Australian communications vendor NetComm Wireless is to supply NBN Co with the distribution point units needed for the fibre to the kerb rollout.
NBN Co has decided to use fibre to the kerb - also known as fibre to the distribution point (FttDP), and as NBN Co prefers, fibre to the curb (FTTC) - in areas where the premises are too widely spaced for FttN (fibre to the node) and that are not covered by the Telstra HFC network footprint.
The advantages are said to be that it allows a minimally disruptive rollout because it uses the existing copper cables from the street to the premises (which is also quicker and cheaper), and it has been shown to allow 100/40Mbps services in local trials.
NBN Co proposes to connect as many as 700,000 premises using fibre to the kerb.
{loadposition stephen08}A key component is the distribution point unit (DPU), which connects the fibre distribution network to the copper cable leading to the premises.
NBN Co has decided to buy its DPUs from Australian vendor NetComm Wireless.
"NBN Co is delighted to bring NetComm Wireless on board as a technology partner. We have tested FTTC over the past year and we're confident we can now deploy the technology in areas where it makes better sense from a customer experience, deployment efficiency and cost perspective," said NBN chief network engineering officer Peter Ryan.
"Delivering FTTC will not only allow us to deliver speeds of up to 100/40Mbps using VDSL but will also allow us to offer even faster speeds in the future with some of the new technologies that are becoming available.
"NBN Co has a flexible and technology-agnostic approach to deploying the NBN network and we are confident that when we launch FTTC services we will deliver a great experience for end-users."
Higher speeds are potentially available over fibre to the curb by using the G.fast and XG.Fast protocols, though that would mean upgrading the DPU and the modem, rather than VDSL (which is also used in NBN Co's FttN and FttB services). NBN Co's XG.Fast trials have shown 8Gbps is achievable.
NetComm Wireless has its roots in NetComm, the company that produced Australia's first dial-up modem in 1983.
It already provides the network terminating units used in the fixed wireless portion of the NBN.
"The NBN is an important national initiative and we are proud to be connecting Australians with our innovative technology," said NetComm Wireless CEO and managing director David Stewart.
"Our team specifically developed this DPU solution to help build out the NBN network in a faster more cost effective way. What's exciting is that our DPU solution has broader, global applications that will open up additional partnership prospects offshore, as we have done with NetComm Wireless' fixed wireless solution.
"We have successfully bolstered our engineering talent and infrastructure to manage growth and pursue quality partnerships and contract opportunities. Winning this significant contract demonstrates we have a strong track record, solid capabilities and the scale to deliver."