MUMBAI: BBC News took the first step in a pilot plan to equip journalists working in BBC bureaux worldwide with the ability to broadcast live two-way interviews directly.

BBC correspondent in Kiev, Helen Fawkes used a laptop to transmit live, two-way interviews over broadband Internet this week for BBC News 24 and BBC World.

Head of Newsgathering Fran Unsworth said, "We have been working hard on developing new technology to enable us to find cost-effective ways of bringing pictures and lives in from places around the world and the cost of sending live reports over broadband is a fraction of those incurred with live satellite broadcasts.

The kit used - principally a laptop, camera and software - are self-operated by the reporter.

Commenting on the technology, Fawkes said: "It's very easy to use as I don't have to worry about having a satellite dish and it means that I can do a live from anywhere there is a broadband (connection). This could completely change the way correspondents work in the field as you don't have to rely on having a satellite dish to do lives."