The BBC has handed BT a new multimillion-pound contract for its next generation broadcast network.

The new network, based on internet technologies will come online from April 2017. It will be designed to make it easier for additional services and capacity to be added for major events, such as a general election or the Olympics at what the corporation says is a considerably lower cost.

Current provider Vodafone loses out in the contract that will make it easier for the BBC to bring in any Ultra HD or 360-degree content services.