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Friday, 1 December 2006

Aurora moves ahead with next phase towards BPL commercialisation



1 December 2006



AURORA MOVES AHEAD WITH NEXT PHASE TOWARDS BPL COMMERCIALISATION

Aurora Energy is proceeding with the next phase of its broadband over powerlines initiative, with Chief Executive Officer, Dr Peter Davis confirming that the planning phase for stage one of commercialisation of BPL is under way.

Dr Davis said the 12-month trial in the Hobart suburbs of Mt Nelson and Tolmans Hill and in Singline Estate and Hillcrest in Burnie had been successfully completed and the Aurora Board had given the go ahead to proceed with stage one of commercialisation.

“We launched the first official trial of 200mbit BPL technology on 13 September 2005 in partnership with Mitsubishi Electric in Japan,” he said. “The launch attracted unprecedented interest from around Australia and internationally.

“The 12-month trial period has delivered excellent results, giving Aurora and our partners the confidence to move forward to the next phase.

“We are now in the planning phase for the next step in the commercialisation of BPL, with construction of the stage one network to commence in 2007.”

Dr Davis said more than 1,000 customers in the Mt Nelson and Tolmans Hill areas in Hobart and a further 230 customers in Singline Estate and Hillcrest in Burnie currently had access to the BPL technology and products retailed by Aurora’s telecommunication subsidiary, TasTel. Take-up rates during the trial period had exceeded expectations.

Dr Davis said the initial trial had been designed to evaluate customer take-up of broadband products delivered via BPL and to put the technology’s capability and limitations to the test. The trial also offered valuable insight into using powerline community capability in the cost-effective management of the electricity distribution network.

He said Aurora had worked closely with the Australian Communications and Media Authority and other power utilities around the country to establish a regulatory framework to encompass the innovative BPL technology.


Released by Christine Ward 6237 3341


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