The EU's Information Society Technologies' has revealed some details on a project, known only as 'Gandalf', which aims to boost broadband speeds by a factor of more than 1,000 (over 1Gbps is the target)!:

Scientists working on the initiative claim to have developed a groundbreaking technique to increase data rates a thousand-fold compared to existing DSL, and a hundred-fold compared to Wi-Fi.

The technology also allows data to flow over wireless and fixed-line communications, making the project the only initiative in the world to progress so far in both areas.

In order to overcome these hurdles, the project partners developed a technique using an optical feeder that allows data to be sent over cable in a format which also allows it to be transmitted over wireless networks.

Typically this is too fast for existing copper wires here in the UK to manage, although no doubt NTL/Telewest will be keen to get a look in. Presently there would be little point in such a service for ordinary consumers since most Internet servers simply couldn’t communicate that fast.

In other words, don’t expect to see this offered to UK consumers anytime soon. More @ VNUNet.