BT has claimed that the government needs to be involved in plans to introduce fibre optic broadband services across the UK.

Steve Robertson, Chief Executive of the company's Openreach division, said that public funding will be needed to ensure all broadband providers and other organisations can rollout high-speed internet.

Writing for the Daily Telegraph, he said that the aid would be particularly important when it comes to rural areas.

"It is worth noting that the only countries where fibre technology reaches beyond towns have enjoyed significant government funding," he explained in a column for the paper.

The expert also backed the introduction of a tax on fixed phone lines as one way the government could create funding for such work.

Mr Robertson's comments come after BT Openreach confirmed plans to trial fibre-optic broadband technology in brownfield sites across both London and Milton Keynes.

The pilot scheme is set to start in January next year.