BT could begin trialling super-fast fibre-optic networks as early as next year, it has been revealed.

The telecommunications giant was earlier reported to be in consultation with a number of providers of the technology over the likelihood of installing the networks.

The mooted trials next year are expected to use technology from Ebbsfleet.

BT's move represents a step towards British broadband users having access to the super fast broadband which is already a feature in select markets around the world.

Britain is already seen by some to be lagging behind other territories in the speed of its service. Japanese internet service providers in particular are deemed to be far outpacing their UK counterparts thanks to the country's greater take-up of fibre-optic technology.

So far one of the potential stumbling blocks for the adoption of the technology has been the prohibitive price - with most recent estimates costing the process at around £10 billion.