ADSL2+ Annex M is an international standard to deliver broadband upstream speeds up to 2.5 megabits per second (Mbps). "Upstream" refers to the speed of data moving from your PC to the Internet. Currently, ADSL2+ providers in Australia use ADSL2+ Annex A, which is limited to an upstream speed of 1 Mbps.

Last year, Internode engaged Dr. Paul Brooks of Consultel (now with Layer 10 Consulting) to assist it with engaging ACIF to standardise the use of Annex M in Australia. As part of the ACIF process, Telstra engineering technicians have run extensive simulations and modelling to ensure the proposed Annex M deployment rules ensure Annex M can operate trouble-free alongside existing ADSL2+ Annex A services.

This week, Internode managing director Simon Hackett invited applicants for a trial of Internode's Annex M broadband capabilities. "Internode has negotiated permission to run an ACIF-supported, limited trial of the Annex M deployment mode in the real world," he said.

"As the trial is for a limited number of participants, we don't expect to be able to offer a trial slot to every applicant. This is not a first-come-first-served trial. We will hand-pick participants from customers who apply in order to obtain a good spread of exchange locations and line lengths for testing."

Please note: participants have been selected and the trial is now underway.

Annex M can turn "Fraudband" into World-best Broadband

In March 2005, Internode was the first company to launch ADSL2+ broadband services in Australia, running as fast as 24 Mbps. It currently has more than 110 ADSL2+ exchanges either active or planned. Internode's Annex M innovation again throws down the gauntlet to generation one broadband services - dubbed "fraudband" when compared with the benchmark of international broadband services.

Mr. Hackett said the main beneficiaries of Annex M would be businesses that used broadband for remote access to central offices. "This is brilliant for virtual workplaces," he said.

"Sending and saving files to VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) will get much faster. Internode's peak upstream speeds will be up to 10 times faster than Telstra's fastest ADSL upstream rates."

"Second generation broadband, based on ADSL2+ services pioneered by Internode, is about creating virtual networks that connect employees and contractors with workplaces at usable speeds. Faster upstream speeds are needed to deliver the next level of broadband benefits to businesses."

Internode will exclusively supply Billion Annex M broadband routers

Internode customers will require an existing ADSL2+ SOHO-Extreme or Business-Extreme Broadband plan and Annex M-capable hardware to be eligible to participate in Internode's Annex M trial.

Mr. Hackett said Internode had negotiated an exclusive supply agreement to sell Billion 7404VGP-M routers for the next few months. "This arrangement with Billion (http://au.billion.com/) will lead through the trial into the full public service rollout of Annex M services," he said.

"The Internode trial is intended to run until Annex M is fully ratified for use in Australia, which we hope to see happen before the end of this calendar year."