Virgin Media challenges BT with cable network extension plan

US-owned firm hopes to break BT's broadband dominance with Project Lightning, which aims to extend reach to 17m UK homes Virgin Media is to extend its cable network to an extra 4m homes and businesses in a major challenge to BT. US-owned Virgin Media, part of Europe's largest cable network, announced on Friday it is planning to extend its reach from 12.6m premises to 17m - almost two thirds of the UK's 26m households.