Virgin Media has announced that it will upgrade existing customers' broadband accounts to enable access to faster internet services.

The speed increase will allow users of the Virgin 'L' tier service package to access a 10Mbps connection, more than doubling current speeds.

The upgrade is expected to be introduced from next month onwards and will roll out across the UK over the coming year.

Virgin Media customers can also expect further speed increases in the future, with the company anticipating the nationwide launch of a 50Mbps service following successful trials in three UK towns.

Rising internet speeds are predicted to be a strong trend in the industry in 2008, with recent proposals to introduce 100Mpbs broadband services using existing sewer networks.

H20, the Wales-based company behind the project, hope that the system could be operational in ten to 15 major cities across the country within five years.

The company predicts that using existing sewer systems will also help ease the strain on centralised broadband hubs, which can experience a 'bottle-neck' effect in key areas.

Use our broadband speed test to find out the speed of your connection and compare potentially faster packages.