ADSL2+ widespread by mid-2006: Telstra

In a statement released to the Australian Stock Exchange, Telstra said it had been installing ADSL2+ hardware and software to provide additional broadband capabilities in its exchanges since January.

ADSL2+ is an international standard configuration and technology that delivers speeds up to 20 times faster than the typical broadband services over copper networks that are available today.

"By mid 2005, 200 exchanges covering about 500,000 premises will have ADSL2+ capability at a cost of AU$60 million," Johnson said. "We have budgeted a further AU$150 million in financial year 05/06 for the purchase and installation of ADSL2+ technology and coverage will rapidly increase so that by mid-2006 nearly all ADSL-enabled exchanges will have ADSL2+ capability".

Johnson added that ADSL2+ technology would also be available to Telstra wholesale customers.

The Australian Communications Industry Forum is presently devising ADSL2+ deployment standards, which must be in place before carriers can launch ADSL2+ services.