Telstra hopes to make its broadband ADSL services available to more potential customers in the near future.
Telstra plans to extend the ADSL 'footprint' beyond existing range limits, using advances in its current ADSL technologies. Currently, ADSL subscribers must live within 4km of a Telstra exchange to be eligible for the service.
A trial would be conducted over three months to test the feasibility of the extended range service, according to a statement from Telstra.
The trial, which is scheduled for completion by January 31 2005, would only be open to ADSL applicants who had been previously denied broadband due to the 4km range restriction.
If the trial was successful Telstra would be able to accelerate its milestone goal of one million broadband customers.
Jim More, Telstra general manager for Access Technology, said: "with broadband via ADSL now available to around 80 percent of Australian households and business lines we continue to look for ways to extend the ADSL footprint in Australia through technical innovations..."
To achieve the range boost, Telstra would increase the signal strength of ADSL transmissions from 56 decibels to 80 decibels. The downside is that line quality may be affected.
Mr More stated: "The trial service may affect call quality and contribute to an increase in noise interference. This is what we are now measuring with the trial."