According to Netcomm, the deal extends its position as the leading supplier of broadband products to the local service provider market. The majority of Australia's top 20 ISPs now supply their high-speed Internet customers with NetComm hardware.

The news follows a good 2003/04 for Netcomm, which posted an unaudited 60% profit increase to $1.8 million for the year.

"We were very impressed with NetComm's competitive offering and focus on high quality," Pacific Internet's national marketing manager, Julie Cleeland Nicholls said, adding: "NetComm's direct shipment logistics, inventory management, and customer support were also key factors behind adding the company to our preferred supplier list."

A wholly owned subsidiary of Pacific Internet Limited (NASDAQ: PCNTF), Asia Pacific's largest telco-independent Internet service provider, Pacific Internet ( Australia ) is a leading local ISP with a strong position in the fast growing SME and consumer markets. The company will now offer NetComm's NB1300 ADSL modem/router to new customers, allowing them to connect to and share a high-speed broadband connection over standard phone lines.

"NetComm recognises that one of the biggest challenges for ISPs is to rein in spiralling supply and support costs," NetComm managing director David Stewart said, adding: "We try to deliver solutions that enable clients to concentrate on growing their subscriber numbers by making the broadband experience as seamless as possible."

NetComm's broadband products offer unique configuration and 'plug-and-play' features, ensuring that Pacific Internet customers can connect to the company's broadband ADSL service almost immediately.

NetComm expects that the agreement with Pacific Internet will present further opportunities down the track to offer solutions such as wireless networking and digital IP video as the wider market for broadband applications matures.