Telstra stretches ADSL coverage

Telstra will be conducting a field trial testing of its current ADSL limit of about four kilometres from Telstra exchanges.

Around 1000 eligible residential customers will participate in the three-month nationwide trial.

Telstra general manager, access technology, Jim More, said the results of the trial will be "very critical" to any of the telecommunications heavyweight's future decisions.

"With broadband via ADSL now available to around 80 per cent of Australian household and business lines we continue to look for ways to extend the ADSL broadband footprint in Australia through technical innovations and solutions that are helping us get more out of our existing technology," More said.

The trial participants will have their ADSL transmission limits increased from 56 decibels (dB) to up to 80 dB.

The trial will involve extensive line testing and customer feedback to gather information about the performance of the ADSL and voice service under trial conditions.

"While we have already conducted testing at the Telstra Research Laboratories it is difficult to accurately predict the potential impacts. The trial service may affect call quality and contribute to an increase in noise interference. This is what we are now measuring as part of the trial," More said.

The trial is scheduled to end on 31 January, 2005.