BT's new boss Ben Verwaayen is hoping to kick-start the broadband revolution in the UK by making high-speed internet access more affordable.

The Dutchman, who took over as chief executive last week, plans to outline substantial red-uctions to wholesale broadband charges in a fortnight's time.

BT sells space on its network to rival service providers wanting to supply faster net access to homes and businesses.

Cuts from the present £30 a month per line should help internet service providers lower their own prices, reductions likely to be mirrored by BT's own internet arm BTopenworld.

Mr Verwaayen said: "I believe strongly a commitment from BT to broadband will give an impulse to the market."

The comments will be a lift to the Government which wants broadband take-up to increase mark-edly in the UK and approach levels seen elsewhere in Europe.

They came as BT announced results ahead of City forecasts for the final three months of last year, the third quarter of its financial year.

BT said it would be paying a final dividend after scrapping its half-year payout.

The group has undergone a radical transformation in the past year after debts spiralled to £28 billion following third -generation mobile phone auctions and overseas expansion.

It has since spun off its mobile phone business, renamed mmO2, sold its Yellow Pages arm and closed a joint venture with US giant AT&T.

BT said net debt was now at £13.6 billion and should remain below £15 billion for the next two months.

Turnover from the continuing activities edged ahead to £4.66 billion, up from £4.37 billion in the same period in 2000.

Pre-tax profit in the third quarter was £850 million, up from £760 million the year before. The 2001 figure was helped by one-off gains totalling £565 million, which included profits from a sale and leaseback deal on most of BT's property.