Fastest Wireless Broadband Gateway Revealed

Telstra has announced its fastest wireless broadband gateway that claims to deliver download speeds of up to 8Mbps. It has four Ethernet ports, Wi-Fi, and two USB ports used for printer or hard drive sharing.

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In a press briefing conducted by the company this morning, Jenny Young, Executive Director of Telstra Consumer said that the BigPond Elite Network Gateway is ideal for users who are constantly on the move and do not have access to ADSL/Cable.

“Australian families are looking to access content and interactive services on-demand and on multiple devices and screens around their home. The new BigPond Elite Network Gateway satisfies this need. It enables users to enjoy the freedom of secure wireless high-speed internet connectivity, without messy wires or access to fast fixed line broadband,” says Young.

The BigPond Elite Network Gateway turns a single Next G network wireless broadband service into a Wi-Fi and Ethernet hotspot providing internet connectivity to users throughout the home. During our hands-on test, we were able to achieve a maximum download speed of 10.43Mbps and an upload speed of 1.22Mbps (via speedtest.net).

David Stewart, Managing Director of NetComm, said the Elite Gateway was the first combination 3G modem-router in Australia to use embedded HSPA+ wireless broadband technology.

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“After Telstra pioneered HSPA+ technology with its mobile broadband modems, we’re pleased to bring the same technology to a home gateway. Using the BigPond Elite Network Gateway on Telstra’s Next G network, customers can share typical download speeds of between 550Kbps to 8Mbps in selected CBD, metro and regional areas. This means customers can surf the net at mobile broadband speeds up to twice as fast as the next fastest 3G gateway in Australia,” said Stewart.

“The Elite Gateway also features the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi technology, which delivers superior wireless throughput speeds and coverage around the home. This makes it ideal for sharing content with other people on a home network. For example, by plugging an external hard drive into the device’s USB port, households can share a central music or video collection with multiple users wirelessly,” added Stewart.

The BigPond Elite Wireless Broadband Network Gateway has a recommended retail price of $399 and is available on all current in-market BigPond wireless broadband plans. It is available today from Telstra shops and dealers, by calling 13POND and online at www.bigpond.com.

Eligible Telstra customers can also take advantage of the BigPond Wireless Broadband Offer which provides a device rebate for the Elite Gateway of $200 and a discount on access fees for the first 12 months of a 24 month plan (more info: http://www.beeneverywhere.com.au/html/latest_offer.htm).