Tech Lover 9

Virgin Media has recently embarked on a radical new path as a British Internet service provider. While many companies are attempting to provide gimmicks and special introductory offers to attract and keep customers, Virgin has instead directed its efforts toward the root of what Internet user’s desire: more speed.
If your ISP were to suddenly tell you that they were doubling your speed — for free — and that all you had to do is sit back and watch the packets roll in and out, you would probably think they were mad. Yet this is exactly what Virgin Media has done with its new broadband program. Customers on the S plan will find their speed more than doubled from 2 Mbps to 5 Mbps, while customers partaking of the M and L packages will find their 10 Mbps service has increased to 20 Mbps. XL customers will log on to discover a new maximum speed of 60 Mbps while their fellow Internet consumers will find their 50 Mbps maximum now upgraded to the old maximum of 100 Mbps. Finally, those customers on the fastest package will wake and turn their computers on to find a new surfing speed of 120 Mbps; by far the fastest in the U.K. Shockingly all of this comes at no increase in cost to the consumer, unless of course the consumer were to decide to upgrade their package to take advantage of the increased speed. In this case, package-specific fees would apply.
Now you might be saying that 120 Mbps is all fine and good, but what does that actually mean in terms of usage? From Virgin’s mouth (as it were) comes the following paraphrased explanation:
A 30 Mbps connection of broadband from Virgin Media would allow you to download a music album somewhere in the vicinity of 18 seconds while a TV show would require less than two minutes. A normal definition film would take five minutes to download at this speed, while an HD movie would take 20 minutes.
If you were to opt for the 60 Mbps package of broadband from Virgin Media, then, while at maximum speed, you would be able to download a standard music album in nine seconds while a TV show would take no more than a minute of your time. A standard definition film would only take two and a half minutes of your time, while those of the high definition variety would require 10 minutes worth of patience.
At the old maximum speed of 100 Mbps, your broadband from Virgin Media would allow you to download a full-length album in the course of a few blinks, six seconds. A television show moved from the Internet to your hard drive will take a mere half-minute. A movie would take longer to search for than to download at a minimal one and a half minutes, while a film of the high definition variety will take as much time to download as the inevitable preparatory two bags of microwave popcorn will to cook, a measly six minutes.
Sufficed to say, Virgin Media’s competition is less than thrilled with the implications of this expansion and the increased customer base it will inevitably attract. Virgin Media however shows no signs of ceasing to push the boundaries of their consumer offerings, nor the speed of those offerings.