NetComm Wireless and Openreach Demonstrate World First Reverse Powered Gfast DPU

SYDNEY, Aug. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- NetComm Wireless Limited (ASX: NTC) and Openreach (a wholly owned and independently governed division of the BT Group) have successfully completed a world first Fibre-to-the-Distribution-Point (FTTdp) based Gfast demonstrationthat achieved Gigabit speeds using a reverse power fed Gfast Distribution Point Unit (DPU) engineered by NetComm Wireless.

The Gfast DPU demonstration was conducted at BT Innovation Week 2017 from 12-16 June in Ipswich, UK, and reached 1.66 Gbps aggregate broadband speeds. The DPU was reverse powered over 40 metres of copper lead-in cable, and used spectrum frequency of up to 212MHz.  

The NetComm Wireless DPU is installed in a pit, or on a telegraph pole, providing a cost-effective solution to improve broadband speed, performance and capacity. It supports the latest ITU Gfast specification amendments and can deliver aggregate Gigabit speeds when installed up to 150m from the premise. Designed to enable scalable deployments, the Gfast DPU features support for VDSL2.

Timo Brouwer, Chief Operating Officer, NetComm Wireless said: "NetComm Wireless began developing FTTdp DPUs when it became clear that an alternative to fibre to the premises was needed. Openreach is always looking forward, and we are pleased to have demonstrated the latest generation of Gfast FTTdpcapabilities that will support the broadband demands of the future."

Peter Bell, Director, Network Solutions & Operations, Openreach said: "Our aim is to deliver high-speeds to as many people, as quickly as possible. We've outlined plans to provide ultrafast speeds to 12 million premises by the end of 2020 and we want to go further.  We're working with NetComm Wireless to understand how we can deploy this technology closer to the premises to reach even more customers."

About NetComm Wireless

NetComm Wireless Limited (ASX: NTC) is a leading developer of Fixed Wireless broadband, wireless M2M/Industrial IoT and Fibre and Cable to the distribution point (FTTdp / CTTdp) technologies that underpin an increasingly connected world. Our "Listen. Innovate. Solve." methodology supports the unique requirements of leading telecommunications carriers, core network providers, system integrators, government and enterprise customers worldwide. For over 35 years, NetComm Wireless has engineered new generations of world first data communication products and is now a globally recognised communications technology innovator. Headquartered in Sydney (Australia), NetComm Wireless has offices in the US, Europe/UK, New Zealand and Japan. Visit: www.netcommwireless.com.

About Openreach

Openreach is Britain's digital network business.

We're 30,400 people who connect homes, mobile phone masts, schools, shops, banks, hospitals, libraries, broadcasters, governments and businesses - large and small - to the world.

Our mission is to build the best possible network, with the highest quality service, making sure that everyone in Britain can be connected.

We work on behalf of more than 580 communications providers like SKY, TalkTalk, Vodafone, and BT, and our fibre broadband network is the biggest in the UK, passing more than 26.5 million premises. We're also the platform for Britain's thriving digital economy, which is the largest in the G20.

We're working hard to give people the speeds they need to run and enjoy their daily lives. Over the last decade, we've invested more than GBP11 billion into our network and we now manage more than 158 million kilometres of cable stretching from Scotland to Cornwall, from Wales to the east coast. And we're continuing to take that network further - making superfast broadband speeds available to thousands more homes and businesses every week.

Openreach is a wholly owned and independently governed division of the BT Group, and it is a highly regulated business, with more than 90 per cent of our revenues generated from services that are regulated by Ofcom.

Any company can access our products under exactly the same prices, terms and conditions.

For the year ended 31 March 2017, we reported revenues of GBP5.1bn.

For more information, visit openreach.co.uk

Logo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/540968/NetCommWireless_logo_Logo.jpg