BT has today announced that the speed of its Infinity broadband service will double from up to 40Mbps to up to 80Mbps in 2012.
The announcement comes shortly after the national telecommunications provider received approval from the network frequency authorities to change the way in which it delivers its broadband signal.
Infinity, first launched in January 2010, is a form of Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) broadband through which local exchanges deliver high-speed data to street side cabinets through fibre-optic cable. The signal is then carried from the cabinet to a customer's home through traditional copper cable, but the length and quality of copper can have an adverse effect on performance.
While BT Infinity broadband currently touts speeds of "up to 40Mbps", a 2011 Ofcom study revealed that customers are more likely to experience an average speed of between 30.5Mbps and 33.1Mbps.
BT has yet to comment on the likely average speed of its 2012 Infinity service, but has revealed that its Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) broadband - which runs fibre-optic cabling the entire distance from exchange to premises - will hit speeds of up to 300Mbps from next Spring.
The telecoms giant has stated that "these developments will transform the broadband speeds that are available across the UK", and continues to stress that fibre broadband will be "available to two thirds of UK premises by the end of 2015".
