International rugby stars line-out to open Virgin Media’s new Belfast office

 

£65m investment brings ultrafast broadband to more than 300,000 premises in Northern Ireland

 

Belfast: Friday March 08, 2019:  Virgin Media today underlined the company’s commitment to Northern Ireland by opening a brand new, state-of-the-art office at the Heron Avenue business campus in Belfast.  Virgin Media’s new Belfast HQ will be home to the majority of the company’s 350 strong Belfast employees, many of who are overseeing the company’s multi-million pound network expansion and investment programme, as well as delivering innovative products and services in Northern Ireland.

 

Virgin Media has invested more than £65 million in Northern Ireland since 2015, and now more than 300,000 homes and businesses are connected to its ultrafast, gigabit-capable network.

 

Former Ireland International rugby stars, Stephen Ferris and Ilse van Staden, joined Virgin Media Ireland CEO Tony Hanway and the local Virgin Media team, to officially open the new office marking another milestone in the company’s proud history in Northern Ireland.

 

Speaking at today’s event, Tony Hanway, CEO of Virgin Media Ireland, said: “Virgin Media is Northern Ireland’s fastest widely available broadband provider and our new office signals our continuing and unstinting commitment to the province.  We’ve big plans to continue rolling out our gigabit capable network to more citizens and businesses to support economic growth and underpin Northern Ireland’s long-term success.

 

 “We’re building connections that really matter so citizens in Northern Ireland can be assured that Virgin Media remains committed to making a big difference for society, and the economy.”

Investing across Northern Ireland

 

Since Virgin Media launched its Project Lightning expansion programme in 2015, more than 100,000 premises in Northern Ireland have been connected to Virgin Media’s gigabit capable network and more than 300,000 homes and business can benefit from speeds of up to 362Mbps.  This ultrafast top speed is set to increase yet again in the spring after Virgin Media announced it will soon introduce 500Mbps services.

 

Residents and businesses in Bangor, Newtownards, Portadown, Craigavon, Ballyclare, Comber, Derry, Maghermason, Strabane, New Buildings, Artigarvan, Limavady, Greysteel, Ballynagard, Strathfoyle, Bridgewater, Carryduff, Eglinton, Greenisland have all been connected to Virgin Media’s ultrafast network, with work underway in Carrickfergus.

 

More than 10 million metres of cable have been laid by our build crews across Northern Ireland as part of Virgin Media’s network expansion programme.

Virgin Media is a major investor in Belfast, having connected 98% of the city to its ultrafast network.

 

This network investment is supporting the Belfast Region City Deal where up to £1bn could be invested over the next decade, generating up to 20,000 jobs across the region.