Telstra hits back at pair gain claims

A Telstra spokesperson has said the photograph that the broadband Web site claims to be a month-old pair-gain box in the new housing estate of Springfield in Brisbane actually depicts the installation of a CMUX network, a copper system capable of supporting ADSL.

The spokesman said the second of the pictures which shows a sign that reads "pair gain system power isolation point" could be attached to an old box that is being used to carry the new equipment to the site.

The Whirlpool story also quotes from a reader who claims that residents of the new estate have been misled.

"As soon as you build your house and ask to be connected to this advanced network, you find out it doesn't exist," the reader said. "Not only can you not get broadband, you can't get anything better than a 33 Kbit/s dial-up connection".

However, Telstra's spokesperson said that he can understand the confusion over the signage, maintaining that fibre will be installed in the Springfield area.

"CMUX could be another part of the area, but fibre to the premises is happening in Springfield," said the spokesman.

Telstra said it will be taking steps to correct the signage on the site.