NTL has announced plans to make 10Mb its new connection standard for broadband customers.

The changeover will begin later this year for 3Mb customers, with rollout following across the remainder of the network through 2006.

At present, the firm has "no plans" to change monthly prices; instead, a number of 10Mb packages will be offered with differing usage limits. The allowance for 3Mb connections will increase from 30Gb to 75Gb following the upgrade.

"Our broadband services will become amongst the most innovative in the world and certainly well ahead of anything else in the UK," said Simon Duffy, Chief Executive Officer of ntl. "This is a major step towards delivering Britain’s digital future."

The current cable network is capable of top speeds of between 30Mb and 50Mb.