Telstra to test services over NBN Co. network

Telstra's customers will soon be able to get a taste of Australia's National Broadband Network as the country's incumbent carrier will begin trialing services over that network. Beginning in October, Telstra (ASX: TLS.AX) will give about 100 of its existing customers in Tasmania the option of using the service as part of the incumbent carrier's compatibility test of the NBN Co.'s network infrastructure.

The trial will be conducted in two phases. During the first phase, Telstra will select customers living in the three NBN Co. trial cities including Midway Point, Scottsdale and Smithton, while the second phase of the Tasmanian deployment will connect another seven towns. In addition, network construction has begun in five mainland sites that will be turned up in mid-2011.

"The pilot, commencing in October, is an opportunity for Telstra to assess how BigPond broadband services and next generation digital home products such as T-Hub and T-Box perform over the NBN ... It's the first time that Telstra has sought to access another fixed network rather than use our own, so it's important we ensure our products and services work smoothly," David Thodey, Telstra's CEO in a statement.

For more:
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