Virgin is to run a six month trial in a bid to deliver fibre optic high speed broadband over telegraph poles.

The trial will take place in Woolhampton in Berkshire and should deliver 50Mbps broadband. Fibre optic cables are generally run through underground ducts although some companies have also experimented with running cables through sewer networks.

Virgins’ Chief Executive Neil Berkett reportedly said ”’The trial would allow the firm to understand the possibilities of aerial deployment and may provide a new way to extend next generation broadband services’. 

The Government hopes to ensure that everyone in the UK has access to a broadband speed of 2Mbps by 2012 and high speed broadband by 2017 and they have earmarked £200m to extend broadband coverage to 15%of homes here in the UK who currently do not receive broadband at 2Mbps.

Virgins are trying to bring broadband to people who currently live out of reach of their current network.