launch of adsl2+..up up and away :-)
NetComm launches its first ADSL2+ compatible modems with NB5 series
Leading Australian broadband hardware vendor Netcomm today announced the release of two extra models to enhance its flagship NB5 modem router series – the NB5Plus4 and NB5Plus4W.
These models represent the first ADSL2+ compatible modem routers for the Australian company and are designed to cover a wide range of user requirements. “The NB5Plus4 and Plus4W represent the next leap in broadband modem technology with many Australian Internet Service Providers [ISP’s] starting to roll-out ADSL2/2+ services to their customers,” said Netcomm Managing Director David Stewart.
“With many houses having more than one computer the NB5Plus4 can easily share these faster Internet services. Also, many computer users are going wireless so we built the NB5Plus4W with an 11g [54Mbps] Wireless Access Point so it can distribute Internet services to both wired and wireless users alike.”
The new models also incorporate an in-built router with the following features:
Triple layer firewall security – Network Address Translation, Stateful Packet Inspection and Denial of Service protection – essential in today’s Internet environment Both models feature a USB port and 4-port 10/100 Ethernet switch which can be used simultaneously (the NB5Plus4W also includes a 54Mbps Wireless Access Point) Support for Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) Quality of Service (Qos) function that allows the user to allocate priority on certain types of data – e.g. voice packets which makes these NB5 models ideal for use with Voice over IP (VoIP) “NetComm are making strides with our new VoIP technology and these new models are designed to complement our VoIP initiatives,” said Mr Stewart.
“Consumers trying VoIP for the first time will have an expectation that it is as good as their normal phone service and the QoS function in these models will ensure that the quality of the voice conversation is on par.”
Future production of the current NB5 modem router (USB/Single port Ethernet) will be stepped up to also make it ADSL2+ compatible out of the box.
“The key benefit for users of the NB5 series is that it will ensure immediate connectivity to the new ADSL standards. Many of the current ADSL modems on the market cannot be upgraded to ADSL2 or 2+, which means users will need to purchase a replacement model to take advantage of speed gains.”
“The NB5 series will ensure that NetComm users are future-protected.”
Understanding the new ADSL standards
ADSL2 is an enhancement to the current ADSL(1) standard which can allow users to download at speeds up to 12Mega bits per second (Mbps). ADSL1 can currently download at speeds up to 8Mbps. The ADSL2 standard also increases the coverage range by about an extra 200 metres down the phone line – this means that many homes that are currently out of range of ADSL1 coverage will fall into the coverage zone of ADSL2. ADSL2+ is an enhancement to ADSL2 (recognised as another standard) which doubles the bandwidth frequency (1.1Mhz to 2.2Mhz) to allow download speeds up to 24Mbps. Selected ISP’s have already released ADSL2+ services to their subscribers but latest industry discussion points to wide-spread rollout of this standard in late-2005/early 2006.
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