NEC's Nextep to resell Telstra ADSL2+ services

Stuart Corner
Friday, 28 November 2008 14:34

IT Industry - Strategy

NEC's broadband subsidiary, Nextep, has joined the rapidly growing list of wholesale customers for Telstra's 1400 exchange ADSL2+ network, a move likely to support NEC's new role as prime contractor for the Federal Government's $15 million broadband for Seniors project.

Telstra said that the ADSL2+ deal with NEC was a new addition to NEC's existing whole of business contract with Telstra Wholesale which has just been renewed. Nextep will commence selling ADSL2+ in January 2009.

According to Nextep general manager, Duncan Wallace, "Nextep's core strength is removing the complexity of broadband connectivity and simplifying choices of access type, speed, technology, service levels and price."

A consortium lead by NEC was yesterday announced as the winner of the three year project that will see Internet kiosks installed in 2000 locations around Australia.

NEC declined to specify exactly how it would deliver Internet access to the kiosks. Group manager, NEC Australia, David Cooke told iTWire: "We will be buying services from the Nextep division of NEC and other service providers depending on where we establish the kiosk. We have a national requirement and a methodology from the Department [of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs] so it not clear just what services will be used."

Nextep operates two DSLAM networks: one designed only for business services and the other an ADSL2+ network which has lain idle since its installation.

Broadband ISP EFTel announced earlier this month an agreement with NEC under which EFTel will take over management of this network, covering 80 exchanges, and use it to provide services to its own and other retail ISP businesses.

In the past week Telstra has announced wholesale ADSL2+ deals with WestNet   and with Internode . These follow deals with People Telecom (August)  and with Pacnet (September).