The National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co) has announced it has selected Primus to test new software designed to make it easier for telecommunications or ISPs to offer traditional analogue telephone services to consumers over a fibre network.

 

The NBN Co is confident that a successful test will give consumers greater confidence in choosing from a wide range of providers and be able to switch from the existing copper network to fibre and maintain a quality telephone service.

 

NBN Co Chief Operating Officer, Ralph Steffens said: “We understand that there will be a number of people who only want a telephone service and that we need to offer quality telephone services while making the transition to fibre as easy and straightforward as possible.

 

“By undertaking these tests we want to ensure it is easy for retail service providers to offer their customers the services they are familiar with using the equipment they already have.

 

NBN Co selected Primus after a call for expressions of interest from retail service providers who wanted to be involved in the test. Primus has national and international experience in the development and provision of telephone services.

 

Primus CEO Tom Mazerski said: “We believe this program will enable us to offer a quality voice product to all NBN consumer and business fibre customers. Our vision, working with NBN Co, is to ensure that our customers get a quality voice connection whilst transitioning from copper to fibre.”

 

The test is due to run for four weeks.