BT's super-speedy broadband set back?

BT is planning to launch a commercial 8Mbs broadband service nationwide this November, later than at least one internet service provider had expected.

The telco began trialling a wholesale 8Mbps ADSL service in parts of London and Strathclyde in April, and on Monday a BT spokeswoman confirmed this trial is being expanded to cover more local exchanges in these areas.

She also confirmed reports that these technical trials will run until the end of August. BT hadn't set an earlier end-date for the trials.

This has still led to speculation that 8Mbps broadband won't be available from BT until December but BT denies that its earlier target of autumn has slipped.

"We're still on track for a November launch," said the spokeswoman.

A representative of one ISP taking part in the trials said it had previously been expecting the 8Mbps service to launch in September or October but added that BT was 'sensible' to expand the trial.

Another ISP said it was still hoping the 8Mbps services would launch before November.

An 8Mbps broadband service would be four times faster than BT's existing fastest broadband service, and could be useful for power users and small businesses who want to download very large files or run applications such as streamed video. While the downstream link will have a theoretical maximum of 8Mbps, the uplink will be greater than 800Kbs for businesses or around 450Kbps for consumers - enough to support multi-way videoconferencing.

Rivals such as Bulldog and EasyNet have both already launched 8Mbps services in some metropolitan areas. While BT is playing catch-up in the speed race, its products will be available across a much wider area.

However, it is likely that many millions of people who live several kilometres from their local exchange will be unable to get such high speeds, given ADSL's physical limitations.

Graeme Wearden writes for ZDNet UK