Netgear gives Telstra a helping hand - News - Communications

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This story was printed from ZDNet Australia.
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Netgear gives Telstra a helping hand

By James Pearce, ZDNet Australia
August 12, 2002
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/Netgear-gives-Telstra-a-helping-hand/0,130061791,120267324,00.htm

Disappointed by slow broadband uptake in Australia, networking infrastructure manufacturer Netgear is offering customers a rebate for signing up with Telstra BigPond Cable.

Despite recent claims by Telstra that broadband take-up is increasing in Australia, Netgear believes more needs to be done to promote it to home users and small businesses.

-I'm a believer in Broadband," Netgear managing director Ian McLean told ZDNet Australia. -The take-up hasn't been as strong as many other countries in the world, and this is something to increase that."

To get the AU$60 rebate, customers must sign up for a 12-month contract with Telstra BigPond Cable, and quote the unique certificate number and dealer code obtained from Netgear.

The AU$60 is an incentive Telstra pays to channel partners for referring customers to BigPond Cable, and McLean said they are simply passing that on to consumers in a bid to increase the broadband market. He said Netgear does not benefit directly from the deal, but thinks that as the broadband market increases so will Netgear's business.

-Downstream from that there is potential business for out company, down the track," said McLean. -It really does go towards a market for home networking. Those people would need to buy a product through the reseller channel, and that's where our products are."

According to telecommunications analyst Paul Budde, it is this sort of support that is needed to drive broadband in Australia. -What is needed is a broad spread of support," he said, -It has to be a combined effort." He said recent increases in the size of the broadband market were the result of -everybody chipping in", rather than any specific promotions on Telstra's part.