The UK, France and Germany have yet to break into the list of top ten FTTH nations.

BBC: Home fibre plans survive downturn

Only a quarter of the homes it intends to offer fibre to will be connected using FTTH.

BBC: BT to trial one gigabit broadband

Separate studies show that an FTTH infrastructure can have a direct impact on local economic output, said Mr Helsen.

BBC: Home fibre plans survive downturn

By 2012, the FTTH Council expects that 13 million people across 35 European nations will have their broadband delivered by fibre.

BBC: Home fibre plans survive downturn

Local governments were interested in FTTH because of the economic and social benefits it brought in its wake, said Mr Helsen.

BBC: Home fibre plans survive downturn

While early FTTH services were concentrated in cities, said Mr Helsen, many more were reaching out to rural areas for e-health and e-learning projects.

BBC: Home fibre plans survive downturn

The 1Gb trial in Kesgrave, Suffolk, will begin early next year and is intended to demonstrate the speed capabilities of BT's fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) technology.

BBC: BT to trial one gigabit broadband