Virgin Media has revealed that subscribers may be offered broadband speeds of up to 200Mb per second within four years - 40 times faster than the current average speed in the UK.
The group's chief executive, Neil Berkett, said his company aimed to stay ahead of bitter rival BT by offering superior download speeds.
"BT are talking about 40Mb in 2012; we have got 50Mb now," he said. "And by 2012 we would have the technical capability of delivering up to 200Mb-per-second. We are leading next generation access in this country."
While Virgin Media has lost 19,500 customers over the three months to the end of June, it has recorded an increase in profits of £18 million on last year, to £333 million. It has also persuaded 53% of its 4.7 million customers to sign up to its bundle of television, home phone and broadband.
Mr Berkett said the higher speeds would be made possible by the analogue television switch-off, which would free up extra bandwidth. "We'll probably be able to offer over 200 or certainly up to 200 megabits broadband if we so choose," he added.
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