Netcom unveils latest TRENDnet products

WHILE Brunei is still waiting for Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) connection to be rolled out, Netcom Computer House last week unleashed its latest range of high speed network solutions that would allow netizens enjoy high-speed wireless Internet access from current Internet service technologies.

Two TRENDnet-brand products were unveiled last week at Netcom's main headquarters in Kiulap that will have users ride on the ultra-fast 450 Mbps (megabytes per second) wireless connection speed.

"We are introducing these two new solutions to cater to the needs of Bruneians who always want the fastest Internet connection possible in their homes," said Hj Mohd Hassan Hj Md Gafar, Sales Supervisor at Netcom Computer House.

The first is the TRENDnet 450 Mbps Wireless N Gigabit Router, also known as the TEW-691GR, which would replace the existing routers in every households that had been provided by Internet service providers.

Selling at $168, the TEW-691GR was the first router in the market by TRENDnet that supports three-stream Wireless-N, with cap speeds of up to 450 Mbps.

"At 450 Mbps, users will experience faster high definition video streaming, VoIP, gaming and even large file transfers," he said.

Netcom also launched another device by TRENDnet to pair with the router. Selling at $78, the 450 Mbps Dual Band Wireless N USB Adapter, or TEW-684UB, upgrades laptop and desktop connectivity to the highest wireless performance available.

Hj Mohd Hassan revealed that most laptop computers with integrated wireless in the market are most often outfitted with either 150 Mbps Wireless N or even slower 54 Mbps Wireless G technology, which bottlenecks performance to 150 Mbps or 54 Mbps respectively when connecting to a high speed router at home.

"If you already have or you're about to buy a 450 Mbps router such as the TEW-691GR, remember that your computer's adapter needs to be 450 Mbps as well. So if your laptop's existing wireless card is only rated at 150 Mbps as most are, your connection speeds for 450 Mbps router will be bottlenecked at 150 Mbps," he explained.

Hj Mohd Hassan said that the TEW-684UB acts as a receiver for laptop and desktop computers to utilise the extra fast speed provided by ultra-fast routers such as the TEW-691GR.

When asked if the two devices would give current E-speed and 3G broadband users in Brunei the speed boost they need before jumping into the FTTH bandwagon in the coming months, Hj Mohd Hassan replied, "We have been investing heavily in bringing in networking solutions for a very long time, and as technology changes, there will always be upgraded solutions to meet current technology."

"So when FTTH finally kicks in, there will surely be new solutions coming in. For now, these two products will give consumers the optimum Internet experience," he added.

The Brunei Times