Australia's Telstra has announced a three-month trial over the first stage of the National Broadband Network (NBN).
The operator is planning a 100-customer test run in Tasmania, where the fiber network so far has a reach of at least 2,500 customers.
Speaking at a business lunch in Tasmanian capital Hobart, Telstra CEO David Thodey said the trial would be used to assess the delivery of internet, IPTV and multimedia services.
“It's the first time Telstra has sought to access another network rather than use our own, so it's important we ensure our products and services work smoothly,” he was quoted in The Mercury as saying.
Telstra in June committed to becoming a customer of the wholesale-only network, promising to eventually phase out its extensive copper network in exchange for A$11 billion ($10.5 billion) in compensation.
However, it is still in discussion with the state-owned NBN Co. over the final terms over its participation in the project, which is estimated to cost up to A$43 billion ($40.1b).
Thodey said Telstra was still debating whether or not to phase out copper connections in the areas housing roughly 7% of Australia's population not slated to receive fiber, and rely instead on the satellite and wireless alternatives planned for under the project.
The company plans to make a decision on pricing of NBN services based on the results of the trial, a Telstra spokesperson told the Australian.
Telstra inherited Australia's largest copper network upon its privatization beginning in 1997. Its competitors have long accused it of setting wholesale access prices that serve to limit effective competition. The NBN is partly an attempt by the government to level the playing field.
Currently four operators – iiNet, Internode, Exetel and Primus Telecom – are offering retail services at speeds of up to 100Mbps through the NBN. The first of these commenced in July.
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