BT starts 8Mbps broadband trials

Trials will begin next month on selected Datastream and IPstream services

BT is to begin rolling out 8Mbps broadband to a limited number of customers across the country.

At the end of next month BT will begin trials of the new service for selected Datastream service and BT IPstream service, provided the customer is on either capacity or usage based charging. Initially only 50,000 connections will be attempted but by the end of the trial period as many as 150,000 connections could be involved.

“The market trial represents a significant step forward in the development of our higher speed broadband products," said Cameron Rejali, managing director, products and strategy, BT Wholesale.

“This trial phase is essential to ensure our higher speed broadband products and systems meet the reliability standards that service providers and end users expect. This testing is essential given BT intends to roll out services of up to 8Mb across the whole of the UK.”

Initially 25 exchanges will get eh faster service in Greater London, Cornwall, Strathclyde, Northern Ireland and South Glamorgan. This will rise to 53 exchanges as the trial progresses.

If the trials are successful then the full nationwide service will be rolled out in Spring 2006.