Telkom has been punting its Next Generation Network (NGN) for some time, but to date consumers have not really seen tangible benefits from this new network. The value of Telkom’s new IP-based NGN is however now starting to filter down to a product level.<\/p>\n
Telkom recently announced the successful trial of their 8 Mbps ADSL service, and is now looking at potential 10 Mbps and 12 Mbps ADSL services. This was made possible by the company’s growing Metro Ethernet network which is more cost effective and provides more flexibility for the burgeoning bandwidth requirements of high speed ADSL services.<\/p>\n
The company is also set to launch a new Diginet replacement services in the near future – Etherlink utilizing SHDSL (Symmetric High-Speed Digital Subscriber Line). Etherlink will be an assured rate service with strict service level agreements aimed at the business market.<\/p>\n
Speeds for the Etherlink will be similar to current Diginet offerings, starting at 64 Kbps and peaking at around 2 Mbps. This will be a point-to-cloud service which will provide guaranteed speeds through the ‘IP-cloud’. An added advantage is that it will provide customers with an Ethernet interface.<\/p>\n
The new Etherlink offering, which will be backhauled over Telkom’s Metro Ethernet network, will be an enabler for retail products like a stand alone point-to-point leased line offering, access to IP VPNs, Internet and value added services and access to L2 VPNs like Metro Clear in future.<\/p>\n
Clients looking for higher speeds are served through Telkom’s Ethernet Express offering with speeds ranging between 2 Mbps and 600 Mbps.<\/p>\n
Good news for businesses is that the service is likely to come in at a lower rate than current Diginet pricing. <\/p>\n