Virgin Media has today announced the launch of a customer pilot designed to assess the commercial viability of 200Mb broadband.
The ISP claims its 200Mb pilot to be the fastest implementation of DOCSIS3 technology in the world, running some 40Mb quicker than similar broadband-over-cable services in Japan.
Beginning in Ashford, Kent, the pilot will be made available to just 100 customers who will be given the opportunity to work with Virgin Media to test consumer applications, including the delivery of high-definition TV content.
Commenting on the pilot, Virgin Media CEO Neil Berkett said:
"We’re really excited to be embarking on this journey of discovery. With the only true next generation network in the UK, we’re at the forefront of innovation and understanding when it comes to ultrafast broadband services and the 200Mb pilot will give us further insight into how true ‘wideband’ services might be used by consumers."
Whilst the prospect of 200Mb broadband is tantalising - and four times quicker than Virgin Media's current service - the six-month pilot is designed primarily to "understand potential consumer usage and to assess the commercial viability of such ultrafast services", says Virgin.
When, or indeed, if, we're likely to see 200Mb services across Virgin's fibre optic network, remains unknown.
