 Package 2024: Gig2 Package Launched Virgin introduces the Gig2 package with 2 Gbps download speeds, exclusive to XGS-PON full fibre areas. 2028 FTTP Completion 2028: Completion of Full Fibre (FTTP) Rollout Virgin Media plans to complete the transition to a full-fibre (FTTP) network, ensuring faster speeds and more reliable connections across the UK. What is DOCSIS? DOCSIS is a set of telecommunications standards that allow internet data to be transmitted over existing cable TV lines, particularly coaxial cables. Virgin Media uses this system to deliver broadband through its HFC network, which combines fibre-optic cables for most of the journey and switches to coaxial cables for the last stretch into homes. Virgin Media has upgraded its network to DOCSIS 3.1, which supports download speeds up to 10 Gbps and upload speeds of 1 Gbps. This technology has enabled Virgin to offer ultra-fast broadband packages like Gig1, providing download speeds of up to 1130 Mbps. However, while DOCSIS 3.1 can handle impressive speeds, it introduces some limitations in terms of latency and upload capacity, especially for demanding applications like online gaming or content creation. The Limitations of DOCSIS Despite its high download speeds, DOCSIS technology struggles with latency and reliability compared to full fibre networks: Latency: DOCSIS introduces some delay due to the way signals are encoded and decoded over the cable. This delay can add up to 3.5 milliseconds (ms) of extra latency, which might not affect general browsing but can be noticeable in online gaming or video conferencing. Congestion: The HFC network shares bandwidth across users, and during peak times, this can lead to congestion, slowing down speeds and increasing latency. Ageing Infrastructure: In some areas, the coaxial cables laid in the 1980s are ageing, and issues such as signal degradation or overheating amplifiers can cause outages or inconsistent performance, especially during the summer months. Virgin’s Roll out of Full Fibre (FTTP) Broadband Full Fibre to the Premises (FTTP), also known as Fibre to the Home (FTTH), is widely regarded as the superior technology for delivering broadband. In FTTP, fibre-optic cables run directly into homes, eliminating the need for coaxial cables. This means faster, more reliable internet with symmetrical upload and download speeds, which is ideal for today’s data-heavy applications. Virgin Media is currently rolling out FTTP via two approaches: 1. RFoG (Radio Frequency over Glass): This system still relies on DOCSIS technology but replaces the coaxial cables outside the home with fibre. While it eliminates some issues related to older coaxial lines, it still uses DOCSIS for in-home connections, meaning the same latency and congestion issues persist. 2. XGS-PON (10 Gigabit Symmetrical Passive Optical Network): This is a true full-fibre solution, where fibre runs directly into the home, supporting symmetrical speeds of up to 10 Gbps for both downloads and uploads. Virgin’s Gig2 package, offering 2 Gbps download speeds, is exclusive to areas where XGS-PON is available. Why Full Fibre is Better Lower Latency: FTTP reduces latency significantly, which is crucial for gaming, live streaming, and real-time communications. Gamers on full fibre connections typically experience ping times as low as 2-5 ms, compared to 15-25 ms on DOCSIS networks. Symmetrical Speeds: FTTP offers symmetrical upload and download speeds, which are becoming increasingly important as more people work from home, upload content, or participate in video calls. Future Proofing: With FTTP, Virgin Media can easily upgrade to 25 Gbps or even 50 Gbps in the future, as only the equipment at either end of the fibre connection needs to be changed. DOCSIS, by contrast, would require significant infrastructure changes to achieve similar performance. Virgin Media’s Full Fibre Transition Virgin Media has ambitious plans to upgrade its entire network to FTTP by 2028. This will involve replacing its existing HFC network, allowing all customers to benefit from the superior speed, reliability, and low latency of fibre-to-the-home connections. By the time the transition is complete, Virgin Media’s broadband will be on par with or superior to other full-fibre networks, such as BT’s Openreach. The cost of upgrading to full fibre is significant, but Virgin Media expects it to be more cost-effective in the long run. Currently, it costs around £100 per home to switch to FTTP, which is just £40 more than upgrading to DOCSIS 4.0, the next iteration of the DOCSIS standard. However, FTTP will eliminate the need for further investments in DOCSIS upgrades, making it a smarter long-term move.

Virgin Media Grantham Virgin Media O2 Connects Grantham Explore Packages Virgin Media Gig2 Broadband in Grantham Nexfibre and Virgin Media Gig2 Availability in Grantham Nexfibre and Virgin Media Gig2 Availability in Grantham Source: Nexfibre Q2 2024 Roll Out Report Thousands of homes in Grantham now have access to Virgin Media O2’s gigabit broadband network, providing residents with ultra-fast internet speeds of up to 1,130Mbps (Gig1) – nearly 27 times faster than the previous local average with a more recent introduction of Gig2 (54 times faster) Residents in areas like the town centre, Manthorpe, Gonerby Hill Foot, and Great Gonerby can now enjoy this high-speed service, revolutionising how they connect online. Virgin Media O2’s gigabit broadband allows users to transfer large files, stream TV shows, download films, and play online games in seconds. With these speeds, households can operate multiple devices simultaneously without interruptions, enhancing productivity and entertainment experiences. Expanding the UK’s Gigabit Network Since 2021, Virgin Media 02 has steadily increased its network coverage in Grantham, connecting millions more homes to next-generation broadband. Lutz Schüler, Chief Executive Officer at Virgin Media O2, commented, “Our gigabit broadband network is growing rapidly, providing millions of UK homes with access to ultra-fast speeds. We are leading the charge in helping the UK meet its broadband targets, ensuring consumers benefit from future-proof connectivity.” Gareth Davies, MP for Grantham and Stamford, voiced his excitement for the continued rollout: “It’s fantastic that Grantham now benefits from Gigabit connectivity through the Virgin Media O2 network. This infrastructure boost will drive local growth, create new job opportunities, and improve the quality of life for students, business owners, and residents.” Investing in the Future of UK Connectivity Since the original 2021 announcement, Virgin Media O2 has reinforced its long-term investment in the UK’s broadband infrastructure, increasing its commitment to £10 billion over the next five years. This investment will further expand its fibre network and gigabit reach, ensuring even more UK households can access ultra-fast internet speeds. In line with government goals, Virgin Media O2’s ongoing upgrades contribute to the target of having 85% of UK premises connected to gigabit speeds by 2025. The company remains on track to complete its network upgrades ahead of this deadline, supporting the UK’s ambition for widespread connectivity. Looking further ahead, Virgin Media O2 has set its sights on upgrading its fixed network to full fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) by 2028. This upgrade will offer symmetrical speeds of up to 10Gbps, ensuring that Virgin Media O2 remains a leader in the UK broadband market as demand for faster internet continues to rise. Gig1 Broadband – Next-Level Connectivity Virgin Media O2’s Gig1 broadband, launched in 2021, is now widely available to both new and existing customers. The service comes with the Hub 4 router, which delivers intelligent WiFi coverage for strong, reliable connectivity throughout the home. Gig1 can be bundled with additional TV, mobile, and telephone services, with prices starting at £62 per month on an 18-month contract. Virgin Media O2’s continued investment in its broadband network, alongside its plans for future upgrades, ensures that UK residents will benefit from cutting-edge connectivity for years. Original Press Release: Virgin Media O2 connects Grantham to gigabit broadband