New metro network will speed up delivery for 10Gbps ethernet services

Virgin Media Business Wholesale is now delivering high-bandwidth National Ethernet and Direct Internet Access (DIA) services using our new metro network.

That means quicker delivery and an improved experience for wholesale partners buying services on a 10Gbps bearer.

Virgin Media O₂ switched on its new metro Converged Interconnect Network (CIN) as part of a wider network evolution strategy.

The next-generation network carries converged fixed and mobile traffic, and provides scalability to meet the evolving needs of consumers and businesses.

The new architecture makes delivering wholesale high bandwidth services faster and simpler using network orchestration. The delivery speed on 10Gbps becomes similar to that on 1Gbps services today.

National Ethernet and Direct Internet Access are the first wholesale products enabled on the new platform. High Capacity Services will follow in 2025.

The new infrastructure provides pre-provisioned ports and capacity, creating scalable, automated, low-cost delivery for 10Gbps services. Where the new architecture is enabled, delivery time will drop by up to 40 days.

Fast delivery isn’t the only advantage. Network orchestration improves the reliability of configuration tasks and lets us bring partners’ connections online seamlessly.

The future-proofed metro network is a major upgrade to our 10Gbps delivery process, helping us meet the growing demand for high bandwidth services needed to underpin next-generation business applications.

Delivered using the latest technology from networking services, software and systems provider Ciena, the network will provide customers with ring-protection switching for added resilience. That means that even in the unlikely event of a fibre break, services will continue to run.

“Timing and reliability are pre-requisites to service provider success in today’s fast-paced hyperconnected digital world,” said Virginie Hollebecque, Vice President and Leader of EMEA at Ciena. “With the support of Ciena’s advanced networking solutions, Virgin Media Business Wholesale is giving its customers a better experience to meet the connectivity needs of today’s enterprises.”

Virgin Media Business Wholesale’s improved 10Gbps products are now enabled at 126 of our 329 Virgin Media O₂ hub sites, equivalent to around 75% of Wholesale demand.

We enabled over 50% of our hub sites with improved 10Gbps products by the end of 2024, with another 35% still served by our traditional provisioning process.

The metro network will continue to expand based on demand until most of the Virgin Media O₂ network is covered.

We’re currently increasing availability of 100Gbps External Network-to-Network Interfaces (ENNIs) at strategic locations.

That means that partners who want to aggregate multiple 10Gbps National Ethernet services at key data centres will be able to request new ENNIs.

We plan to start allocating these soon so if you are interested, please get in touch with your account manager or email us at WholesaleBD@virginmedia.co.uk

The metro network upgrade is part of Project Spark, an ongoing multi-million-pound investment programme that’s transforming our 10Gbps and higher bandwidth portfolio.

It focusses on delivering improved services through pre-built, scalable and automated network architecture, reducing delivery times.

Project Spark was catalysed by partner feedback, which often plays a vital role in shaping our strategy. It will ensure partners have access to the services they need to support the next generation of business capacity requirements.

As part of Project Spark, we launched our new NHCS core platform last year to build a foundation for the CIN update. A few weeks ago, we expanded this core network by five new sites in the North of England and Scotland, bringing the total number of upgraded core sites to 23.

All of this will bring national automation for our 10Gbps product delivery.

“Our partners face growing bandwidth demands from their customers,”, says John Chester, Director of Wholesale Fixed at Virgin Media O₂ Business. “It’s our priority to provide them with the best possible experience going forward. Our new architecture is the latest phase of Project Spark, a huge investment in accelerating the reach and diversity of our network across the country, allowing us to meet the UK’s growing need for connectivity.”

If you have any questions about our network upgrade, please reach out to your account manager or email WholesaleBD@virginmedia.co.uk.