Scottish broadband outfit iomart is to begin trials of a new DSL service later this summer which will make high-speed Net access accessible for more users.

Its new rate adaptive DSL service - dubbed CopperSurf - will extend DSL reach capability to 5.5 kilometres.

iomart reckons the switch to the new extended reach service will increase its customer base by some 20 per cent.

Announcing the launch of CopperSurf, iomart's rate adaptive DSL service, at Internet World 2001 in London, Phil Worms, iomart director of broadband services, said: "There has been much talk recently about the need for reduction in basic broadband prices to achieve mass-market deployment but little talk about quality of service.

"We do not believe that there will be huge growth of DSL in the consumer market until the Internet starts to deliver compelling applications and content.

"We are, however, seeing that the very real productivity and cost benefits derived from DSL is attracting much interest from large areas of the commercial sector," he said.

Trials of iomart's CopperSurf service begins this week in Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Central London. Full commercial roll out in the UK is scheduled to begin in September 2001. ®