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BT is rolling out a new technology that could help bring ADSL broadband to so-called "notspots" - but it's asking for Government money to fund a full deployment.

BT's Broadband Enabling Technology (BET) effectively doubles the distance ADSL lines can stretch, extending the reach from 6km from the local exchange to 12km.

BT claims this could bring 140,000 of Britain's 166,000 notspots within range of an ADSL line.

The technology works by applying elements of SHDSL technology to ADSL lines, and then by bonding two copper lines together to deliver connection speeds of between 1Mbit/sec and 2Mbits/sec.

BT Openreach - the wholesale arm of BT - says it's been sitting on BET for a while. "We offered it communications providers previously, but there was no interest in it because of the additional costs involved," a BT spokesperson told PC Pro. Consequently, it claims extra funding will be required if the company is to reach all of the affected notspots.

Conveniently, the Government is setting money aside to help achieve its commitment of universal 2Mbits/sec connections by 2012, and BT says it will be applying for slice of that pie. "If we were going to apply for funding, this would be part of universal commitment fund," the spokesperson claims. "We need to wait for the [Government] Network Design and Procurement group to be set up."

BT says it's also talking to local authorities about funding for the technology.

Pilot test

In the meantime, BT will pilot BET in eight locations across the country, from Horsham in West Sussex to Wigton in Cumbria. BT has already tested the technology in two towns in Scotland.

BT says customers won't have to pay any extra for the BET connections and that they will be offered to all ISPs on a wholesale basis.

The pilot programme will start at the end of the month.