Currently, Telstra's BigPond Cable Extreme is available to more than 1.8 million Sydney and Melbourne homes and businesses at up to 30 Mbps, and up to 17 Mbps in all other parts of Telstra's HFC network.

However, Telstra will continue to invest in its Next G and Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) cable networks to ensure that the company delivers the best broadband experience. Last year, Telstra has revealed that it was already experimenting with pre DOCSIS 3.0. According to various reports, the test was able to produce speeds of up to 75Mbps in Sydney and 100Mbps connectivity over the HFC network in Melbourne.

In addition to the upcoming fast broadband, Telstra is set to ‘super-charge' its Next G Network, giving users wireless broadband speeds of up to 21Mbps by early next year. This move from 3.6Mbps to 21Mbps will provide extra speed, flexibility, and productivity in the network footprint covering more than two million square kilometres and 99 percent of the Australian population.

Telstra's Executive Director, Wireless Engineering and Operations, Mike Wright said that this surge in available data speeds will allow more Australians to work away from the office. ‘They will be equipped to integrate new applications – including web conferencing, live high definition streaming video, high-speed web browsing, and seamless virtual private network access – into the way they do business on the move," Mike added.

See: www.telstra.com