BT will this week announce plans to extend its fibre broadband rollout to two thirds of the country, according to reports.

The company is currently committed to a £1.5bn fibre network that will reach 10 million premises by 2012, which equates to roughly 40% of the country.

A report in the Financial Times claims that BT will increase that figure to 66%, when the company announces its full-year results on Thursday.

BT told PC Pro that it doesn't comment on rumour or speculation.

The expanded network would obviously require increased investment from cash-strapped BT, which is being weighed down by its Global Services division and a huge pensions deficit.

However, BT is reportedly confident that increased investment will tempt rivals such as Sky and Carphone Warehouse to buy fibre lines from BT on a wholesale basis, rather than commit to an expensive fibre rollout of their own.

BT is also looking to ramp up its IPTV service, BT Vision, which was one of the beneficiaries of a recent Ofcom ruling that forces Sky to offer its Sports channels to rival broadcasters at a cheaper rate than it does presently.