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A family of four all downloading films, streaming music and surfing the web will require some 70Mbps



THOUSANDS of Britons will be able to give their broadband speeds a BOOST this week, without having to spend a penny.

 

Virgin Media has today announced Vivid Broadband, which boasts internet speeds of up to 200Mbps, and will be available to existing customers free of charge.

The new scheme is great news for bandwidth-dependent Britons or serial movie streamers.

For example, Netflix requires an internet connection of some 25Mbps to stream it's Ultra HD 4K video content.

 

Virgin Media claims its new connection speeds of 200Mbps will allow customers to download a two-hour full HD film in three minutes – less time than it takes to boil a kettle.

A music album will take just three.

Virgin Media will be rolling out the new speedier service this week – and existing customers will be upgraded for free.

The broadband boost means Vivid Broadband is now one of the fastest in the UK, besting BT's top speed of 160Mbps service.

Virgin Media will begin contacting its 4.6 million broadband customers to explain how they can opt-in to an upgrade from 1st October 2015.

If you're not elligible for Virgin's upgrade – why not read our Simple Household Tricks to BOOST your braodband speeds?

 



Richard Branson promotes his Virgin Media service with Olympic Gold Medalist Usain Bolt



This is how your speeds will change – current speed 50Mbps new speed 70Mbps, current 100Mbps new 150Mbps, current 150Mbps new 200Mbps.

This is the third time the company has boosted customer broadband speeds in five years, quadrupling the fastest speeds available from 50Mbps in 2010 to Vivid 200Mbps in 2015.

Speaking about the new speeds, Managing Director of Consumer at Virgin Media Gregor McNeil said: "Our message is simple: if you want to be certain that you are signing up to true ultrafast broadband speeds of 100Mbps and above, Vivid from Virgin Media is the new standard.

"The speed of a customer’s broadband connection matters; when you have more you can do more."

 

Vivid Broadband promises to give Virgin Media customers a bumper speed boost, at no extra cost

Ewan Taylor-Gibson, broadband expert at uSwitch.com, commented on the Virgin Media launch: "Offering existing customers faster broadband for free is a smart move. 

"Virgin Media customers must opt in for an upgrade, but at no extra cost. You don't need to sign up to a new contract either, making it a very appealing deal.

"But three-figure speeds are some way off becoming a household essential. 

"Providers are already looking to the future, with Sky and TalkTalk running a 940Mbps speed trial in York, while BT is experimenting with G.fast speeds of up to 1Gbps."

 

"Yet the majority of consumers are yet to catch on to the benefits of faster broadband, with only one in three using existing super-fast services. 

"But this is going to change with time. The majority of us are now considered heavy or moderate internet users, so fibre broadband is set to become a household essential.

“A typical home now has multiple devices, like tablets, smartphones and games consoles, accessing the internet at any one time so large households, like families or groups of students, need faster speeds. 

"If a family of four are all downloading films, streaming music and surfing the web at once in the evening, an entry level package of 70Mbps suddenly becomes more practical."