Nearly 5m to receive free broadband speed upgrade

Almost five million people are to get a free broadband upgrade, as BT Retail's Total Broadband service is to offer speeds of up to 20 megabits per second (Mbps).

The upgrade will be facilitated through ADSL2+ technology, which is already being tested on 60,000 customers and will improve download services while also potentially improving the performance of VoIP hardware.

BT customers currently have access to speeds of up to 8Mbps, but higher speed coverage could be extended to over half the country's broadband users in less than a year.

Gavin Patterson, chief executive officer of BT Retail said: "Unlike other providers, BT is upgrading customers to 20Mbps for free. High-speed broadband provides a faster and more reliable service that will transform the way we live, work, learn and play."

He added that the improved service will enable the country to move closer towards delivering the government's broadband targets.

A new government survey has revealed that the majority of Britons now consider broadband access to be as important as major household utilities such as electricity and water.