Telstra launches Next G home gateway from NetComm

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 24 November 2009 12:05

Your IT - Home IT

As predicted by iTWire last week Telstra has introduced a home Internet gateway, supplied by NetComm that uses HSPA+ over Next G to connect to the Internet.
HSPA+ provides a maximum downstream bandwidth of 21Mbps and upstream of 5.76Mbps. Telstra is advertising "typical download speeds of between 550Kbps to 8Mbps in selected CBD, metro and regional areas," but in a demonstration at the launch in the Sydney CBD a downstream rate of 11Mbps was achieved.

The device, known as the BigPond Elite wireless broadband network gateway - which appears to be the NetComm 3G21W   - comes with four ethernet ports, 802.11n WiFi access point and USB for shared printer or storage connection. It retails for $399 and is available on all current BigPond wireless broadband plans.

Telstra is promoting the device for bandwidth hungry households. Executive director, Telstra Consumer, Jenny Young, said "Increasingly, Australian families are looking to access content and interactive services on-demand and on multiple devices and screens around their home. The new BigPond Elite Network Gateway satisfies this need. It enables users to enjoy the freedom of secure wireless high-speed internet connectivity, without messy wires or access to fast fixed line broadband.

 "For the everyday Australian, this means that multiple people can be online at the same time from almost anywhere in the home. For instance, using the new Gateway kids can update their social network pages in the study, whilst dad plays an Xbox game against his mates over the Internet and mum surfs the net on her laptop from the garden.

However, while it does come "bundled with all the benefits of BigPond membership including unmetered access to BigPond TV, movies, sport, shopping, news and games," Telstra has given no indication of what market it is aimed at, ie who will be prepared to pay the premium for wireless broadband over ADSL2+.

For people some distance from the exchange HSPA+ on Next G may deliver superior throughput. However costs are generally higher. Although Telstra offers half-price for the first 12 months discounts on BigPond Wireless Broadband contracts, standard prices are 200MB - $29.95 per month, 1GB - $59.95, 5GB $89.95 and 10GB $129.95.

BigPond ADSL2+ prices are curiously in one instance more expensive than wireless: 200MB- $29.95 per month 600MB - $59.95 (This gets you 1GB on wireless) ,12GB- $89.95 and 60GB $149.95. However these prices are set to change, According to the BigPond web site they apply only until 28 November.

Telstra has invested heavily in its DSLAM network and in its Next G/HSPA+ network. Presumably it hopes this new device will take traffic and revenue away from competing networks rather than cannibalising its own ADSL broadband revenues.