Virgin Media boosts UK reach with C&W
Virgin Media has announce a major tie-up with telecommunications group Cable & Wireless. Under a four-year agreement, Virgin Media will launch a digital television, broadband and telephony service beyond its cable network using C&W's unbundled local loop network until 2011.
Virgin Media said the deal would increase its reach by around 4m homes.
Neil Berkett, chief operating officer at Virgin Media, said: "This deal is great news for consumers and an important step towards making Virgin Media a truly national brand. Cable & Wireless' excellent service and technology will allow us to offer enhanced broadband and home phone services to an additional 4m customers.
"It also lays a foundation for us to provide our unique quadplay services to the 50% of households outside our cable network."
Jim Marsh, CEO, Cable & Wireless UK, commented: "This is another landmark win for us; we're delighted. We're obsessive about delivering great service and putting customers at the heart of our business—and clearly, this approach resonates with Virgin Media."
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Virgin Media is being eyed up by US-based Providence Equity. According to speculation, the private equity house could bid $15bn for the company, which is currently engaged in a high court row with satellite pay-TV rival BSkyB over the pricing of channel services.
An attempt to settle the dispute, which prompted the removal of Sky's basic channels from Virgin Media's cable platform at the beginning of March, was made public on Friday when letters signed by Sky CEO James Murdoch seeking to negotiate a settlement were released by Sky.
Regards Satdude. :thum:
Virgin Media has announce a major tie-up with telecommunications group Cable & Wireless. Under a four-year agreement, Virgin Media will launch a digital television, broadband and telephony service beyond its cable network using C&W's unbundled local loop network until 2011.
Virgin Media said the deal would increase its reach by around 4m homes.
Neil Berkett, chief operating officer at Virgin Media, said: "This deal is great news for consumers and an important step towards making Virgin Media a truly national brand. Cable & Wireless' excellent service and technology will allow us to offer enhanced broadband and home phone services to an additional 4m customers.
"It also lays a foundation for us to provide our unique quadplay services to the 50% of households outside our cable network."
Jim Marsh, CEO, Cable & Wireless UK, commented: "This is another landmark win for us; we're delighted. We're obsessive about delivering great service and putting customers at the heart of our business—and clearly, this approach resonates with Virgin Media."
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Virgin Media is being eyed up by US-based Providence Equity. According to speculation, the private equity house could bid $15bn for the company, which is currently engaged in a high court row with satellite pay-TV rival BSkyB over the pricing of channel services.
An attempt to settle the dispute, which prompted the removal of Sky's basic channels from Virgin Media's cable platform at the beginning of March, was made public on Friday when letters signed by Sky CEO James Murdoch seeking to negotiate a settlement were released by Sky.
Regards Satdude. :thum: