The Virgin Broadband service has recently been awarded the Fastest Home Broadband Award for 2009 by Top 10 Broadband. This award is based on over 400,000 speed tests. On average Virgin Broadband had download speeds of 8.15Mb.
Most broadband is still conducted through copper telephone wires. In real terms this means that you will receive a fast speed if you live close to the telephone exchange and lacklustre speed if you are a long distance away. But Virgin Broadband is conducted via fibre optic cables, which means that data is carried by light via strands of glass so thin that they are almost invisible. This also means that it is not connected to the telephone line at all. Fibre optic broadband is considered by many to be the future of broadband due to the high download speeds that it can achieve.
Fast speeds are definitely of prime importance but cost is also equally important. It is important to compare broadband prices between providers, but when you have chosen your provider you can also compare broadband packages to find the ideal service for your requirements.
Virgin Broadband offers three different packages: L (large), XL (extra large) and XXL (extra extra large). The right package for you will depend on your usage. The Virgin Broadband L package provides speeds of up to 10Mb and is free for the first two months and costs £12.50 per month thereafter. The XL package provides speeds of up to 20Mb, again the first two months are free and then you will pay £20 per month. Their XL package provides speeds up to a possible 50Mb and after the two free months it costs £28. All of these packages come with unlimited free evening and weekend landline calls and you can add telephone line rental for a further £11 per month.