Internet service provider BT is considering buying mobile broadband radio spectrum at auction next year.

The company's chief executive officer Ian Livingstone said that it would look closely at the terms and conditions of operating mobile broadband before bidding.

Mr Livingstone claimed that, while it would be cautious about entering into any mobile broadband auction, acquisition of parts of the radio spectrum was high on its list of priorities.

According to Computing, a move into mobile broadband internet could prove "irresistible" to BT as the rapidly growing smartphone market is showing no signs of slowing up.

The radio spectrum auction will be conducted by Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, and will see valuable mobile broadband frequencies - including 800MHz and 2.6GHz - up for grabs.

BT is already investing heavily in fibre optic broadband technology and recently announced it had rolled out fibre optic cable broadband to 1.5 million properties across the UK.