FED; Telstra launches first nationwide high speed Net service

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-1999
FED; Telstra launches first nationwide high speed Net service

Deputy Prime Minister JOHN ANDERSON has launched Telstra's Big Pond Advance internet
service, which downloads 14 times faster than the typical dialog modem.

He says rural Australians will be able to access the Internet for the same price as
city-dwellers through Australia's first high speed satellite-powered Internet service.

And in the future, record companies could distribute music to customers online.

Mr ANDERSON says Big Pond Australia brings Internet access to all 19 million Australians
and it is the first time a broadband product is available Australia-wide.

TED PRETTY, Group Managing Director of Telstra Convergent Business, says services include
downloading weather maps and forecasts at high speed to help farmers and graziers.

MICHAEL GUDINSKI, chairman of The Mushroom group of Companies, says when new technology is
available in the near future, users will be able to download music and music videos via
satellite and cable in high quality at high speed.

AAP RTV lm/mfh/jn

KEYWORD: TELSTRA BIGPOND (CANBERRA)

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