Businesses and residents in Port Lincoln and Whyalla now have access to Australia's fastest Internet access speeds after broadband trailblazer Internode turned on super-fast ADSL2+ broadband service for the two South Australian cities.

ADSL2+ broadband runs as fast as 24 megabits per second (depending on line quality and distance from the exchange) - 16 times faster than first generation ADSL broadband services, which ran at 1.5 Mb/s. As well as super-fast file downloads, Internode's Extreme Broadband plans give customers access to high quality streaming video and low-cost telephone calls through Internode’s NodePhone service.

People in Port Lincoln and Whyalla can now choose from the full range of Internode broadband plans for the same prices paid by metropolitan customers.

Internode has installed its super-fast broadband equipment in the Whyalla and Whyalla Jenkins telephone exchanges, providing ADSL2+ coverage throughout virtually the entire city. In Whyalla, Internode's Extreme ADSL2+ Broadband services are available from Internode Authorised Partner, Arena Computer Service (phone 08 8644 0012). In Port Lincoln, services are available from Lower Eyre Peninsula Information Technology Services (phone 08 8683 4563), which is also and Internode Authorised Partner.

Port Lincoln-based Internet specialist Kieran O'Rourke, who runs Lower Eyre Peninsula Information Technology Services, said the fast broadband service brought Port Lincoln up to speed. "Whether you're checking out videos on YouTube, listening to Internet radio or exchanging large files with other businesses, Internode's ADSL2+ service makes it happen quickly and easily," he said. "The real beauty is that customers in Port Lincoln pay exactly the same as customers in Adelaide, Sydney or Melbourne, so there's no price penalty for living in a regional area."

Angelo Reina, the owner of Whyalla-based Arena Computer Service, said Internode's fast broadband service brought Whyalla up to speed. "Internode's ADSL2+ Extreme Broadband makes the Internet fly," he said.

"Broadband is extremely well accepted in Whyalla and people are always looking for more speed. ADSL2+ should make a dramatic difference as far as speed goes, especially as people get more into the online stuff. We have quite a few people who get into online games. Internode has a very good name here because of its good service and because it charges customers here exactly the same as its customers who live in the city."

Internode managing director Simon Hackett said the company was fulfilling its commitment of delivering ADSL2+ broadband services outside major metropolitan regions. "Internode is committed to providing Port Lincoln and Whyalla customers with the same quality and cost of broadband services that its city customers receive," he said.

"We expect some customers will recover the cost of their broadband plan by using Internode's NodePhone telephone service, which slashes the cost of both national and international phone calls. Untimed calls to anywhere in Australia cost just 18 cents. You can speak to someone in the US for less than six cents a minute. Access to NodePhone is just one of the benefits of Extreme Broadband."

Internode's Extreme ADSL2+ Broadband service is available in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane. Areas with the service in regional SA include the Coorong, Yorke Peninsula and Port Augusta. Click here for detailed exchange coverage