Media Centre
Uecomm and NEC Australia join forces to advance take-up of broadband
Melbourne, 18 February 2003: Uecomm Ltd and NEC Australia today announced a partnership to deliver business grade data services. The companies will deliver cost effective broadband solutions designed to advance the take up of business grade broadband networks in corporate and SME markets.
Under the partnership, Uecomm will supply NEC's NEXTEP Broadband with fibre based ATM, ethernet and business grade Internet services and NEXTEP Broadband will supply Uecomm with business grade DSL private networking services.
Mr Peter McGrath, CEO Uecomm said that Uecomm is known as a specialist in the fibre broadband market, delivering services to corporate, wholesale and Government customers, and now offering its Channel Partners the capability to address the SME marketplace and branch offices of corporations.
"Uecomm is delivering the reach and exceptional quality of its fibre network to NEXTEP Broadband and their Channel Partners. In addition, where fibre services are provided we can supply business grade Internet over the same fibre at low cost."
Our arrangements mean that Uecomm's customers can extend their reach through NEXTEP Broadband network coverage to provide seamless network interconnectivity, coupled with a 1:1 contention ratio, giving the customer the benefit of speed, quality and an efficient solution."
NEXTEP Broadband Managing Director, Michael Johannessen, said that partnering allows NEXTEP Broadband to extend its network coverage using Uecomm's extensive fibre network.
"These services are particularly suited to high capacity multi-site private network applications. As a result, more businesses will be able to gain access to affordable business grade Broadband Ethernet services - with fibre inter-connection for head office and DSL for branch offices."
Uecomm's Ethernet VLAN product scales economically up to 1 Gbps, and is complemented by NEXTEP Broadband's business grade DSL, which ranges from 512 kibt/s up to 6 Mbps.
About Uecomm:
Uecomm is a specialised fibre broadband carrier that delivers broadband data and Internet services to large corporations, government departments and other telecommunications service providers. The Company's optical fibre network is one of the largest data networks in Australia and covers the greater metropolitan areas of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and the Gold Coast. The Company has more than 650 buildings directly connected to the network.
Uecomm was established in 1997 and listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX: UEC) in September 2000. United Energy Limited holds a 66% shareholding in the Company. The Company's web site is located at www.uecomm.com.au
About NEC Australia:
NEC Australia Pty Ltd specialises in developing internet-enabled and mobile solutions for carriers, network operators and business. The company undertakes research and development in third-generation (3G) mobile terminals, mobile satellites and DSL technologies at the NEC Technology Centre in Melbourne. NEXTEP Broadband, NEC Australia's broadband business, owns and maintains its own broadband network, and delivers national services for SMEs and large businesses.
