HOMES and businesses across Point Cook will have access to faster broadband when the capacity of more than 3000 phone lines in the area is boosted.
With no date in sight for the roll-out of the National Broadband Network in Point Cook, Telstra has stepped in to make ADSL2+ available in areas where connections are limited by upgrading street-side cabinets.
Melbourne north-west general manager Paul Harrison said the new infrastructure, which included a "top-hat" box bolted atop existing cabinets, would end broadband blackouts in Wyndham's growing areas.
"This means we are able to quickly and efficiently make ADSL2+ services available to many Point Cook households and businesses that previously could not access a fixed broadband service," he said.
"The extra capacity will make it easier to stream online videos, surf the net, work from home and cater for the ever-increasing use of social media."
Mr Harrison said the first new "top-hat" had already been installed, providing ADSL2+ capacities to about 400 Point Cook phone lines.
A further 13 cabinets across Point Cook, Laverton, Tarneit and Werribee would be fitted with the devices within 18 months, he said.
Point Cook accountant Tony Hooper's slow internet has caused him months of frustration.
He recently upgraded to ADSL1, but can't yet connect to the faster ADSL2+ due to the lack of infrastructure in the area.
"Imagine playing a computer game in freeze-mode, because that's what it was like, and it is literally not worth using," he said.
"I'm glad someone's trying to actively address the needs of the Point Cook community, because in today's world fast internet is an expectation, and it hasn't been met at all."
Influx Computer Solutions's Daniel Dortmans said the upgrades would open up new ADSL ports for residents.
He said each street-side cabinet provided about 480 phone lines, but only 120 could access ADSL connections.
"With this upgrade, it'll go from 120 to 360 ports that can connect to ADSL2+, and speeds will jump from 8 mbps to 20 mbps," he said.
"The majority of my customers are on 3G internet and some are even on dial-up, because they can't get ADSL at all."
Mr Dortmans said Point Cook was a "complete and utter internet black hole".
"Anything they do to increase ADSL coverage will be welcomed."
NBN Co spokeswoman Rhonda Griffin said Point Cook had not yet been pencilled in for the national roll-out of fibre-optic cabling, but
private companies would look to fill gaps where speeds lagged.
Optus Australia spokesman Derek Lau said it planned to build two new mobile towers within six months, on Point Cook Road and atop the Point Cook Town Centre, in a bid to boost wireless broadband and 3G access in the area.
Email a friend