CABLE & WIRELESS OPTUS FIRST WITH BUSINESS GRADE ADSL

Cable & Wireless Optus with its subsidiary DSL company XYZed has launched the country's first business grade ADSL service. The service delivers dedicated high-speed connectivity to the internet, as well as remote access and multimedia capabilities for small and medium businesses.

The service - called NetAccess ADSL - provides speeds up to 2Mbps/256Kbs and is designed specifically for businesses which are focused on becoming e-enabled and need high bandwidth applications. It is also targeted at businesses with a number of branches requiring cost effective high speed connectivity to each other or to a head office.

Unlike other ADSL products on the market, which have been primarily designed for home users, NetAccess ADSL provides a sustained information rate, business grade service level assurances and a fixed IP address.

"Medium and small businesses, which make up a large percentage of enterprises in Australia, have had few opportunities to join the e-business revolution. They are hungry for broadband access to capitalise on new ways of doing business faster online," said David Stokes-McKeon, Director Cable & Wireless Optus E-Solutions.

"Most have not had access to fibre connections and have found alternate technology like ISDN or DDS Fastway too expensive, putting them at a competitive disadvantage," said Mr Stokes-McKeon.

"NetAccess over ADSL is an affordable service - up to 50 per cent cheaper than current high speed access technology but still maintains the business grade high availability rates that e-enabled business needs.

"There isn't a restaurant chain or a real estate agent, a department store or a spare parts distributor in Australia who would not experience a huge boost in productivity and efficiency from moving to high speed ADSL," he said.

NetAccess ADSL is available to businesses in city and metropolitan areas nationally.

About XYZed
XYZed is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cable & Wireless Optus, operating independently to offer high quality, cost-effective, wholesale DSL services to communications businesses. DSL technology makes it possible to deliver high-speed data over existing copper phone lines. The company intends to provide DSL services from more than 100 telephone exchanges nationwide, placing its services within reach of more than 7 per cent of businesses.

See www.XYZed.com.au for more information.

For more information:
Melissa Favero
Cable & Wireless Optus
Phone: 02 9342 5030