Virgin speeds up broadband, Sky “snoozes”

The latest development in the war of words between Sky and Virgin has seen the two multinationals jump from the business arena straight to the playground.With taunts of “our broadband’s bigger than your broadband” Branson’s company has announced that it will double the maximum download speed on its top-tier broadband service to a nippy 20Mbps by June. And the company is also currently conducting trials of a pant-wetting 50Mbps service. Meanwhile, Virgin’s dispute with Sky rolls on as the row about how much Virgin Media should pay the satellite heavyweight for its channels has reached the name-calling stage.To brighten up those blank screens which used to be the homes for Sky News, Sky Sports News, Skys One et al, Virgin has labeled channel 602, which used to be Sky News, as “Sky Snooze”, while Sky Sports News has been renamed “Old Sky Sports Snooze”. Very mature.Entertainment channel Virgin Central has replaced Sky One and Virgin has said the other channels will be filled soon. Perhaps with Branson telling us that Sky smell of wee. Related stories: Virgin Media launches “quadplay” combo