Market Overview

The majority of businesses and corporations now depend on reliable business grade Internet services to perform their daily work functions through the use of many applications such as email and web, VPNs for remote access, and services that require fast and reliable uplink connectivity such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and videoconferencing.

Internet and point-to-point services need to be reliable since businesses depend on them and loss of Internet connectivity now results in loss of revenue.

Internet services have historically been delivered over wireline infrastructure using technologies such as Leased Lines, SHDSL, ADSL, Frame-Relay and more recently Ethernet over fibre. Substantial costs are involved in setting up a network using these technologies so that the required coverage, speed and reliability can be delivered to businesses. These costs are generally passed onto customers.

Wireless infrastructure is now common and business grade Internet services are being delivered over the airwaves. These wireless networks connect buildings through the airwaves rather than connecting buildings underground as is the case with copper and fibre optic cabling techniques. Wireless data services are capable of offering the same level of service in performance, features and reliability as a wireline service.

A number of companies in Australia offer business grade Internet and point-to-point services using spectrum operating in the 5.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz spectrum bands. These spectrum bands are unmanaged as they have been reserved for public use and are generally known as class licensed or public spectrum.