Virgin Media boosts headline broadband speed to 120Mbps

Virgin Media has boosted the headline speed of its top-tier broadband service from 100Mbps to 120Mbps as part of its ongoing upgrade programme.

The cable company began the process in March, pledging at the time to double the downstream rates of more than four million households, while increasing its top speed to 120Mbps.

In a statement, Virgin Media revealed it has now completed upgrades across 40 per cent of its network, which reaches almost 13 million homes throughout the UK.

Faster speeds will allow customers to download content more quickly, stream TV and movies with less interruption and connect multiple devices to the web simultaneously without experiencing a loss in performance.

Jon James, executive director of broadband at Virgin Media, said: "Virgin Media has led the greatest developments in broadband in the UK over the last decade and our 120Mb service continues to ensure that our consumers across the country get the very best that today's technology offers."

The internet service provider is funding the £110 million upgrade programme using money left over from last year's sale of its 50 per cent stake in the broadcaster UKTV.