People Telecom in AU$500k network upgrade

Business-focused telco People Telecom has flagged plans to spend around AU$500k upgrading its broadband network with new Internet aggregation hardware.

"People Telecom has reached agreement with Ericsson's Redback Networks to acquire SmartEdge Internet aggregation equipment that will add to the quality of service for its existing broadband customers and enhance the scalability of the network to meet new demand," the telco said in a statement this morning.

SmartEdge is a class of routers that aggregates and manages broadband subscribers over different network infrastructures such as ATM and Ethernet. The machines are deployed at the edge of telcos' networks, linking customers back to much larger core network links.

The Redback kit was selected after an "extensive evaluation process", according to People Telecom. A spokesperson for the telco told ZDNet Australia the deal was worth around AU$500,000 in total.

The telco's chief executive John Stanton said the new hardware was needed due to the boom in broadband. He said installation would start immediately, with People Telecom to soon launch a new suite of both business and consumer-grade services.