Virgin Media and THECUBE, a start-up incubator based in East London today announced a partnership that will see THECUBE members test and develop new products and services across superfast broadband, next generation digital entertainment, mobile and business services.
Unveiled during a Prime Ministerial visit to the area, marking one year of Tech City, ‘The Innovation Lab’ will see THECUBE members help evolve Virgin Media products, before they are launched to customers. Bringing together entrepreneurs, tech start-ups and experts from across the Virgin Media group, the collaboration aims to push superfast connectivity to its limits with new applications and services, make the most of Virgin Media’s new TiVo Service and its innovative apps line-up, develop ground-breaking consumer mobile platforms and new propositions that will enable organisations across the UK to innovate and grow. The partnership will also see Virgin Media’s marketing, technology, commercial and business teams hold seminars and workshops at THECUBE to share their expertise and experience with the community.
From this month, THECUBE will begin to trial a secure business-grade internet connection from Virgin Media Business, reselling the dedicated 1Gb/s internet access on a flexible commercial basis to its members. THECUBE will be enabled with a dedicated, carrier-grade 1Gb/s internet access, made available to start-ups on flexible commercial terms. The trial will run throughout the next year and is provided to THECUBE free of charge. During this time, the incubator will explore a range of commercial models and package the service so its users can benefit from superfast and dedicated internet connections without the need for long-term contracts.
“The start-up community has a lot to offer to British business and, with technology and innovation at its heart, our partnership with THECUBE gives us a fresh, informed and alternative point of view on how to take our products and services forward”, said Dale Barnes, Director of Advanced Technology and Innovation at Virgin Media. “We’re making the most of our unique fibre-optic network to deliver the connectivity start-ups need to get their venture moving in the right direction and it’s an exciting time to explore new ways of working.”
Araceli Camargo, Founder, THECUBE added: “Spaces like THECUBE are pioneering a new type of business in the UK and we can take our approach even further by partnering with one of the UK’s leading digital companies. Virgin Media is bringing new services to our members, providing entrepreneurs with previously inaccessible technology, and we’re working with them to make the most of the talent at THECUBE and the experience and expertise at Virgin Media.”
THECUBE’s new connection will be delivered via Virgin Media Business’ Big Red Internet proposition which will provide unconstrained bandwidth and lightning speeds, meaning that as THECUBE’s internet connectivity demands increase it will have the bandwidth there ready and waiting, without any costly upgrades.
About THECUBE London
THECUBE was founded in September 2009 as a direct response to the Lehman Brothers collapse. We hypothesised that it would catalyse an economic and societal shift, we wanted to be part of the solution. The most obvious and direct solution was to tribe people via social media and then provide a physical space from which to brainstorm, innovate and collaborate.
The space was designed using neurological and psychological principles. From the height of the ceilings, lighting, colours, textures, to the size of the space have all been chosen with a specific neurological and psychological outcome.
About Virgin Media
Virgin Media is the first provider of all four broadband, TV, mobile phone and home phone services in the UK.
The company delivers ultrafast broadband connections to over half of all UK homes, with speeds of up to 100Mb, and is expanding this cable network – the result of a multi-billion pound investment – to reach thousands more people across the country.
Virgin Media has developed the most advanced interactive television service, bringing together broadcast TV, thousands of hours of on demand programming and the best of the web in a single set-top box powered by TiVo. The company was the first to offer HD TV and 3D on demand to millions of UK households.
Virgin Media also operates the most popular virtual mobile network in the UK which, when launched, was the world’s first such mobile phone service. It is also one of the largest fixed-line home phone providers in the country.
Virgin Media Inc. is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market and the London Stock Exchange (VMED).
About Virgin Media Business
Virgin Media Business has the UK’s only nationwide fibre optic network, carrying 35 per cent of all business broadband traffic. Already able to reach 85 per cent of businesses in the UK, Virgin Media Business has the ability to connect to all organisations. The largest business-to-business brand in the Virgin group, it prides itself on delivering innovative, high quality solutions that breakdown the barriers facing UK businesses today.
Staff are located at 40 offices across the country, meaning that Virgin Media Business really is closer to its customers. Organisations working with Virgin Media Business include London City Airport, Nottingham Building Society, Arqiva, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Partnership and South West Water.
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