Users of Apple's iPhone could be surfing the net at high speed as early as next May, according to a report in Spanish newspaper El Pais.

Mobile software developer SevenClick claims in the article that Telefónica, Spain's biggest mobile operator, anticipates a May launch in Spain for the hotly awaited 3G iPhone.

The unconfirmed report arose after discussions within Telefónica in response to an enquiry about the Spanish launch of the 3G handset.

Telefónica, the parent company of Apple's UK network partner O2, will make the 3G phone available throughout Spain, according to the report.