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Two thousand lines across 21 exchanges will be used to test connections up to the maximum ADSL limit of 8Mbps.

BT will also be testing various service options for ISPs, including throttling back speeds to 2Mbps in peak hours before letting them loose in the evening, overnight and at weekends.

Running ADSL at or close to its maximum brings new problems for operators, which can include the occasional loss of signal for up to 20 seconds. One of the reasons for restricting the trial to so few lines is that it will allow engineers to precisely monitor the performance of each

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one.

In the long term, ADSL2+ will overcome these problems, and enable speeds comparable to the 100Mbps enjoyed by some South Koreans. BT is testing the technology at up to 18Mbps, though the trial is only open to its employees.

The exchanges involves in the ADSL trial are in London - Chiswick, Greenford, Harrow, Merton Park, Mill Hill, Mitcham, Northolt, North Wembley, Pinner, Putney, Uxbridge, Wallington and Wembley - and in Strathclyde - Bridge of Weir, Connel, Dalmally, East Kilbride, Giffnock, Glasgow Cambuslang, Lochgoilhead and Ochiltree. ISPs have been invited to sign up and those that do will be inviting end users to participate closer to the commencement of the trial.

'Trials in different geographies are essential to ensure we fully understand how higher speed broadband service might be best deployed in the autumn,' explained BT Wholesale products director Bruce Stanford. 'The early trials, with lines selected in conjunction with our service provider customers, are key to monitoring performance at maximum speeds on individual lines and seeing how the network management tools we are deploying can help deliver the best speeds possible.'