Virgin Media O2 is boosting download speeds for its fiber broadband customers as part of the first major service development since the €31bn merger. The enlarged company says it wants to give a boost to SMEs that saw their revenues plummet during the pandemic and are now more dependent than ever on connectivity for their continuity. Cloud applications, file sharing, and video conferencing have become essential tools for supporting distributed workforces and serving customers who increasingly demand digital experiences. Many of the changes seen in the last 18 months are likely to become permanent, forcing SMEs to keep up. Virgin Media O2 will now offer download speeds of 20 Mbps with its entry-level 350 Mbps download plan, up to 50 Mbps on its faster 500 Mbps plan. Customers can also choose from various Service Level Agreements (SLAs). ) and add static IP options, business phone lines, and 4G support. Jo Bertram, Virgin Media O2's managing director for business and wholesale, left O2 as part of the merger and said the announcement, just 15 working days after the deal was finalized, is not "just the start" of How do you plan to serve businesses? go forward. “Connectivity has never been more critical for business,” he told TechRadar Pro. “95% of the UK private sector are micro-businesses and we know small businesses will be essential to the economy, so we want to give them a boost. " As the importance of connectivity increases after the pandemic, competition between different providers will intensify, especially in the SMB segment, where many companies have traditionally relied on consumer services, believing that professional broadband was adequate for large organisations. Virgin Media O2 believes that investments in its fixed infrastructure, coupled with O2's mobile expertise and customer-focused approach, will set it apart from the rest of the market.“The joint venture will support and their needs so they can work anytime, anywhere," he explains. "We are already seeing the enthusiasm of our customers. "We are the only major competitor on the scale of BT-EE."