Ann: Regional Australians to receive early access, page-2

re: Ann: Regional Australians to receive earl... news release 06may2011 ....
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Regional Australians to receive early access to NBN following
$200m deal with Optus
Australians living in regional and remote parts of Australia will gain access to the National Broadband Network
from as early as 1 July 2011 following the appointment of Optus to supply managed services for NBN Co?s Interim
Satellite Service.
The five-year agreement is valued at approximately $200 million, subject to final design and the implementation
of the fully expanded network. The network will be capable of peak download speeds up to 6Mbps* enabling
consumers to obtain high speed broadband Internet services through participating retail service providers.
NBN Co plans to use satellite or terrestrial wireless technology to reach the estimated seven per cent of
Australian premises that cannot be connected to its fixed-line fibre optic network.
Optus will draw on its 25 years satellite experience to fully manage the service for NBN Co and will include the
provision of satellite capacity, network infrastructure, customer premise equipment and operating systems for
interfacing with NBN Co and retail service providers. Additional capacity from IPstar will be integrated to meet
network requirements.
Initial services are expected to commence from 1 July 2011 and will leverage Optus? existing Premium Broadband
Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) service platform. The service will use capacity on Optus? D-Series satellites.
Optus will be responsible for managing the project and will partner with Gilat Satellite Networks Australia to
deploy VSAT network equipment at a number of satellite gateways and end user premises throughout Australia.
Vicki Brady, Managing Director, Optus Wholesale and Satellite said, ?We?re delighted to have been selected for
this critical project. Optus is Australia?s leading satellite owner and service provider with over 25 years?
experience in delivering high-quality services to customers nationwide.?
Gary McLaren, NBN Co Chief Technology Officer, said, ?Optus has the experience, and proven track record within
the Australian marketplace of delivering quality satellite services to consumers in regional and remote Australia.
We are excited to see this project kick off and to start delivering high-speed broadband to some of the most
isolated people in Australia.?
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