Austar, an Australian communications and pay-TV provider, is teaming up with Soul to deliver wireless broadband services in regional Australia. Soul’s Internet Protocol (IP)-based data and voice network will provide backhaul and switching services and Internet connectivity for Austar’s planned WiMAX based broadband wireless network.

Austar, which provides satellite-based subscription television services in Australia, initially will offer a broadband Internet service to regional consumers. Many customers in rural Australia cannot currently access Internet speeds in excess of 256 kilobits per second.

Austar’s wireless broadband network is expected to surpass 750,000 homes throughout 25 regional Australian locations by the end of 2007.