Cisco ties up with outback telco concern
afr.com.au
By Cathy Bolt
One of the growing band of telecommunications service providers targeting regional Australia, Bush Telegraph Pty Ltd, has teamed up with global internet giant, Cisco Systems, to trial a high-speed wireless network in Broome, northern West Australia.
Bush Telegraph's managing director, Mr Greg Travelstead, said yesterday Cisco had been appointed to provide network services for its proposed wireless local loop service in north western Australia. The Broome trial would run for about two months, after which the company would offer a commercial service.
Participants will include Kimberley College of TAFE, Notre Dame University and social service providers.
Broome has a competitive internet service provider market but providers use dial-up modems.
Mr Travelstead said the company hoped to have 20,000 to 30,000 customers in regional WA and the Northern Territory within the next couple of years, initially institutions and businesses who wanted access to broadband applications. He said the service would cost about 10 to 20 per cent more than at present.
Cisco Systems Australia's managing director, Mr Terry Walsh, said wireless networking would provide services not yet available in the region, including Internet Protocol telephony for small to medium -sized businesses, Virtual Private Networks, distance education facilities, tele-medicine and lower phone call charges. |
