petersaville.net

Telstra has announced what may be a major breakthrough in improving broadband coverage across the nation. With Telstra providing updates to 75% of all broadband services through both retail and wholesale divisions the news that the telco is commencing trials of a new device that can make ADSL available up to 20km away from a central exchange has been widely accepted and praised by all players in the broadband industry. The fact this invention is an Australian-designed device, known as Expandsl also have many parties expressing interest. The Expandsl is a tiny, weather-proof DSLAM (DSL Access Multiplexor) that is installed at the end of the current transmission limit. The unit is 8 port mean it can connect eight end-users to the internet at 1.5mb down 256k up. The units are passively powered from the electricity already existing on the lines and don't shelter either. This makes them a much cheaper option to install than other extenders like mini CMUXes. The units are so small they can be strapped to a pole easily or hidden in the underground cabling pits.Unlike a minimux in an existing RIM exchange, the units do not require a fibre-optic connection back to the exchange. It uses a G.SHDSL (super-high bit-rate DSL) system, which runs at 2.31Mbit/s symmetrically so the units then load share available bandwidth the customers connected. With ethernet ports to allow higher-speed IP feeds in the future. They can be software upgraded to ADSL2 & ADSL2+ standards remotely.

Its believed these units can even be installed at customer premises alongside technologies that have traditionally blocked ADSL services. This means no longer customers utilizing loading coils and pair gain systems will give broadband to an entirely new bunch of people who were originally given a flat out NO answer because of the telecommunications hardware they are on.

Aninitial trial of the product by the Telco will take place over three months at Woodend, Merbein, Robinvale and Mt Eliza in Victoria and Mudgeeraba in Queensland.