Australia's first Virtual Private LAN Service launched

Systems integrators will have a new network offering to take to their customers with Nextgen Networks unveiling what it claims to be is Australia's first Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS).

A subsidiary of Leighton Contractors, the company said its Layer 2 VPN service would primarily be used by Australian corporations to connect multiple sites with large data requirements across the country.

The carrier independent service features bundled bandwidth, end node VPN segregation and Quality of Service (QoS) profiles over three cost structures.

Nextgen has already set-up two test sites - one inside Leighton Contractors and one with a major multinational which is yet to be named.

"For businesses looking to implement VoIP, videoconferencing or other multimedia services over our network, there is a huge opportunity here for systems integrators," general manager, Peter Harrison, said.

Nextgen's National VPLS now sat atop traditional IP VPNs and less common Ethernet Metro VLANs as the most technologically advanced form of VPN on the local market, he claimed. It would allow customers to control routing and most configuration options.

Telco analyst, Paul Budde, said Layer 2 networks of this type would be the movers and shakers in the local market.

"There is already great demand for such new networks in North America and Europe," he said. "I am a great supporter of open networks of this type as it is the sort of initiative that delivers maximum competition opportunities for our industry."