[LINK] FTTH .. usual Telstra rip-off

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Telstra, developers roll out fibre

by Mahesh Sharma | September 11, 2007
<http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,22395760-16123,00.html> 

TELSTRA is working with developers to roll out fibre to the home to new 
developments and says the model is ideal for testing out new services such 
as streaming high definition video.

As part of its Telstra Smart Community agreement, the telco is rolling out 
fibre to the home (FTTH) to about 1800 homes at a development being built 
by Lend Lease at Rouse Hill in Sydney's northwest. The first customers are 
expected to be connected in early 2008. 

The fibre will be used to deliver internet, television, and telephone 
services. The spokesman admitted Telstra could use it to test services 
such as high definition streaming television and movies on demand. 

The Australian also reported that as part of the deal developers would pay 
Telstra an extra fee of about $4000 per lot to connect fibre rather than 
copper-based ADSL broadband. 

In response to pricing news, the Victorian ICT Minister Marsha Thomson 
warned housing developers to be careful they were not overcharged for 
broadband fibre connections after Telstra revealed its FTTH pricing 
structure. 

The Victorian Government said that it was delivering FTTH to 8000 houses 
at the Aurora estate in Epping at a cost to the developer of $1500 per 
home, which also included six months free internet. 

A spokeswoman for Ms Thomson said that Telstra competed in the tender to 
supply FTTH to the Aurora development but its bid was rejected. 


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