Will Virgin Media satisfy consumer demand?

The situation where some areas are enjoying broadband connection speeds of 50 Mbps from Virgin Media, while other areas are getting 256 Kbps or nothing at all, is known as the digital divide.

In between, there are those getting various speeds, but with the average connection speed in the UK being just 3.6 Mbps will the UK ever experience a full high speed internet?

Hopes are pinned on fibre optic infrastructure, and the only large network being rolled out is that of Virgin Media, but how good is this service and how will it cope with the rising amount of subscribers who sign up for the £50 per month service?

Darren Waters from the BBC is going to find out, and has signed up for the Virgin Media XXL package which offer 50 Mbps.

Throughout the trial he will be reporting on the pros and cons of the service on his blog and hopes to find out if Virgin Media and fibre optic broadband is up to the task.