Telewest takes on BT

Telewest has begun a high-speed broadband trial that the company said is a direct challenge to BT's ADSL offering.

Telewest is rolling out one megabyte broadband over cable connections in Scotland with its Blueyonder residential internet service.

One megabyte should provide connection speeds around 20 times faster than a dial-up connection.

The company claims its fat service outclasses BT's ADSL product.

Philip Jansen, managing director of the consumer division at Telewest Broadband, said in a statement: "The trial will help us deliver a service that leaves ADSL providers dead in their copper tracks."

Blueyonder's product will be unleashed onto the rest of the UK later this year.

Around 1,500 Blueyonder customers are able to sign up for the trial at no extra cost.