New Australian rules to enable higher-rate broadband services

Industry will be able to deliver higher-rate broadband services through local telephone lines, in a state known as the unconditioned local loop (ULL), following registration today of an industry code and technical standard by the Australian Communications Authority (ACA).

“The new code and standard enable higher-rate digital subscriber line (DSL) based services. These allow faster Internet browsing and access to multimedia for applications such as streaming video and video conferencing,” Acting ACA Chairman Dr Bob Horton said.

“The new rules ensure that the integrity of the existing systems will be maintained and they minimise the risk of interference between systems,” Dr Horton said.

Registration of the code and the standard makes them enforceable by the ACA.

The new code, ACIF C559:2005 Unconditioned Local Loop Service (ULLS) Network Deployment Rules and the associated standard AS/ACIF S043.2:2005 — Australian Standard Requirements for Customer Equipment for connection to a metallic local loop interface of a Telecommunications. Network — Part 2: Broadband were developed by the Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) and replace previously registered instruments.

The code sets out performance requirements and deployment rules that network operators must follow when they operate systems on the ULLS. The standard complements the code by specifying the technical requirements for all customer equipment used with services supplied under the code.

To give the new standard regulatory effect, the ACA will register an amendment to the Telecommunications Labelling (Customer Equipment and Customer Cabling) Notice 2001, which allows suppliers to label and supply customer equipment that complies with the standard.

A new version of the ACIF technical standard Customer Access Equipment for connection to a Telecommunications Network—AS/ACIF S003:2005, that replaces a previous standard and introduces more contemporary terminology, was also registered today.

Dr Horton said that higher rate DSL-based broadband services might not be possible on all telephone lines and consumers would need to check availability with their service provider.

A copy of the code and the standards are available from the ACIF website

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