Liberty Global sizing up partnerships to expand reach of Virgin Media's network

Liberty Global has plans to expand the Virgin Media network to an additional 7 to 10 million homes in the UK and is exploring a wide range of options to get it done.

While a portion of that will come from its ongoing Project Lightning fiber-to-the-premises initiative, the operator is also taking a look at potential partnerships involving investors and other network operators.

But, for now, Liberty Global isn't sharing a ton of detail about what types of partnerships it is exploring, despite recent reports that the company is already in talks with Comcast-owned Sky about a fiber joint venture and possible cable wholesale deal.

"I'm not going to get into great detail about what we might or might not be doing" with respect to potential network-facing partnerships, Mike Fries, Liberty Global's CEO, said Friday on the company's Q4 2019 earnings call. But he acknowledged that any way to expand the reach of Virgin Media's network in the UK would create a "very positive outcome."

"We're examining all options," Fries said, noting that it's part of a longer-term strategy at Liberty Global and not something that will be solved Q1 2020. "We would be interested in not just financial partners but also network operators who are interested in the same opportunities."

But Liberty Global is not interested in sacrificing free cash flow to make this happen, mirroring the financial strategy it's employing today for Project Lightning. That FTTP-based project added 505,000 premises passed in 2019, ending the year with 2.1 million premises passed, 454,000 customers and about £236 million ($307.79 million) in revenues.

"While we're not willing to sacrifice free cash flow to do that [network expansion] on-balance sheet… we would certainly entertain ideas [and] ways of achieving that off-balance sheet that could accelerate the reach of 1-gigabit speeds and the Virgin brand," Fries said.

Fries said Virgin Media is also looking into wholesale opportunities that could bring cash flow immediately to the company's bottom line, noting that 40% of the operator's network is currently being utilized. The con in that scenario is possibly cannibalizing Virgin Media's business, he added. Bloomberg reported last month that Liberty Global applied to Ofcom to pursue wholesale opportunities in the UK.

More generally, Fries noted that the UK market remains a tough one (Virgin Media lost about 110,000 revenue generating units for all of 2019), highlighted by an increasingly competitive (and promotional) broadband market alongside flattening video subscriber growth. That's being amplified by "external headwinds" over the past three years involving broadband tax increases, inflationary programming contracts and changes to mobile regulations. Those headwinds will continue into 2020 in the form of an anticipated operating cash flow reduction of about £100 million ($130.36 million).

Despite those challenges, "we are more than holding our own in this market," Fries said of the UK.

Regarding the company's video strategy, Fries noted that Liberty Global still sees pay-TV as a service "worth protecting," though the operator won't chase after less profitable, lower-end customers – essentially replicating a strategy being undertaken by major US cable operators such as Comcast and Charter Communications. As it focuses on more profitable customers, Virgin Media will soon roll out the company's new user interface, Horizon 4, on its V6 boxes (replacing TiVo), and the ongoing integration of OTT apps such as YouTube, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

"We are open for business when it comes to app integration," Fries said.

The Horizon 4 rollout in the UK will also mark Liberty Global's expansion of a video product that utilizes the Reference Design Kit, a preintegrated, open source software platform being managed by Comcast, Liberty Global and Charter.

"We think it will be transformational to the consumer experience in the same way X1 was for Comcast," Fries said. "The bundle matters, and video is a big part of the bundle."

Liberty Global hit its 2019 financial targets, but growth is becoming harder to come by in the wake of the company's sale of operations in Germany, Hungary, Romania and the Czech Republic to Vodafone last July.

Liberty Global Q4 2019 revenues were $2.98 billion, down 0.5%, and $11.54 billion for the full year, down 0.6%.

In the fixed services category, Liberty Global added 15,700 broadband subs in Q4, compared to a gain of 24,800 in the year-ago period. The company lost 91,300 video customers, versus a loss of 74,900 a year earlier; it also lost 52,700 voice subs, compared to a year-ago gain of 17,600.

— Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor, Light Reading

Liberty Global steps in to rescue UPC/Sunrise deal

In a bid to rescue the uncertain takeover of its subsidiary UPC Switzerland by Swiss telecommunications company Sunrise, Liberty Global is to participate in the capital increase arranged to finance the deal and become a shareholder in the combined entity. However, Sunrise’s largest single shareholder Freenet still opposes the transaction.

Liberty Global has agreed to support the Sunrise rights offering up to an aggregate amount of CHF500 million (€455 million) through the purchase of trade-able subscription rights at market prices and the subsequent purchase of newly issued shares, if any, in the rights offering.

If fully utilized, the move would lead to Liberty Global owning 7.8% in Sunrise at current market prices. Sunrise and Liberty Global have also agreed that Liberty Global will receive one board seat nomination as long as its shareholding exceeds 5%. All other terms of the CHF6.3 billion transaction remain unchanged.

“We have always believed in the logic of this combination. It creates a national powerhouse that will provide a fully-converged challenger to Swisscom and represents a smart and accretive transaction for both Sunrise and Liberty shareholders,” said Mike Fries, CEO of Liberty Global. “We are also happy to support the financing. Both investors and consumers win when this deal closes.”

The takeover of UPC Switzerland is subject to the majority of Sunrise shareholders approving the capital increase at an extraordinary general meeting scheduled for October 23, 2019. Swiss regulatory authority WEKO recently approved the deal without conditions.

Sunrise welcomed Liberty Global’s move, arguing that the company could add considerable value by leveraging its operational and integration experience to support the management in delivering the synergies and running its high-speed broadband network. Liberty Global’s investment in the capital increase would also lessen the financial commitment needed from Sunrise shareholders.

“We welcome Liberty Global’s investment in our rights issue which further validates the compelling strategic and financial rationale of the combination between Sunrise and UPC Switzerland,” said Peter Kurer, chairman of the board of directors of Sunrise. “Liberty Global is a leading global cable operator and will bring considerable experience to our board to support management in running the combined business and delivering on our identified, actionable synergies. We look forward to welcoming Liberty Global as a significant shareholder in our company and, in due course, as partner in our board.”

However, it still remains uncertain whether the deal will go through. Sunrise’s largest single shareholder, German media group Freenet, has decided to uphold its opposition although Liberty Global’s move to become a shareholder in the combined entity has been one of the conditions demanded by Freenet.

“Liberty Global’s participation does not change our position or that of the majority of other shareholders on the deal”, a Freenet spokesperson told Broadband TV News. “We continue to believe that the deal is not good. The latest developments show that Sunrise is now trying every trick in the book to turn the tide. Liberty Global merely announces that it will participate at rock-bottom prices with the money it has won from an overpriced sale. This is a slap in the face of all existing shareholders.”

AT&T Sells Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands Assets to Liberty for $1.95B

Deal will boost Liberty’s holdings on the islands, expects to close in Q2 2020

Liberty Latin America has agreed to purchase AT&T’s wireless and wireline assets in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for $1.95 billion in cash, the company said Wednesday. 

Liberty Latin America, which was spun off from John Malone’s LibertyGlobal as an independent publicly traded company in 2018, already has an extensive presence in Puerto Rico. This deal, according to Liberty Latin America CEO Balan Nair, will allow the company to expand its product portfolio to include a popular post-paid mobile offering and increase its distribution channels on the island.

News of the deal boosted Liberty Latin America stock was up nearly 3% in early trading Wednesday to $17.06 per share.

“The combination of AT&T’s leading mobile businesses with Liberty Puerto Rico’s leading high-speed broadband and TV business will create a strong and competitive integrated communications player, with a combined annual revenue of over $1.2 billion in Puerto Rico and $4.6 billion across LLA,” Nair said in a press release. “By continuing to invest in digital infrastructure, innovation, 5G networks and a friendly customer service experience, we are confident that this new combination will support our long-term growth profile and that this deal will be free cash flow accretive on a per share basis.”

The sale should also serve to calm some investors who had been advocating for AT&T to sell off non-core assets to help pay down its $80 billion in debt. In September, investor Elliott Management called for the company to sell off its DirecTV and WarnerMedia units to focus on its core wireless business. While this deal is not early as extreme, it shows that the company is at least paying attention. 

The assets involved in the deal include AT&T’s consumer mobile and B2B services in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, but exclude its DirecTV customers in those areas. In Puerto Rico, which Liberty said accounts for about 90% of the total assets being acquired, AT&T is the top provider of mobile services, and has agreed to support Liberty Latin America for up to 36 months following the closing of the deal to enable an efficient transition.

Liberty Latin America will finance the transaction through a combination of $2.2 billion in borrowings on the combined assets and Liberty Puerto Rico (including refinancing $922.5 million in existing term loans at Liberty Puerto Rico) and the remaining $750 million from Liberty Latin America’s committed liquidity of $2.0 billion on June 30. 

Liontree LLC and Credit Suisse are acting as financial advisers to Liberty Latin America on the transaction. 

DOW JONES NAMES LIBERTY GLOBAL AS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST SUSTAINABLE COMPANIES IN THE MEDIA INDUSTRY

For the eighth consecutive year, Dow Jones has named Liberty Global as one of the world’s most sustainable companies operating in the media industry.

The company’s sustainability strategy has been rewarded with a listing in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) in both the World and North American categories.

Liberty Global subsidiary Telenet also appears in the World index and sector leader among the world’s most sustainable media companies for the seventh year.

Launched in 1999, the DJSI World Index represents the gold standard for corporate sustainability. Only the top-ranked companies within each industry are selected for inclusion in the DJSI Indices. The indices serve as benchmarks for investors who integrate sustainability considerations into their portfolios and provide an effective engagement platform for companies who want to adopt sustainable best practices.

Liberty Global achieved an overall company score of 65 points, compared to an average score of 30 points for companies operating in the global media sector. More specifically, the company was rewarded for its performance in the areas of Materiality, Brand Management, Climate Strategy, Labor Practice Indicators, and Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy.

Liberty Global takes a proactive approach to sustainability by managing the impact of its business on the environment and society, as well as developing strategies to ensure this is ingrained in every aspect of the organization. Its Connected Purpose strategy leads the way by setting the company’s priorities in two areas:

• Digital Imagination: Creating digital solutions that answer society’s most pressing challenges;

• Responsible Connectivity: Delivering outstanding connectivity while running our business in a responsible and sustainable way.

Manuel Kohnstamm, Liberty Global’s Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, comments: “We aim to maximize the positive social impact of our products and services and work in line with global industry standards on sustainability. We’re proud that this long-standing commitment to sustainability has again been recognized by Dow Jones through our inclusion in these prestigious indices.”

In addition to its continued membership of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, Liberty Global is included in the FTSE4Good Index and Fortune 500 listing.

LIBERTY GLOBAL COMPLETES THE SALE OF ITS OPERATIONS IN GERMANY, HUNGARY, ROMANIA AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC TO VODAFONE

Denver, Colorado – July 31, 2019

Liberty Global plc (“Liberty Global”) (NASDAQ: LBTYA, LBTYB and LBTYK) today announced that it has completed the sale of its operations in Germany, Hungary, Romania and the Czech Republic to Vodafone Group plc (“Vodafone”) for approximately €19.0 billion ($21.3 billion) 1 on a U.S. GAAP basis2. The purchase price represents a multiple for all four businesses combined of 11.5x3 adjusted Segment OCF4, or approximately 24.0x operating free cash flow (“OFCF”)5, for 2017 (the full year prior to announcement).

The net cash proceeds were approximately €10.1 billion ($11.3 billion)1.

We have hedged the foreign currency risk associated with the net proceeds through the use of various derivative instruments, which had the effect of converting the majority of the euro denominated proceeds into U.S. dollars at an average USD/EUR exchange rate of 1.12.

ABOUT LIBERTY GLOBAL

Liberty Global (NASDAQ: LBTYA, LBTYB and LBTYK) is one of the world’s leading converged video, broadband and communications companies, with operations in six European countries under the consumer brands Virgin Media, Telenet and UPC. We invest in the infrastructure and digital platforms that empower our customers to make the most of the digital revolution. Our substantial scale and commitment to innovation enable us to develop market-leading products delivered through next-generation networks that connect 11 million customers subscribing to 25 million TV, broadband internet and telephony services. We also serve 6 million mobile subscribers and offer WiFi service through millions of access points across our footprint.

In addition, Liberty Global owns 50% of VodafoneZiggo, a joint venture in the Netherlands with 4 million customers subscribing to 10 million fixed-line and 5 million mobile services, as well as significant investments in ITV, All3Media, ITI Neovision, LionsGate, the Formula E racing series and several regional sports networks.

For more information, please visit www.libertyglobal.com or contact:

Investor Relations: Molly Bruce +1 303 220 4202, Matt Beake +44 20 8483 6428

Corporate Communications: Matt Coates +44 20 8483 6333, John Rea +1 303 220 4238, Stefan Halters +44 20 8483 6211

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1 Convenience translation based on USD/EUR rate of 1.12. The amount of net cash proceeds we received from the transaction differs from the amount we estimated at the time the deal was announced in May 2018 primarily due to the net effect of (i) adverse movement in the EUR/USD exchange rate, (ii) higher vendor financing at Unitymedia in the interim period between transaction announcement and closing, which had the effect of Liberty Global receiving a corresponding increase in cash generated by Unitymedia during the period prior to closing, (iii) a debt recapitalization at Unitymedia, (iv) the settlement of centrally-procured vendor financing amounts that are attributable to the disposed operations, (v) changes in the value of our derivatives associated with the debt at Unitymedia and (vi) working capital and cash adjustments

2 Total enterprise value is calculated on a U.S. GAAP basis and does not include any outstanding indebtedness of the UPC Holding borrowing group

3 For the purpose of the purchase price multiple calculations, the U.S. GAAP 2017 Segment OCF of Germany (€1,493 million) has been reduced by €26 million and the combined U.S. GAAP 2017 Segment OCF of Unitymedia, UPC Hungary, UPC Czech Republic and UPC Romania (€1,714 million) has been reduced by €58 million, with each reduction representing the allocable estimated net amount of transitional services (excluding amounts related to costs expected to be capitalized by Liberty Global) to be provided by Liberty Global during the first year following closing. Segment OCF represents the portion of Liberty Global’s consolidated OCF that is attributed to the applicable business and gives pro forma effect to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU") No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Germany purchase price multiple calculation is based on our estimate of the total enterprise value that is attributable to Germany

4 Represents operating cash flow, as customarily defined by Liberty Global

5 OFCF represents adjusted Segment OCF, as described above, less property and equipment additions as customarily defined by Liberty Global

VIRGIN MEDIA TO BRING GIGABIT INTERNET TO MILLIONS OF HOMES

Virgin Media has today unveiled a bold boost to UK broadband with plans that will bring next-generation gigabit internet to its entire network by the end of 2021. The move will make Virgin Media the UK’s largest and fastest widely available residential gigabit connectivity provider.

Providing nearly 15 million UK households with access to gigabit internet speeds represents a significant step towards delivering the Government’s ambition to make reliable, gigabit-capable connections widely available over the coming years.

This next-generation service will be introduced in cities across Virgin Media’s national network later in the year, starting with Southampton. The first customers trialling these speeds have already been connected.

The scale of the plan, and rapid expansion programme, will mean more than a million people will be able to access broadband speeds of 1Gbps (1,000Mbps) by the end of 2019. The speeds will allow them to take advantage of emerging consumer technologies such as cloud gaming and virtual reality entertainment as well as 8K video streaming. Millions more homes are set to benefit next year when the service is expanded across the UK.

Investments

Virgin Media, through the backing of Liberty Global, has invested billions of pounds to expand its network. It provides speed upgrades unmatched by other major providers, all while broadband usage had increased by almost 40% in the last year.

It is now rolling out next-generation broadband technology, known as DOCSIS 3.1, across its cable network which will bring faster, more reliable broadband speeds to customers’ homes. Gigabit broadband speeds will be available later in the year, with the capability to roll out multi-gigabit connections and further improvements over the next decade.

Lutz Schüler, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Media, said: “This is a giant digital leap forward for the UK.

“Virgin Media has been the unparalleled speed leader for many years. Very soon, for the first time ever, millions of people right across the country will be able to experience hyperfast and reliable gigabit internet connections thanks to the latest technology and the power of our network.

“This upgrade plan will see gigabit speeds rolled out at an unrivalled pace right across the country, bringing our customers the future-proof connections of tomorrow.”

Sharon White, Ofcom Chief Executive, said: “We welcome Virgin Media’s commitment to investing further in its network, providing gigabit speeds to millions more households. This shows the race to roll out ultrafast speeds to people and businesses across the UK is really gathering pace.”

Virgin Media has the largest gigabit-capable network in the UK which currently passes nearly 15 million UK premises. The network consists of both fibre-rich cable and fibre connected directly to the premises, both of which can provide customers with gigabit speeds.

In February, as further proof of its network innovation and broadband speed leadership, Virgin Media began trialling the UK’s fastest home broadband with a full fibre connection offering speeds of more than 8Gbps to homes in Cambridgeshire. The trial made use of EPON (Ethernet Passive Optical Network) technology – a global point-to-point network standard.

Trials Underway

Selected Virgin Media customers are already trialling the new 1Gbps connection ahead of services going live later in the year. No changes to the line connecting the customer’s home are required to introduce services; trialists simply plug in a new router to benefit from the speeds.

Further details on the next Virgin Media gigacities as well as availability and pricing will be announced in the coming months.

Giga Potential

Gigabit speeds are projected to add billions of pounds to the economy. According to research published by Virgin Media’s parent company, Liberty Global, from international management consulting firm, Arthur D. Little, the innovation spurred by the widespread availability of gigabit speeds will unlock a market of at least 250 billion euros per year in Europe by 2025.

By providing ultra-high capacity, reliable, secure, resilient and low latency networks, gigabit connections will unlock significant growth in new technologies over the next five to 10 years. Innovative technologies such as cloud-based gaming, 8K streaming, remote health telemonitoring and advanced telepresence, which could allow consumers to go ‘virtual reality shopping’ or watch live broadcasts of holographic sports events, are amongst those set to benefit.

With Virgin Media’s hyperfast gigabit internet, ultra-high definition 4K films and TV programmes, very large files and 360 degree videos can be downloaded almost instantaneously, even with multiple devices using the connection simultaneously. The connection is almost 20 times faster than the UK average broadband connection meaning that users can, for example:

• You can download a high definition (HD) film (5GB) in just 42 seconds, compared to more than 13 minutes on the UK’s average connection

• Download an Ultra High Definition 4K film (20GB) in less than 3 minutes, compared to nearly an hour (52 minutes) on the UK’s average connection

• Download a chart-topping PlayStation 4 game, for example FIFA 18 (45GB), in just six and a half minutes, compared to nearly 2 hours on the UK’s average connection

Project Lightning

Since the start of Virgin Media’s Project Lightning network expansion programme, more than 1.7 million premises have been added to the provider’s network. This is more than the build of all the alternative broadband infrastructure providers combined.

Liberty Global has already successfully launched gigabit cities in Germany, Poland and the Netherlands using DOCSIS 3.1 technology.

LIBERTY GLOBAL BECOMES MEMBER OF LIGHT COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

Liberty Global has become a founding member of a new alliance aimed at promoting Light Communications technology, which has the potential to deliver massive bandwidth and higher speeds for short-range wireless communications, alongside traditional wireless technology such as WiFi.

The Light Communications Alliance (LCA) will establish standards for this emerging industry, which can be deployed in various environments, both professional and domestic, including smart offices, smart transport, industry 4.0 and in the smart gigabit connected home of the future.

The other founding members of the LCA are Nokia, Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du), LEDVANCE, Lucibel, Orange, pureLiFi, LiFi Research & Development Centre, Velmenni, Zero.1, CEA Leti, and Institut Mines-Télécom.

The LCA will highlight the benefits, use cases and timelines for the adoption of Light Communications technology and align innovative leaders across the industries that light and communications touch, defining standards for education, communication, and interoperability.

Light Communication technology includes Light Fidelity (LiFi) and Optical Camera Communications (OCC), both of which have been attracting increased attention over recent years within several industries, such as smart cities and homes, industry 4.0 and manufacturing environments, as well as retail and tourism.

Global Market Insights predicts that the LiFi market will be worth $75 billion by 2025, creating broad, far-reaching opportunities for the related industries to benefit from Visible Light Communications.

Optical Camera Communications (OCC), has the potential to create value-added services by using the light for both broadcast communications and indoor positioning in environments such as office buildings, convention centres, and parking lots.

Light communication technology can offer thousands of additional channels for secure high-speed communications. It provides faster more reliable connections, as well as greater security because light can be contained, for example inside buildings.

The LCA is open to membership from all industries spanning both light and communications including chip manufacturers, OEMs, network operators, lighting manufacturers, and light communications innovators.

To learn more about the LCA, visit: www.LightCommunications.org

LIBERTY GLOBAL ANNOUNCES PRIME VIDEO PARTNERSHIP WITH AMAZON

Liberty Global, the world’s largest international TV and broadband provider, today announced a multi-year deal with Amazon to make the best content and viewing experience available to 4 million Virgin Media TV customers in the UK.

Virgin Media will be the first of Liberty Global’s European operations to integrate the Amazon Prime Video app within its Ultra HD V6 set-top box.

The launch adds award-winning and critically-acclaimed Amazon Originals The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, The Grand Tour and the highly-anticipated Good Omens, starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant, as well as Premier League coverage offered by Prime Video to Virgin Media’s extensive offering of broadcast and on demand programming across its multi-device TV service. Virgin Media customers will also have access to a range of Ultra High Definition (UHD) and HDR TV shows and movies.

The deal further enhances Liberty Global’s strategy of combining the very best over-the-top online video apps and offerings from major streaming players, with its own world-class content and TV functionality, in a seamlessly-integrated experience. Customers can search, access and enjoy the top movies, series and sports they love with the convenience and flexibility of a single platform – powered by ultrafast broadband networks that enable high-quality, buffer-free viewing.

Enrique Rodriguez, Liberty Global’s EVP and Chief Technology Officer said: “We’re excited to partner with Amazon to deliver its highly-popular content, including Amazon Originals and Exclusives, directly to our consumers. We know our customers want to see their favourite shows and programming on their big screen at home, and our partnership with streaming services like Amazon continues to make that happen.”

Jay Marine, Vice President, Amazon Prime Video Europe commented: “We have made it even easier for our customers to enjoy Prime Video including Amazon Originals like The Grand Tour, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and the highly-anticipated Good Omens starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant. We are excited that these shows and many others, award-winning movies and our forthcoming exclusive Premier League matches will all be available on Virgin Media’s V6 box for millions of Prime members across the country.”

Lutz Schüler, Chief Operating Officer, Virgin Media, added: “This partnership with Amazon reinforces our track record of teaming with the best to give our customers unbeatable content. Virgin Media customers will soon be able to seamlessly search for and watch incredible Amazon Prime programming directly from their V6 box in the highest possible quality. With thousands of box sets, movies, exclusive and original content, as well as 20 live Premier League games airing later this year, Virgin Media customers will have even more of the TV they love in one place all powered by our ultrafast connectivity.”

Virgin Media customers will be able to access the Prime Video application through Virgin TV from this summer.

INTELLIGENT WIFI TO REVOLUTIONIZE IN-HOME CONNECTIVITY

Virgin Media has today announced a series of new WiFi updates that will give millions of its customers the UK’s fastest widely available broadband speeds in more areas of their home.

The game-changing technology was developed by Liberty Global and has already been rolled out to all Virgin Media customers with a Hub 3 router, free of charge. It is a smart, cloud-based, adaptive system that is continuously evolving and ingeniously tackles many of the problems that can hold people back from getting the best performance from their WiFi.

With Intelligent WiFi, Virgin Media customers can feel real benefits to their wireless connectivity with minimal effort.  Extensive testing has seen speeds improving by up to three times to many devices without the aid of a booster, unlike many other broadband providers.

This means that regardless of the type of property lived in – and the number of people living in it – customers can make the most of their ultrafast connectivity by streaming 4K programming, gaming online or simply browsing the net, all at the same time across multiple devices.

Richard Sinclair MBE, Executive Director of Connectivity at Virgin Media, said: “Delivering ultrafast broadband to help make Britain faster is what we do best at Virgin Media, but making sure this translates into reliable in-home connectivity is just as important. Intelligent WiFi will allow our customers to make the most of their broadband while also helping to easily overcome any connectivity conundrums around the home. With families using more devices than ever before, it’s vital they can all be online whenever needed. Whether it’s streaming UHD movies on Netflix, playing the latest games online or video conferencing, Intelligent WiFi has your back.”

Connect App

The new Connect app will be the central control panel for all intelligent WiFi features.

Through the app customers can test the strength of their WiFi from room-to-room, which will also detect any blackspots in the home; manage devices that are connected to a home network; pause devices and access in-app customer support to help resolve any problems.

WiFi Boosters

In the rare instance that a WiFi booster is required to remove connectivity blackspots in the home, these can be ordered directly through the Connect app with Full House and VIP customers able to get these free of charge.

Intelligent WiFi

Intelligent WiFi on the Hub 3 router is a smart system that adapts to the needs of the home and the devices that are connected to WiFi. It is made up of many features that work side-by-side to ensure that the best WiFi performance is being delivered. These include:

• Channel optimisation: All WiFi operates over a number of channels. Channel Optimisation helps ensure connected devices and gadgets are performing as best as they can. As a result of Intelligent WiFi, testing has shown that 18% of homes should experience less WiFi interference thanks to more than 300,000 optimisations per day ensuring that devices are being switched to less crowded WiFi channels.

• Band Steering: This is the process which prompts gadgets and devices to seamlessly switch between a 2.4GHz or 5GHz frequency to optimise performance. With band steering on the Hub 3, testing showed that gadgets connecting to the 5GHz frequency increased by 25%, giving these devices greater speeds.

• Airtime Fairness: This helps to share out WiFi evenly across connected devices. Some older devices can’t keep up with ultrafast broadband speeds which can impact WiFi performance in the home. Intelligent WiFi will improve the share of WiFi to devices throughout the home.

With all of the above implemented as part of Intelligent WiFi, third party testing showed that broadband speeds registered on devices significantly increased in rooms throughout the home – up to three times faster.

VIRGIN MEDIA TRIALS UK’S FASTEST HOME BROADBAND SPEEDS.

Virgin Media is trialling the UK’s fastest home broadband after successfully testing a connection offering speeds of more than 8Gbps to homes in Papworth, Cambridgeshire.

The hyperfast connection uses Virgin Media’s existing fibre network to provide download speeds more than 200 times faster the UK average.

The trial, made possible through continued network investment and collaboration with Liberty Global, is delivered using an existing fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) connection meaning that no dedicated line is required.

The connection supports simultaneous upload and download speeds of more than 8Gbps.

The six-month trial is expected to connect 50 homes in Papworth.

Richard Sinclair, Executive Director of Connectivity at Virgin Media, said: “As the UK’s fastest widely available broadband provider, we’re committed to making Britain faster and this trial pushes the boundaries of what’s possible.

“Whether it’s streaming UHD movies on Netflix, playing the latest games online or video conferencing, faster internet connections have changed our lives immeasurably over the past decade. As speed leaders, Virgin Media is not going to stand still; this trial is about looking ahead to the next decade and beyond.

“With the volume of our customers’ internet usage almost doubling every year, trials like this will ensure we have the capability to meet the demand of data-hungry services in the future – be that over cable or full fibre.”

Applied futurist, Tom Cheesewright, who has reviewed the trial said: “Each new leap in internet speeds has spurred a new round of innovation in digital services. Today we are just starting to glimpse the immersive communication and entertainment opportunities that speeds like this will enable, bringing the physical and digital worlds together into a rich, interactive environment.”

The connection speed was tested and independently

verified by Ofcom’s technical partner, SamKnows, who fast tracked the development of a brand new speed testing tool specifically designed to test multi-gigabit connections.

In this trial data is transferred along fibre optic cables using EPON (Ethernet Passive Optical Network) technology – a global point-to-point network standard.

EPON is typically used to deliver up to 1Gbps speeds to UK homes, but Virgin Media has been working with technology partner, ARRIS, to trial new equipment and software to increase the speeds that its residential fibre network is capable of delivering.

With this connection speed users can:

• download a high-definition film of 5GB in five seconds

• download an ultra-high definition 4k film of 20GB in 20 seconds

• download a video game of 99GB in less than two minutes

• upload 300 high resolution photos totalling 3GB in three seconds

Virgin Media, through backing from its parent company Liberty Global, is currently investing billions of pounds to expand its network to millions more homes and businesses as part of its Project Lightning expansion programme.

Virgin Media has the largest gigabit-capable network in the UK which currently passes more than 14 million premises. The network consists of both fibre-rich cable and fibre connected directly to premises.