BT is to spend more than a million pounds subsidising the promotion of rival ISPs.

BT Wholesale - which provides wholesale DSL to almost 200 ISPs - has decided to spend some its budget on helping its customers promote their DSL services.

Execs at BT Wholesale are currently sifting through applications and those that have applied should know within the next couple of days whether their bid for BT cash has proved successful.

A spokeswoman for BT Wholesale declined to say exactly how much cash was available but said it was in the "low millions".

It's not known if BTopenworld - BT's own ISP - has applied for the hand-out. ®