The technology uses existing copper wire to link the Optus Network to an Integrated Access Device, which can have up to eight phone lines and DSL grade data hooked up to it, according to Optus. The technology has not been deployed in Australia before, but has been deployed in the US.
"Businesses with less than 50 employees are really suited to this technology," said John Simon, director of Commercial and Emerging for Optus Business. "Also the branch offices of corporations and government agencies."
Optus claims the service is delivered over a business grade network, with a congestion ratio of one in sixteen, which it claims is a lot less than most of its competitors. It is for this reason Optus offers a 99.9 percent uptime guarantee, and minimum data transfer rates of 64Kbps or 128Kbps, depending on the customer's choice.
However, although these guarantees are written into the contract, there is no financial penalty to Optus if they fail to live up to the standards. "Businesses want services to work, not be actually rebated," said Simon.
David Rampa, director of Wholesale and XYZed, added: "If they're not satisfied, they can take their business elsewhere, which is the ultimate recourse."
The service has an installation fee of AU$120, with a monthly rental fee of AU$25. The data plans can include 1Gb for AU$110, 3Gb for AU$330 or 5Gb for AU$550, with excess data available for 17c per Mb. Optus also touts the benefit of customers being able to use their existing phones, avoiding the cost of upgrading.
Optus estimates the number of SMEs that are suitable for this service is 350,000, and has rolled out 105 exchanges, which cover 75 percent of these businesses.
what a rort!