The third quarter results from Virgin Media have now being published, and can be read in full on the Virgin Media Investor Relations section
Looking at the broadband figures, the number of cable broadband customers increased by 115,800 and the number using ADSL (termed 'Off-net' in publication) increased by just over 7,000. This gives Virgin Media 3,307,700 cable broadband customers and 282,300 off-net (ADSL) customers in the third quarter. The combined figure makes them the largest residential broadband provider in the UK.
In terms of the future, the 50Mbps cable broadband trials look set to continue. DOCSIS 3.0 which will be needed to make the best use of the network as broadband speeds increase further is being assessed in relation to capability and launch. Rolling out DOCSIS 3.0 across the whole of the network will require investment, and given the state of the stock markets, this may be hard to find.
Of course, one person cannot speak for all Virgin Media customers, but we suspect many would rather see the existing traffic management systems relaxed rather than trying to gain the crown of the UK's fastest broadband service.
The story is very different for Virgin Media customers who are considered 'Off-net' and currently restricted to just ADSL services. Their best hope for improvements in connection speed, and a better broadband experience, appears to hinge on the Cable and Wireless broadband deal announced in May 2007. As yet we've not seen any progress. Certainly there are many that would like to see Richard Branson locked up again until the improvements mentioned at the time of Virgin Media's launch materialise.
Sad to say VM's Traffic Management is hitting everybody including those who do not download or download not anyway near their limit. Everyday from 5-11pm and during weekends, our speed goes down like Titanic, 20Mb line will become 200-600 Kbs line and 4 Mb line will become 1Mb line. This is getting so silly that I am leaving VM if things stay the same for any longer.