BT is introducing a broadband booster which it says will
improve any ADSL connection, even if the user is not a subscriber
to BT's broadband service.
The
I-Plate,
which will cost £7.57, uses filtering technology to clean-up the
data signal on the telephone line within a user's house.
BT said that by using this filtering, the I-Plate can help users
whose broadband line is susceptible to "dropping out" by increasing
the stability of their broadband connection, which influences
whether or not a line can support services like IPTV.
"We estimate that around nine million UK homes have the
potential to benefit from installing this simple but effective
device," BT said.
BT's benchmark of 36,000 lines showed that, on average, filtered
lines achieved speed increases of around 1.5Mbps, though some lines
achieved speed increases of up to 4Mbps.
The I-Plate will be available from August 17. Subscribers to
BT's home broadband service can order the I-Plate for free.