19 June 2008
Next generation broadband being piloted over open access fibre network
The next generation of broadband delivering content-rich services to New Zealand households over an open access fibre
network is being piloted in a new housing development in Orewa, north of Auckland.
In a joint project Telecom Wholesale and WorldxChange Communications are working together to deliver phone and broadband
services over fibre optic cable connected directly to homes in Kensington Park, which is being developed by Kensington
Properties.
Kensington Park is the first housing community project in New Zealand to have the open access fibre-to-the-home piloted.
This is preparation for it to be replicated in another 13 developments and 3,500 households throughout the country where
fibre is being deployed over the next 24 months.
As an open access product the Telecom Wholesale service, which will be developed on completion of the pilot, will be
able to be used by other service providers to deliver services.
Telecom Wholesale Chief Executive Matt Crockett says: “Faster, more consistent broadband is being made available to
increasing numbers of New Zealanders with Telecom’s commitment to push fibre closer to the home as part of our $1.4
billion investment in next generation broadband technology.
“In addition to ADSL2+ broadband electronics in our exchanges, 3,600 new roadside cabinets are bringing fibre and ADSL2+
closer to New Zealand homes and businesses. Where it is economically viable Telecom will get fibre straight into the
home, as we are in Kensington Park.”
In Orewa, Telecom Wholesale is piloting the underlying high-speed broadband- over-fibre product which service provider
WorldxChange is using to develop services for new homeowners.
“These residents have the scope to enjoy a huge combination of applications such as high definition voice calling, video
calling, IPTV, video-on-demand and home security systems,” Mr Crockett said.
“We are delighted to be providing the next generation of wholesale broadband products over fibre which will support
service providers to develop new services for their customers.”
WorldxChange is delivering a suite of broadband-over-fibre services with an easy-to-use online portal so their customers
can adjust settings to suit their needs.
“This project gives us the opportunity to really showcase the types of services that New Zealanders will be having in
their homes in the not too distant future,” says WorldxChange Director of Operations and Carrier Paul Clarkin.
WorldxChange has invested in developing IP (Internet Protocol) technology for five years, including developing their own
Xnet VFX digital voice over broadband service which allows users to control features such as three-way calling,
voicemail notification and call forwarding.
“This is the first step towards bringing home networks to life, and paves the way to support a host of innovative and
more content-rich services,” said Mr Clarkin.
Kensington Properties Managing Director Patrick Fontein said the new housing community demonstrated how technology can
be used to enhance modern lifestyles and the environment.
“We’re very pleased that all the homes in Kensington Park are future-proofed for advances in technology and that these
advances are achieved without visual impediments, such as satellite dishes,” said Mr Fontein.
Telecom Wholesale is trialling two variants of broadband over fibre which will provide either a voice-only service or
broadband (including voice), which will support download speeds up to 30 megabits per second (Mbps) and an upload speed
of 6Mbps. A 30Mbps symmetrical service is planned for later in the pilot.
Lessons learnt from the broadband-over-fibre pilot will be used to inform the design and deployment of a fully
equivalent, fibre-based broadband service that will be available to all service providers in first the half of 2009.
These services are expected to include variants with speeds up to 100Mbps symmetrical.
Telecom Wholesale
Telecom Wholesale is an operationally separate business unit within Telecom New Zealand that delivers next generation
network connectivity products to service providers throughout New Zealand. Its broadband, business data, voice and
interconnect products given wholesale customers the foundation on which to build their own network or telecommunication
services for their end-users.
WorldxChange
WorldxChange is a privately owned telecommunications carrier that has been operating in New Zealand since 1996. The
company has 65 employees and 70,000 voice, data and internet customers nationwide. WorldxChange specialise in fully
convergent IP solutions and was voted 2007 TUANZ Telecommunications Carrier of the Year.
Kensington Properties
Kensington is a fully integrated, real estate development company, focusing on high quality, master-planned
developments, such as Kensington Park in Orewa. The company has completed approximately 20 projects since its formation
in 1996. Kensington has won many national awards, most recently achieving a triple success in the CNBC Asia Pacific
Property Awards, the international property industry’s equivalent of the Oscars. Kensington Park won in the Best Overall
Development, Best Architecture and Best Property Marketing categories and is now in line to progress to the global
awards for property development excellence.
ENDS