BT has celebrated hitting the four million customer mark for its broadband services.

"Broadband has proved to be one of the most popular new services ever seen. It is already delivering next-generation television, inclusive free phone calls and great value mobile calls," said Ian Livingstone, chief executive of BT Retail.

"Broadband can provide so many more services than just internet surfing and it has become central to many people's lives and businesses."

The broadband market has boomed in recent years, and more than 99.8 per cent of UK homes can now access broadband. Recent figures indicate that over 60 per cent of homes have taken up the service.

There are more than 15 million connections in the UK, around 11.5 million of which are running over the BT network. The rest are carried via the UK's cable network.