EFTel expands its network with Nextep DSLAMs

Stuart Corner
Monday, 17 November 2008 05:27

Business IT - Networking

EFTel said these DSLAMs could support VDSL2, ADSL2+, traditional ADSL, SHDSL corporate solutions, normal PSTN Voice services, IP Video, VoIP, and 'Naked DSL'.

VSL2 is capable of delivering 100Mbps close to the exchange but its throughput diminishes linearly to be no better than ADSL2+ beyond 1.2kms, according to a graph presented by EFTel CEO, Simon Ehrenfeld at Terrapinn's broadband conference earlier this month.

Ehrenfeld said that the partnership with Nextep gave EFTel Australia's sixth largest broadband footprint and the expansion of BroadbandNext more than a year ahead of the company's original plans.

"This agreement...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."

However the Nextep DSLAMs will not support VDSL2, although Lane said they might be upgradeable. Nor will EFTel be able to offer VDSL2 on its own DSLAMs any time soon.

When EFTel announced BroadbandNext there was no draft Australian standard for VDSL2 CPE and no definite timeframe for production of a standard for network equipment. Furthermore neither EFTel nor its DSLAM supplier, Huawei, were represented on the Communications Alliance working group developing the standards.

At present work on the Australian standard is on hold pending the outcome of the NBN decision. Lane said that Telstra had blocked the proposed standard and the working group was no longer meeting.