Virgin Media Business
Corporate brand
UnclaimedVirgin Media Business is a United Kingdom telecommunications brand serving businesses and public-sector organisations with connectivity, networking, data-centre and cloud services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
Virgin Media Business is the business-focused telecommunications operation associated with Virgin Media in the United Kingdom. It provides connectivity and information-technology infrastructure to commercial organisations, public bodies and communications providers rather than concentrating on residential broadband and television customers. Its portfolio has included business internet access, Ethernet and other wide-area networking services, fibre-based connectivity, mobile backhaul, colocation and virtualised data-centre services. The operation traces its immediate branding history to ntl:Telewest Business, which adopted the Virgin Media Business name on 11 February 2010. The rebrand placed the business unit within the broader Virgin Media identity while retaining its role as a specialist supplier to enterprises and the public sector. The company’s infrastructure proposition has been built around Virgin Media’s nationwide fibre-optic next-generation network, allowing it to offer high-capacity links to businesses, government organisations, data centres and network operators. During 2010 and 2011, Virgin Media Business expanded and formalised its enterprise offering. It re-certified its Ethernet portfolio against Metro Ethernet Forum service-validation standards, introduced Big Red Internet as a business internet service, and developed carrier-grade connectivity for data-centre customers. It also entered the colocation market with ICM, providing businesses with access to space in multiple UK data centres, and launched a Virtual Private Data Centre product with Savvis as its first described cloud offering. Public-sector networking became a significant part of the brand’s activity. Virgin Media Business supported the UK Government’s planned nationwide fibre network for the Public Services Network and received interim and then full accreditation to operate in designated government network-provider roles. It was selected for major London public-sector technology frameworks, including a framework associated with London Grid for Learning and a later pan-London information-technology framework launched with Westminster City Council. The company also gained a place on the Government Procurement Service Managed Telecommunications Convergence Framework, enabling public-sector bodies to procure Public Services Network-compliant technologies. The business has additionally supplied wholesale and specialist network capacity. In 2011 it agreed with Mobile Broadband Network Ltd to provide synchronous Ethernet mobile backhaul, supporting the expansion of capacity for Hutchison 3G UK and EE networks. Its stated customers and connected organisations have included London City Airport, Arqiva, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Partnership, and South West Water. Virgin Media Business is part of the corporate structure that led to Virgin Media O2. From 1 June 2021, Virgin Media O2 became the parent company of the relevant Virgin Media operations following the combination of Liberty Global’s Virgin Media and Telefónica’s O2 businesses. The available reference material does not establish a separate current consumer-facing corporate structure or a complete present-day executive roster for the Virgin Media Business brand, so those fields are left unspecified.
History
Virgin Media Business developed from the business telecommunications activities associated with ntl and Telewest. It was known as ntl:Telewest Business before adopting the Virgin Media Business name on 11 February 2010, following the creation and development of the Virgin Media identity. The unit was established to serve organisations rather than residential customers, with a focus on business-grade connectivity, networking, data-centre services and public-sector communications. Its principal infrastructure proposition has been Virgin Media’s UK fibre-optic next-generation network. This network enabled the business to supply Ethernet, internet access and other high-capacity communications services to enterprises, government bodies, data centres and communications providers. In September 2010, the company launched Big Red Internet, a business internet service promoted as having no constraints or additional charges of the type associated with some other offerings. In November of the same year, its Ethernet portfolio was re-certified using Metro Ethernet Forum 9 and 14 service-validation structures. Public-sector network infrastructure was an important area of activity during 2010 and 2011. Virgin Media Business committed support for the UK Government’s proposed nationwide fibre network underpinning the Public Services Network, a network-of-networks concept for public-sector organisations. In January 2011, London Grid for Learning selected the company for a framework intended to support the transformation of public-service delivery across London. The company subsequently received interim Public Services Network security accreditation in April 2011 and full accreditation in July. These approvals allowed it to operate as a Direct Network Service Provider and a Government Conveyance Network Service Provider within the relevant government framework. The company broadened its data-centre and cloud proposition in 2011. In February it announced access to carrier-grade connectivity for data centres. In May it partnered with ICM to launch a colocation service, giving business customers access to space in 11 UK data centres. In September it partnered with Savvis to launch a Virtual Private Data Centre, described in the source material as its first true cloud product. These developments extended the brand beyond basic connectivity into managed infrastructure and hosted computing. Virgin Media Business also participated in large public-sector procurement initiatives. In June 2011 it and Westminster City Council launched a pan-London information-technology framework. In July, the business secured one of three positions on the Government Procurement Service Managed Telecommunications Convergence Framework, which provided a route for public-sector organisations to purchase Public Services Network-compliant technologies. Wholesale network services were another part of the operation. In September 2011, an agreement with Mobile Broadband Network Ltd provided a synchronous Ethernet mobile-backhaul network. The arrangement was intended to increase bandwidth available to Hutchison 3G UK and EE for their 3G and 4G network requirements, with connectivity of up to 1 gigabit per second described in the reference material. The business has been associated with organisations including London City Airport, Arqiva, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Partnership and South West Water. On 1 June 2021, Virgin Media O2 became the parent company of the relevant Virgin Media operations after the combination of Virgin Media and Telefónica’s O2 business. The supplied reference does not provide enough information to describe later product changes, a separate current leadership team or the precise present legal status of the brand beyond its continuing association with Virgin Media’s business telecommunications activities.
- 2021
Virgin Media O2 becomes parent group
[1]Virgin Media O2 became the parent company of the relevant Virgin Media operations from 1 June.
- 2011
London Grid for Learning framework
[1]London Grid for Learning selected Virgin Media Business to power a framework for public-service delivery in and around London.
- 2011
Public Services Network accreditation
[1]The company received interim accreditation in April and full accreditation in July for specified government network-provider roles.
- 2011
Colocation service launch
[1]Virgin Media Business and ICM launched a colocation service spanning access to 11 UK data centres.
- 2011
Virtual Private Data Centre launch
[1]The company and Savvis launched a Virtual Private Data Centre, extending the portfolio into cloud infrastructure.
- 2010
Rebrand from ntl:Telewest Business
[1]The business adopted the Virgin Media Business name on 11 February 2010.
- 2010
Big Red Internet launch
[1]Virgin Media Business launched Big Red Internet as a business internet service in September.
- 2010
Ethernet portfolio re-certification
[1]The company re-certified its Ethernet portfolio under Metro Ethernet Forum 9 and 14 service-validation structures.
Products and positioning
A UK enterprise and public-sector telecommunications provider focused on resilient fibre networking, high-capacity connectivity, data-centre access and managed infrastructure services.
Business internet · 2010
Big Red Internet
A business internet service launched in September 2010. The service was presented as an offering without constraints or extra charges, forming part of Virgin Media Business’s effort to provide straightforward connectivity for organisational customers.
Enterprise networking
Business Ethernet
A portfolio of Ethernet connectivity services supported by Virgin Media’s fibre-based next-generation network. The portfolio was re-certified under Metro Ethernet Forum 9 and 14 service-validation structures in 2010.
Public-sector telecommunications · 2010
Public Services Network connectivity
Network services supporting the UK Government’s Public Services Network framework. Virgin Media Business obtained interim and then full accreditation for specified direct-network and government-conveyance provider roles in 2011.
Data-centre services · 2011
Colocation
A service launched with ICM in May 2011 that gave business customers access to colocation capacity across 11 data centres in the United Kingdom, combining data-centre space with carrier-grade connectivity.
Cloud infrastructure · 2011
Virtual Private Data Centre
A cloud-oriented infrastructure service launched with Savvis in September 2011. It was described as Virgin Media Business’s first true cloud product and provided a virtualised private data-centre proposition for organisational customers.
Wholesale telecommunications · 2011
Synchronous Ethernet mobile backhaul
A mobile-backhaul network service developed through an agreement with Mobile Broadband Network Ltd. It was intended to provide additional bandwidth for Hutchison 3G UK and EE network requirements, including 3G and 4G traffic.
Brand decisions
2011
Launch of the Virtual Private Data CentreProduct launchBackground
Virgin Media Business sought to extend its enterprise portfolio from network connectivity into hosted and cloud infrastructure.
Action taken
The company partnered with Savvis to launch a Virtual Private Data Centre service.
Aftermath
The product was described as the company’s first true cloud offering in the supplied reference material.
2011
Expansion into data-centre and colocation servicesStrategyBackground
Business customers required connectivity and managed infrastructure in addition to conventional telecommunications links.
Action taken
Virgin Media Business launched carrier-grade data-centre connectivity and partnered with ICM on a colocation service covering 11 UK data centres.
Aftermath
The move broadened the brand’s enterprise infrastructure proposition beyond access services.
2011
Mobile-backhaul partnershipStrategyBackground
Mobile operators required greater transport capacity as their 3G and emerging 4G networks expanded.
Action taken
The company agreed with Mobile Broadband Network Ltd to provide synchronous Ethernet mobile backhaul for Hutchison 3G UK and EE.
Aftermath
The arrangement expanded Virgin Media Business’s role as a wholesale network-capacity provider.
2010
Commitment to the Public Services NetworkStrategyBackground
The UK Government planned a nationwide fibre-based network to support public-sector organisations through the Public Services Network.
Action taken
Virgin Media Business committed support for the network and subsequently pursued the security and operational accreditations required for relevant provider roles.
Aftermath
The company received interim accreditation in April 2011 and full accreditation in July 2011.
Recent events
- 2021
Virgin Media becomes part of Virgin Media O2[1]
M&A
From 1 June 2021, Virgin Media O2 became the parent company of the relevant Virgin Media operations following the combination of Virgin Media and O2.
- 2011
London Grid for Learning selects Virgin Media Business[1]
Other
London Grid for Learning selected the company to power a framework intended to help transform public-service delivery in and around London.
- 2011
Virgin Media Business receives full Public Services Network accreditation[1]
Regulation
After receiving interim accreditation in April, the company gained full accreditation in July to operate in specified Direct Network Service Provider and Government Conveyance Network Service Provider roles.
- 2011
Virgin Media Business expands into colocation[1]
Product launch
The company partnered with ICM to launch a colocation service offering access to 11 data centres across the United Kingdom.
- 2011
Virgin Media Business launches mobile-backhaul agreement[1]
Product launch
An agreement with Mobile Broadband Network Ltd provided synchronous Ethernet mobile backhaul and expanded network capacity for Hutchison 3G UK and EE.
- 2011
Virgin Media Business launches Virtual Private Data Centre[1]
Product launch
In partnership with Savvis, the company introduced its first described cloud product, a Virtual Private Data Centre service.
- 2010
Virgin Media Business re-certifies Ethernet portfolio[1]
Other
The business re-certified its Ethernet portfolio under Metro Ethernet Forum 9 and 14 service-validation structures.
- 2010
Virgin Media Business supports the Public Services Network[1]
Other
The company committed support for the UK Government’s planned nationwide fibre network underpinning the Public Services Network for public-sector organisations.
Sources1 sources
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