EFTel to roll out VDSL2 to Australian Market 1 November 2007 EFTel Limited (ASX Code: EFT) became the first Internet provider to announce the planned rollout of nationwide VDSL2, the next generation in high-speed broadband delivery. VDSL2 or ‘Very High Speed Digital Subscriber Line 2’ will enable speeds of up to 100Mbps, 4 times faster than ADSL2+ and from 12 to 400 times faster than ADSL. The network, which will be called BroadbandNext, will be built on MSAN (Multiservice access node) technology. MSANs are a leap ahead of the traditional DSLAM Broadband technology being rolled out by most providers. MSANs have superior upgradeability, scalability, redundancy and environmental sustainability. Commencing in February 2008, the MSANs will be aggressively rolled out at a rate of 15 exchanges per month, with an initial schedule of 70 exchanges nationwide. EFTel will support the fastest and most advanced DSL broadband network technology in Australia. EFTel’s MSANs can deliver VDSL2, ADSL2+, traditional ADSL, SHDSL corporate solutions, normal PSTN Voice services, IP Video, VoIP, and Bare DSL. “Customers connected to BroadbandNext will enjoy benefits such as massively fast downloads, a wider range of service types, and improved levels of customer support from a smarter network,” CEO Simon Ehrenfeld said today. “Apart from delivering superior services to customers, the rollout brings EFTel some freedom from the Telstra cost prison.” “This week, the ACCC handed down its final LSS (line sharing service) decision, maintaining its pricing guidance. This is excellent news for users as well as providers who are installing infrastructure. A key means of ensuring margin growth is to own strategically selected pieces of the infrastructure that give rapid payback. In this way we can deliver value-added services and at the same time reduce costs.” “This is the most exciting event in the history of EFTel. We are delivering a service to the Australian public that is new, technically advanced, delivers the blindingly fast broadband consumers have been asking for, and leaves major competitors in our wake” he said. EFTel is partnering with PIPE Networks (ASX Code: PWK) and Chinese giant Huawei Technologies to ensure the most sophisticated and effective network capacity in Australia. Huawei is a leader in providing next generation telecommunications networks, serving 31 of the world's top 50 telco operators, with over one billion end users worldwide. PIPE owns and operates Australia's largest Internet exchange, and an Australia-wide network of fibre-optic cable serving over 180 telephone exchanges. “Customers can look forward to much faster broadband speeds early in 2008, when the first exchanges are connected to the BroadbandNext network,” Major Projects Manager Luke MacKinnon said today. “After dialogue between EFTel and telcos of varying sizes throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas, it is clear to us that VDSL2 is also the technology which will be best suited to a Fibre to the Node (FTTN) environment in the future. If and when FTTN occurs, the network infrastructure will be redeployable,” he said. EFTel Ltd will be retailing VDSL2 and its other new services through its flagship EFTel retail brand as well as its aaNet brand. Its wholesale division, DFT Wholesale Internet, will be offering access to its numerous ISP customers. EFTel currently serves around 25% of Australia’s Internet Service Providers with IP bandwidth, colocation, and wholesale ADSL solutions. EFTel Corporate will be offering an exciting new suite of high powered business solutions that the technology offers. VDSL2 is expected to be certified for use on the public switched telephone network in the first quarter of 2008. More information on BroadbandNext is available at www.broadbandnext.com For pre-registrations and more information about EFTel VDSL2 visit www.vdsl2.com.au Enquiries: Simon Ehrenfeld Chief Executive Officer 08 9420 9999 Luke MacKinnon Major Projects Manager 02 8231 6701 About EFTel EFTel Ltd (ASX Code:EFT) is one of Australia’s largest Internet Service Providers, with 140,000 active accounts and offices in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Hobart, Brisbane and Kuala Lumpur. Its online brand, aaNet is one of Australia’s most popular DSL providers among industry opinion leaders and has received a 5 star customer satisfaction rating in PC Authority Magazine. EFTel’s wholesale division, DFT Wholesale, also services a quarter of Australia’s other ISPs. Its business division, EFTel Corporate is a preferred supplier to the Victorian Government.
EFT Price at posting:
0.0¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
