Telstra spreads ADSL to regional areas
Telstra spreads ADSL to regional areas
A further 400,000 households and small businesses in outer metropolitan and rural areas will soon be able to receive ADSL broadband after Telstra announced that it was extending availability.
Senator Rod Kemp explained why the government had welcomed the move: "This is an initiative that clearly recognises Australia's increasing demand for broadband services.
"It will boost ADSL availability in outer metropolitan and regional areas and is a significant step towards Telstra's goal of increasing ADSL reach from approximately 78 precent of services to 90 percent over the next three years.
"Increasing the availability of broadband services and the competitiveness of the broadband market is a priority issue for the Government as the effective use of broadband will produce positive economic and social outcomes for Australia.
"Telstra's decision will also allow other ADSL retailers to offer their services more widely and increased competition should further promote the development of the broadband market."
ADSL is one of many broadband services which are being rolled out to people in regional and rural areas.
New wireless and satellite technologies have a huge potential to provide broadband services to customers in regional and rural areas.
The Australian Government has created initiatives with the National Broadband Strategy to encourage the spread of broadband. For example, the NBS have started a $107.8 million Higher Bandwidth Incentive Scheme which will encourage higher bandwidth service providers in rural and remote areas to offer services which are the same price as in urban areas. This will start soon this year.
Related Article: