First next gen. mass-market wholesale broadband

23 September 2008

Telecom launches first next generation mass-market wholesale broadband service

Telecom Wholesale today launched the first of a series of next generation broadband products to telecommunication service providers.

Enhanced Unbundled Bitstream Access has been successfully trialled with both CallPlus and South Island ISP Snap and is now available to other service providers.

“Enhanced UBA is the first of a new family of next generation network products allowing service providers to offer their customers real-time next generation services,” said Telecom Wholesale chief executive Matt Crockett.

“The launch marks the completion of a challenging project with invaluable input from our wholesale customers and a complex build to a tight timeframe.”

Enhanced UBA will be available nationally where Telecom has deployed next generation Ethernet broadband technology, also called ADSL2+. Today, 56 per cent of fixed line broadband customers are served by ADSL2+ and this will increase to more than 80 per cent in the next three years.

“In an increasingly competitive wholesale market this is a critical first step to offering services to our customers that will bring the concept of IP services to life in New Zealand homes,” Mr Crockett said.

“The new products will pave the way for service providers to offer their customers multiple digital voice connections, high-quality video conferencing, improved remote working and home security systems, all over a single access in the home.”

Enhanced UBA includes a channel dedicated to real-time IP traffic – such as voice or video – and a second channel specifically for Internet services. Future variants of the product are expected to include additional dedicated channels built to cater for services, such IPTV or video-on-demand.

Snap Chief Executive Jamie Cairns said Enhanced UBA will become the foundation for converging voice and data services over Telecom’s next generation broadband network.

“Enhanced UBA enables a single copper line to reliably carry several services to the same location, and we’re very excited about how we can use it for our customers,” he said.

“It fits the gap between the more cost-competitive broadband products and the more expensive fibre services that are currently available.

CallPlus General Manager Mark Callander said Enhanced UBA will enable the cost effective delivery of IP-based services to the business market.

“Enhanced UBA will be one of the technologies we use for the delivery of our next generation SIP-based products targeting the small to medium business market.

“Having the ability to cost effectively deliver high quality voice and data over a single connection enables more businesses to start benefiting from the emerging world of voice-over-IP. Over the next few months we will be working closely with selected IP PBX vendors to leverage this opportunity in the New Zealand market,” he said.

Enhanced UBA will initially be available in two variants with real-time channels of 40 Kbps and 90 Kbps. Two more variants will be added to the Enhanced UBA family in early 2009. All variants can be provided with or without an active analogue phone service.

About Telecom Wholesale:

Telecom Wholesale is an operationally separate business unit within Telecom that wholesales network connectivity products to internet and telephone service providers throughout New Zealand. Telecom Wholesale’s broadband, business data, voice and interconnect products give providers the foundation on which to build their own network or telecommunications services for their customers. For more information on Telecom Wholesale visit www.telecomwholesale.co.nz.

About CallPlus:

Established in 1996, CallPlus is New Zealand’s third largest fixed line, voice and internet company offering a full range of communication services in both business and residential markets through its CallPlus and Slingshot brands. The company has a strong focus on innovation, service delivery and building customer value which has contributed to the significant customer and revenue growth over the last five years. For more information visit www.callplus.co.nz and www.slingshot.co.nz

About Snap:

Snap is the largest ISP in the South Island and has been supplying Internet connectivity for 15 years. It has developed a broad portfolio of services and is now a leading provider to small and medium sized businesses.

ENDS

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