Virgin Media picks C&W as LLU best mate

Taking quad-play to pastures new

Virgin Media - formerly known as NTL:Telewest and Virgin Mobile - has signed Cable & Wireless to supply its unbundled network.

The four year deal will mean Virgin Media will be able to supply customers outside of its cable network with its quad-play offering of mobile and landline, pay-TV and broadband.

According to Neil Berkett, COO of Virgin Media, the deal will allow the comms company to supply extra customers - the C&W network covers four million households in the UK.

Virgin Media said it picked C&W as the telco understands its culture and the company has already worked with other Virgin brands overseas.

The quad-player has encountered some tough times recently, following a spat with Sky that saw the broadcaster pull some of its channels from Virgin Media.

The company has also reportedly lost its place as the UK's biggest ISP when figures published by BT said the telco had leapfrogged its rival to snatch the top spot with 26 per cent market share.