expansion of broadbandnext - nec alliance

http://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20081117/pdf/31dmb36xw052vy.pdf

Major Expansion of BroadbandNext Network
17 November 2008

- Strategic Partnership with NEXTEP -

National Internet Provider EFTel Limited (ASX Code: EFT) and NEXTEP Broadband, a division of NEC Australia Pty Ltd, today announced a major strategic partnership between the companies.

Under the terms of the agreement, EFTel enjoys exclusive access to NEXTEP’s MPORT DSLAM infrastructure in approximately 80 telephone exchanges.

The deal sees EFTel’s new BroadbandNext network expanded by a net of 55 additional sites, taking the total footprint to 125 exchanges.

EFTel CEO Simon Ehrenfeld said today that the partnership puts the expansion of BroadbandNext more than a year ahead of the company’s original plans.

“This agreement also enables NEXTEP to exploit its proven, cutting edge Broadband infrastructure. It delivers an immediate benefit to EFTel by lowering the cost of supplying broadband services, while dramatically growing EFTel’s state-of-the-art BroadbandNext network.”

The deal also gives EFTel Australia’s sixth largest broadband footprint. “Only the big five have larger networks,” Mr Ehrenfeld said.

NEXTEP GM Duncan Wallace today praised “the foresight and commitment of EFTel to deliver genuine, next generation broadband services to customers around Australia in such a short time. We look to forging our partnership going forward, leveraging NEC’s global knowledge and strength in Broadband systems and applications.”

In a further update on the network rollout, the company revealed that the final 4 exchanges of the original 70 had now been approved for MSAN installation.

EFTel’s MSANs can deliver VDSL2, ADSL2+, traditional ADSL, SHDSL corporate solutions, normal PSTN Voice services, IP Video, VoIP, and “Naked DSL”.


Enquiries:

Simon Ehrenfeld
Chief Executive Officer
08 9420 9999

John Lane
Chief Operating Officer
08 9420 9999