Ericsson: Australian ISPs still buying routers

Internet service providers placed larger-than-anticipated orders for edge routers last year, according to networking vendor Ericsson, as broadband demand increased and uncertainty over the NBN subsided.

But the networking kit vendor would not reveal its forward bookings, which would indicate whether or not ISPs were comfortable enough with the NBN roadmap to resume larger-scale DSLAM deployments.

The networking kit vendor said ISPs spent "around 10 percent more" on access equipment last year compared to 2008.

Most of the equipment was ADSL2+ DSLAMs "and associated edge-router equipment", the vendor said.

Buyers included iiNet, Internode, TransACT, Primus, TSN, Netspace and Adam Internet.

Ericsson believed it would see "similar growth" this year but said it was "a bit early to talk about firm trends".

"While ISPs are aware that the National Broadband Network is likely to eventually displace the DSL networks, they see a strong business case for continued DSL investments," broadband strategy manager Colin Goodwin said.