From February 2012, customers of Virgin Media’s broadband service will start to see a sizable increase in speed or their already fast fibre-optic cable Internet connection.

For customers with 10Meg, 20Meg, 30Meg or 50Meg download speeds, these will effectively be doubled at no extra charge, whilst those on 100Meg will see a boost to up to 120Meg.

Virgin Media’s cable service currently offers the fastest broadband in the UK. When the 120Mbps update starts, they’ll be offering a service three times faster than BT’s current best speed, which is the 40Mbps service known as BT Infinity.

Virgin expects to complete the upgrade of their network to the new faster connection speeds by the middle of 2013, and the upgrades will cost a reported £110 million.

Speed increases will no doubt be welcomed by Virgin’s customer base, although as reported in our December show, only a small number of customers appear to be making use of high-speed downloads. As was discussed at the Internet Industry Insight Session, there aren’t that many consumer services out there that can really benefit from such fast download speeds – At least, not yet. This month, we’ve seen Netflix start in the UK, offering an impressively large collection of movies and TV shows for on-demand playback – video will certainly require a decent amount of bandwidth, but even live HD streams won’t get close to touching 120Mbps, and neither will current gaming services such as OnLive.

Nonetheless, if mega-fast broadband is your thing and you want to connect using anything over 40Mbps, then Virgin is the answer, and the doubling of speed is sure a good thing – it’ll also help the UK Government get closer to their target of getting the UK connected to a faster broadband network.

Personally, rather than seeing a speed boost, which is essentially just a headline-grabber for Virgin, we’d like to see them expand their network. If customers aren’t taking advantage of the faster network – rather than paying out to double the speed, how about bringing the service to a few other users? It’s been a while since the network expanded, and there’s lots of people out there close to a Virgin network, but not close enough. Here are FrequencyCast, we’re about a mile away from you, Virgin. Give us the fibre cable, and we’ll run it for you… no guarantees on how neat a job our lads will do, or how many folk will trip over it, but if it means we can play our OnLive games a tiny bit faster, then we’re in!

For more information on the speed enhancements, and to check if Virgin’s mega-whooshy network is available where you are, go to www.virginmedia.com

For this show, we look at the future of the Internet – We were invited to attend a special session discussing broadband trends, Internet demand, and the thorny subject of “up to” broadband speeds. It made for a lively debate, and we have a recording of the entire session, plus our exclusive interviews, ready and waiting!

Here’s a summary of what’s covered in the latest installment of FrequencyCast:

• News Updates: Sky’s plans for Formula 1, 3DS update, TiVo and DAB
• Focus: Pete’s been to an Internet insight session. Here’s his report.
• Hands-on: The Livescribe smart pen
• Featured: Control your TV with an iPhone, plus weather stations revisited
• Your comments on TV + 1, printers and GetJam

If you own an iPad, iPhone or iPod, then you can get the latest show now now via iTunes – You’ll find it here: FrequencyCast on iTunes.

Alternatively, you can download the latest show, show 70 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html

Show Links:

• Show Notes for Show 70
• Transcript: Internet Insight Session – The Net of the Future
• Transcript: Livescribe Echo, UnityRemote & Weather Station

As you know, our shows are free, and we rely on our listeners not only to set the agenda, but also to help spread the word about what we do. Please tell your friends about this latest show – Like FrequencyCast on Facebook, or it Tweeting’s your bag – follow FrequencyCast on Twitter and re-tweet this here posting for us!

We’d love to get your comments and feedback on the show. If you have a comment, good or bad, please add a comment in the box below, or leave us a voicemail message on 0208 133 4567 (London call).

We hope you enjoy this latest show, and, like us, are looking forward to seeing what tomorrow’s Internet has to offer.

In this show, we have a lot to cover. Here’s a summary:

• News Updates: BBC Goes Full HD, Apple news round the corner, BBC Alba and fast o2
• Focus: The Future Of The Internet. The dangers of filters,TalkTalk’s new service, and Skype’s been bought
• Interview: An exclusive chat with the C.O.O of broadband firm Plusnet
• Your comments and questions on shortwave radio, short cable leads, Karotz and solar power meters

You can download Show 64 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.

If you have an iPod, iPhone or iPad, get shows faster by signing up to FrequencyCast on iTunes.

Links:

• Show Notes for Show 64
• Filter Bubble Talk – TED.com video
• Transcript: Internet Filter Bubble
• Transcript: Full Plusnet Interview

We hope you enjoy our  June show. We’d love to get your comments on what you’ve heard.

Remember, our shows are free, and we need to you to spread the word – Please mention us on Facebook and Twitter, and tell your chums.

An extract of the interview will be used in our June radio show, but we’d like to offer the full interview to our listeners.

Over the coming months, the Internet will be transitioning to IPv6, and the changes have caused some concern to our listeners. In our interview with Plusnet, we discuss the impact of IPv6 on UK surfers, and talk about whether or not we should be concerned.

As well as hearing about Plusnet’s progress towards IPv6, we ask Richard to outline the challenges facing ISPs, and talk about what we can expect to change in the online world over the next 5 years. Richard also outlines Plusnet’s unlimited overnight download policy, which is a very handy feature for those that like to download without worrying about hitting their monthly limit.

The full interview and a transcript is available here: Plusnet Interview

You can find out more about Plusnet at www.plus.net, or on our Plusnet Page

Here’s a look at what we cover in this show:

• News Updates: Digital Switchover update, BBC local radio and Powerline adapter news
• Focus: The Internet is changing – A look at how IPv6 will affect you and your browser
• Hands-on: We play with the new Nintendo 3DS, and don’t get a headache
• Your comments and questions on local radio, iMax Mini, Yesterday and analogue TV

You can download Show 62 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.

If you have an iPod, iPhone or iPad, get shows faster by signing up to FrequencyCast on iTunes.

Links:

• Show Notes for Show 62
• Transcript: IPv6 Explained
• Transcript: Nintendo 3DS Review

We hope you enjoy the show.

We’d also like to remind you that without you, we’re nothing. Our shows are free, and we need to you to spread the word – Please mention us on Facebook and Twitter, and spread the word.

Powerline Adapters use a home’s mains wiring to distribute the Internet to other rooms in your home, but the radio interference that they generate, can be a problem for shortwave radio listeners as well as radio amateurs (of which our Pete is one)

Well, according to a report on The Register, the story has taken an interesting turn. One enterprising amateur radio operator used the UK’s Freedom of Information laws to force OfCom to release a report, commissioned by OfCom, that appears to confirm that the Comtrend Powerline Adapters (supplied with BT Vision) do cause interference and breach European EMC Directives.

Although Powerline Adapters have been proven to create interference, it seems that OfCom feels it’s “not in the public interest” to force a recall of these products, or to prevent them from being sold.

For the full story, see The Register

In this latest show, here’s a look at what we cover:

• News Updates: Tablet newspapers, 3D BT, and no more Tease Me
• Focus: Broadband Suppliers – Making the right choice
• Hands-on: Big Trak Junior 2010
• Your comments and questions on Nokia’s DAB, slow Internet, HD recorders and tablet devices

You can download Show 58 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.

If you have an iPod or iPhone, get shows faster by signing up via iTunes.

Links:

• Show Notes for Show 58
• Transcript: Choosing a Broadband Provider
• Transcript: BigTrak is Back

We hope you enjoy today’s show. We’d love to know what you think.

As ever, if you like what you’ve heard, please spread the word to your Facebook and Twitter chums…

• News Updates: New iPhone details leaked, 3D TV is here, HD news and HomePlug hassle.
• Focus: How the rushed-through Digital Economy Act affects you, TV, radio and the Internet
• Hands-on: We get to go outside and play with a few sets of walkie talkies
• Your comments and questions on catch-up TV, MP3 players, ITV 1 HD and more

You can download Show 51 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.

If you have an iPod or iPhone, get shows faster by signing up via iTunes.

Links:

• Show Notes
• Transcript: Focus on The Digital Future
• Transcript: Hands On With Walkie Talkies
• Become a Facebook Fan

We hope you enjoy this packed show. If you like what you’ve heard, please spread the word…

Initially, it’s only available to a few areas of the UK, but coverage will increase as BT continue to expand their fibre optic network. By the end of 2010, it’s estimated that around 4 million homes and businesses will be able to get faster broadband using BT Infinity.

The cost? Not bad, actually. There are two packages, one for £19.99 (with a 20 Gig monthly download limit) or £24.99 for the unlimited version. Infinity requires an engineer visit (up to 3 hours, according to BT). The installation is free, and customers will be provided with a BT Infinity Home Hub and a vDSL modem fibre optic modem.

BT’s clearly targeting the high-speed offering from Virgin, with BT’s basic package being £7.47 per month cheaper that Virgin Media XXL. BT’s also offering a faster upload speed of up to 10Mb/s (the fastest in the UK).

Want to find out if you could get up to 40 Meg broadband? Enter your details at the BT Infinity website.

In May last year, the Carphone Warehouse announced the acquisition of troubled Tiscali, and the user migration happens this week. However, some users may find that they’re in for a shock. Customers on a broadband-only tariff with Tiscali, may find that unless they’re prepared to sign up to TalkTalk’s phone service, their monthly bill will go from £14.99 a month to £19.99 a month.

Luckily, there are some better deals out there, and switching broadband providers is now pretty easy.

Vak=lue provider Plusnet is offering three months of free broadband to Tiscali customers who switch to their service before the 31st of January 2010. No connection charge and you get a free wifi router. To take advantage of this offer, go to the Plusnet Offers Page and when you get to the payment screen, use the special promotion code tiscalisave.

Alternatively, there’s BE Broadband’s basic service for £7.50 a month. Full details on Be Broadband‘s site.

Got any thoughts on the takeover? Happy to switch to TalkTalk, or are you looking for alternatives? Add a comment here and we may read it out in the next show.

Everton vs Arsenal (EPSN) and Chelsea vs Hull (Sky Sports) are both available from skyplayer.sky.com – free to some Sky subscribers, otherwise there’s a special offer until 31st August.

In our regular online radio show, we discuss all that’s new with digital TV and technology. Here’s what we cover in this show:

• News Updates: Setanta Sport collapses, a date is set for Freeview HD, plus what’s set to change in our Digital Britain.
• Focus: Broadband – what changes are ahead and how to get a faster connection.
• Hands-on: We play with o2′s fridge door, and a Nintendo get-fit fob.
• Your questions on Sky+, recording radio, photo keyrings and the Setanta aftermath.

You can download Show 41 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html. If you have an iPod or iPhone, get shows faster by signing up via iTunes.

There’s been lots of media chat about this already, but in case you’ve missed it, what we think are the three headlines are as follows:

1. Analogue Radio off by 2015: The intention here is to get national FM services and existing local services over to DAB by 2015, freeing up space for what’s being called “ultra local” stations on FM. Listeners would need to migrate from FM to digital by 2015. There are also targets proposed to get digital radio listening up to 50% by 2013, a somewhat ambitious target, and a target of DAB-only car radios in new cars by 2013. AM stations also need to shift to DAB.

2. Broadband tax: To help achive the Government’s “every home must have at least 2Meg broadband by 2012″ pledge, a stealth tax of 50p per month on all landlines is proposed to improve the infrastructure.

3. Internet piracy. The target is for UK ISPs to reduce online file-sharing and piracy by 70% within a year, with measures ranging from warning letters, speed throttling, to details being passed to copyright owners. Ofcom will be given the power to enforce this.

For the full report, see http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/broadcasting/5631.aspx

As part of their roll-out of ADSL2+, around 40% of properties are about to get the speed ramp-up, with this number rising to 55% by March 2010.

The bad news is that if you’re over 3km from your local phone exchange, you might not see much of a difference. Also, speeds will still be throttled during peak hours to ensure that everyone gets a fair crack of the bandwidth whip.

The good news is – the upgrade is free, and for many, there’ll be a sizable speed improvement. All you need to do is agree not to move away from BT for 12 months. More on BT Broadband

See our Speed up Broadband FAQ for some help on speeding up your downloads (including info on the iPlate!)

BT’s been quick to leap in with a deal to tempt people from Tiscali. On offer is £50 off your first bill, a new 802.11n high speed wireless router (the BT Home Hub), speeds of up to 20 megabits per seconds, plus access to BT’s digital TV service, BT Vision.

Tiscali users have until the 30th June 2009 to make the switch for a £50 credit on their BT bill.

Full details of the offer at www.broadband.bt.com/offer

In our regular online radio show, we discuss all that’s new with digital TV and technology. Here’s what we cover in this show:

• News Updates: Plans for Freeview HD in doubt, all change for the charts, new content for Top Up, and odd news for H2G2 fans
• Focus: What’s new with wi-fi wireless technology.
• Hands-on: We plan with the world’s most sophisticated pen.
• Your questions on BT Vision, Virgin Media HD, plus your feedback on the Top Up TV failure in May.

You can download Show 40 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html. If you have an iPod or iPhone, get shows faster by signing up via iTunes.

Go to packages.sky.com/surf for details of Sky’s three Broadband packages.

For an extra £5 a month, you can get a BT ToGo – This is a Windows Mobile smartphone that switches between wi-fi and the mobile phone network to let you surf and handle emails on the move. Think ‘Blackberry’ and you’ll be on the right track. The ToGo has wi-fi, Bluetooth, is a PDA and comes with a 1.3Meg onboard camera.

More details at www.bt.com/btbroadband.