$1 billion broadband deal in Aussie

Peter Griffin covers the billion dollar announcement in Australia over broadband. Key points:

* A wireless network in rural areas to extend broadband reach to 99 per cent of the population – 12Mbps (megabits per second) by 2009

* ADSL2+ technology in 321 of Telstra’s exchanges to reach customers via fixed copper-line connections

* An expert panel will now consider competitive tenders for building a fibre network in the main cities.