 As Brits tell of how broadband is essential, not a luxury, Government plans on a broadband tax seem to be going ahead:
>> Virgin Media has revealed that it has increased it's subscribers over the third quarter of 2009 by 39,000 new customers. They have said that demand has been at record levels and the fact that they can offer speeds of 10mbps or more due to their fibre optic broadband network has seen their customer base increase by 157% year on year. They have also secured 37,000 new digital TV subscribers.
>> Conservatives have described the idea of a broadband tax as deeply unpopular - now that we've all been saying it for a while! The Government's idea of charging a 50p per month tax on broadband as a way of funding fibre optics broadband may encourage telecom operators to ask for state help rather than put the investment in place themselves. The Government say that they are planning on using the tax as a subsidy for areas which may not get the same level of investment.
>> MP Stephen Timms has said that broadband is no longer considered a luxury by most people. The MP is involved the Government's Digital Britain campaign and has said that it is essential for social, commercial and economic benefits that everyone in the UK has equal access to broadband services. He has also praised Virgin Media and BT for advances in the industry.
Virgin Media has announced that it will be showing the first ever demonstration of 3D TV at it's London Oxford Street store starting on November 6th. Virgin do not intend to offer a 3D service to it's digital TV customers yet, but are trialling at the store to allow customers the opportunity to experience what it may be like. However they did run some trials via their fibre optic broadband service in Kent recently. †

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