In another clear example of how providers at both ends of the business spectrum are accelerating deployment of gigabit connectivity across the UK, Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) has expanded its Gig2 broadband service to 18 UK locations, while alternative network provider (altnet), Connect Fibre has announced the launch of its symmetrical 5,000Mbps full-fibre tier across its entire network.
VMO2 said it was making 2Gbps download speeds available over its Docsis-based hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) network for the first time.
The upgrade requires no civil engineering, is already complete in 18 locations for around three million homes, and is due to expand to the majority of its network in 2027.
The expansion covers areas across the UK, including Newcastle, Bournemouth, Lancaster, Peterborough, Ipswich, Bath, Southend-on-Sea, York, Blackburn, Cambridge, Harrogate, Chelmsford, Manchester, Oxford, Preston and Portsmouth.
Gig2 offers average download speeds of 2,000Mbps and upload speeds of 100Mbps on Virgin Media’s HFC network, and is said to be appropriate for data-intensive services such as cloud applications, connected home technology, streaming and remote working.
By delivering this 2Gbps upgrade over HFC for the first time, Virgin Media O2 says it is extending multi-gigabit capability beyond full-fibre areas and demonstrating the continued potential of its existing fixed network infrastructure.
It means Gig2 is now available in areas served by Virgin Media O2’s HFC network and in areas served by full-fibre, meaning more than 10 million households can currently obtain access to the provider’s fastest broadband offer.
Furthermore, VMO2 believes the milestone reflects the company’s ongoing investment in its network to support rising data demands from businesses for high-capacity connectivity.
“This is an important milestone for our fixed network,” said Jeanie York, chief technology officer at Virgin Media O2. “Ultimately, people don’t care what kind of pipe is connecting them as long the service is fast, reliable and delivers what is expected.
“By making 2Gbps speeds available over cable for the first time, we’re extending multi-gigabit capability to more parts of the UK and showing the continued potential of our existing network infrastructure that still very much meets the increasing needs of consumers. As demand for data continues to grow, we’re investing across our network to deliver faster, more reliable connectivity.”
Meanwhile, Connect Fibre’s deployment is said to mark the arrival of the fastest speeds ever for the communities it serves across Derbyshire, Staffordshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Cambridgeshire.
Founded in 2019 and awarded Broadband Provider of the Year at the Connected Britain Awards 2026, Connect Fibre offers not only gigabit-capable full-fibre broadband, but also phone services (VoIP), TV and network add-ons. It is also signed up to one-touch-switching, and looks to deliver the UK government’s BDUK Project Gigabit in Derbyshire and Staffordshire.
The 5,000Mbps symmetric super-speed package is supported by TP-Link Wi-Fi 7 Pro routers and is regarded as ideal for applications such as “seamless” multi-device 4K/8K streaming, intensive remote working and “instant” cloud backups.
Commenting on the deployment, Connect Fibre chief commercial officer Guilhem Poussot said: “After being named Broadband Provider of the Year 2026 at Connected Britain, we are now thrilled to deliver the fastest speeds available across our footprint. As we deliver this scale of connectivity, we are giving homes and businesses access to world-class digital capabilities.”
