The move comes as the Federal Government formulates its response to a report which found Internet services to rural and regional Australia required a major improvement. The government has made provision of a certain standard of Internet service to the bush a condition of its possible sale of the remainder of Telstra.
However, Telstra executives today reportedly sought to distance the announcement from the report and subsequent government deliberations. One report quoted Telstra Countrywide managing director Roger Bamber as saying the move was due to Telstra fulfilling its obligations to "minority shareholders".
Telstra's network and technology group managing director, Doug Campbell, said the measures included:
- ADSL enabling more than 100 additional exchanges by the end of June 2003 (800 are currently enabled). More than 40 of the 100 exchanges are planned to be upgraded by the end of 2002.
- Installing new 'mini' ADSL devices, which will allow ADSL to be provided over time in many Remote Integrated Multiplexers or RIMs (mini exchange points located on the roadsides of suburbs and in some apartment blocks). Telstra plans to test the first mini ADSL devices in early 2003.
- Rolling out high speed Internet enabled equipment - broadband-enabled RIMs - to new housing developments and high growth suburbs in 2003.
- Working out new technically feasible and cost effective ways to assist more customers access alternative copper paths for ADSL and ISDN.
"These important new initiatives will be underpinned by improvements to Telstra's existing broadband register, a key tool for tracking customer demand. An improved method for capturing customer registrations will be introduced in the 2003," Campbell said in a statement.
They haven't even finished the Metro areas yet! Being well within the bounds of Canberra, I am still unable to get internet access at anything above 28K (modem speeds on my dial-up are appallingly slow). Come on Telstra, hurry up and get your act together. We are far enough behind the rest of the world already!