BT internet is in preliminary talks about trialling broadband technology capable of delivering speeds of between 50 megabytes per second (Mbps) and 100Mbps, it has been reported.

The telecommunications firms is mulling beginning testing VDSL2 (Very High Speed Digital Subscriber Line 2) technology within three years, according to a report in the Financial Times.

However, a potential stumbling block for the technology might be the prohibitive cost of upgrades to the network that its adoption would require.

Analysts have put the size of the investment needed at around the £4 billion mark.

VDSL2 differs from existing broadband networks because it uses street cabinets instead of exchanges, meaning that line lengths to homes are significantly shorter.

As a result, users within 0.5km of an upgraded cabinet can achieve speeds of up to 100Mbps, while subscribers within 1km experience a service running at around 50Mbps.