Woy Woy exchange gets ADSL2+

The Woy Woy telephone exchange has been upgraded to ADSL2+ with a potential to deliver speeds of up to 20mbps.

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Senator Helen Coonan "launched" the Opel exchange last week.

Senator Coonan and Member for Robertson Mr Jim Lloyd visited the Gnostic Mana Internet Cafe in Woy Woy, part-owned by Liberal Gosford councillor Chris Holstein, to make the announcement last Friday, September 28.

"In June the Australian Government announced the Australia Connected programme and we are already switching on exchanges and delivering for consumers," Ms Coonan said.

"We are getting on with the job of rolling out broadband around the country, this exchange today is enabled by Optus as part of its commercial contribution of 426 exchanges with super fast ADSL2+ broadband and1361 state-of-the-art WiMAX base stations.

"Opel, a joint venture between Optus and rural group Elders, were awarded $958 million by the Australian Government to deliver a new national wholesale network delivering a mix of ADSL2+ and WiMAX wireless technology to over nine million premises across Australia," Ms Coonan said.

"Opel will extend broadband out to 99 per cent of Australian premises and provide speeds of 12 megabits per second by 2009."

Mr Lloyd said the upgrade would improve online access for business and residences on the Peninsula.

Press release, 28 Sep 2007 Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications