BT has promised to double the number of households that will have access to its super fast broadband network where speeds could reach up to 100Mpbs. They promise  to set up 10 % of Britains households ( at least 2.5 millions homes) with ultra fast speeds by 2012. The network will allow their customers to watch streaming HD television whilst surfing the web and downloading music on their PC’s.

The first trials will take place in Bradwell Abbey in Milton Keynes and Highams Park in London where up to 20,000 cutomers will receive the high speed connections by March 2010. 

 Due to a revision of plans BT will have the new fibre optic network passing through 10 million households although much of the network will be FTTC  (fibre to the cabinet) which means it will be connected to the green boxes outside on the streets rather tha plugging directly into peoples homes. Because of this speeds will be slower- maybe 60Mpbs slower- as the final part of the connection to the house will just be a traditional copper phone line. Most ot the new technology will take place in the brownfield sites that already have copper broadband infastructure rather than greenfield areas.

BT is competing with Carphone Warehouse, Virgin Media and BSkyB to bring out high speeds. Virgin Media has already launched broadband at 50Mpbs and is testing 100Mpbs services.