BETTER BROADBAND PERFORMANCE TO FLOW FROM NEW INDUSTRY CODE

Sydney, 9 November 2017 - A milestone new industry code designed to improve the performance of next-generation broadband systems in Australia – including NBN-based services, has been released today for public comment.

The Communications Alliance draft code -  C658:2017 Next-Generation Broadband Systems Deployment in Customer Cabling here – has a number of important objectives that will improve the consumer experience of Australians using next generation and legacy broadband services.

These include:

  • minimising performance-draining interference between multiple telecommunications systems that are deployed alongside one another;
  • protecting the performance of legacy systems such as ADSL2+ during the 18-month ‘coexistence period’ – i.e. the transition period that occurs in each roll-out area, when legacy systems and NBN-based services are both in play, until the legacy services are eventually switched off;
  • fostering greater competition in the deployment of next generation services by telecommunications carriers and service providers;
  • ensuring minimum performance levels for certain next generation systems; and
  • paving the way for technology upgrades such as nbn’s planned introduction of a new high-speed technology known as G.fast.

Communications Alliance intends to submit the code, after consultation and further revision to the industry regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for consideration for registration.

Once registered, industry compliance with the code’s deployment rules and other provisions can be enforced by the ACMA.

The draft code has been created by a Communications Alliance working committee of industry experts, led by Peter Cooke from Telstra.

The code will require companies that are deploying next generation systems to cooperate in good faith, in particular by managing the power levels on the deployed services so as to avoid interfering with other nearby services.

Communications Alliance CEO, John Stanton, praised the effort of the Working Committee.

“Industry has come together to tackle some very complex technical issues and provide solutions that will benefit Australian communications consumers, both during the 18-month co-existence period and over the longer term,

“The code will help ensure that the Government’s performance goals for NBN-based services will be met, while also facilitating greater competition and paving a smoother transition to future services.”

As one practical example, in an apartment block that has fibre-to-the-basement (FTTB) technology in place from one provider, but also has fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) services from a different provider, the two systems will share the available spectrum, with the longer FTTN cable runs using lower spectrum and the shorter in-building cable runs using higher spectrum.

“Without such coordination there is a high likelihood that the two systems will interfere with one another – degrading the service performance for all customers,” Mr Stanton said.

The draft code will remain open for public comment for 35 days. The Working Committee will consider all comments received and make any further necessary amendments, before seeking Communications Alliance Board approval and referring the draft code to the ACMA for consideration for registration.

ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS ALLIANCE
Communications Alliance is the primary communications industry body in Australia. Its membership is drawn from a wide cross-section of the communications industry, including carriers, carriage and internet service providers, content providers, platform providers, equipment vendors, IT companies, consultants and business groups.

Its vision is to be the most influential association in Australian communications, co-operatively initiating programs that promote sustainable industry development, innovation and growth, while generating positive outcomes for customers and society. 

The prime mission of Communications Alliance is to create a co-operative stakeholder environment that allows the industry to take the lead on initiatives which grow the Australian communications industry, enhance the connectivity of all Australians and foster the highest standards of business behaviour.  For more details about Communications Alliance, see www.commsalliance.com.au.

Media information contact:
Sefiani
Aprille Lim  alim@sefiani.com.au
0413 317 788