17 December 2008
Hot on the heels of Virgin Media's super-fast broadband launch, Be Broadband has announced that it is trialling its own high-speed service.
The internet service provider - which is owned by O2 - said it will be offering customers speeds of up to 48 megabits per second (mbps).
This will be done by bonding together two high-speed connections - effectively doubling the 24mbps currently available to Be Broadband customers.
Earlier this week, Virgin launched a 50mbps service that will be available to customers through cable connections. Be Broadband said its service will deliver similar speeds through standard BT phone lines.
Felix Geyr, managing director of Be Broadband, told PC Pro: "If you want broadband around the 50mbps mark but don't want to go the cable route, Be wants to offer you a real alternative."
Labour MP Nick Palmer, a member of the parliamentary information technology committee, said recently that he believes consumer demand will ensure next-generation broadband will become a reality in the UK.
Consumers unhappy with the speed of their current connection or the service being offered should switch to another broadband supplier.