"That signal is being taped across the network and the far end is using a very smart optical projection system to create a holograph, or my virtual presence, in Adelaide." Dr Bradlow could see who he was talking to in Adelaide via a big, flat panel screen, allowing the real time interaction.

"It has the look and feel of being in the same room together," he said. "You can envisage this in education, in entertainment, in news media as a holographic system, but the whole class of telepresence systems is going to be across all businesses." Telstra's group managing director for enterprise and government, David Thodey, said the Musion Eyeliner System created the hologram which was delivered over Telstra's powerful Next IP (internet protocol) system.

"We've all seen this sort of thing in futuristic sci-fi movies, but the reality is that it can be done here and now, as we have just demonstrated, because of the scope and capability of Telstra's world leading networks," Mr Thodey said. Despite the technology, beaming holograms about is not commercially available yet, he said.

But it could start to become commonplace in business within four or five years and eventually in homes. "In the next few years, as your broadband speeds start to go faster, a step from there to a hologram is not very far," Mr Thodey said. "I think it is at least four or five years away (for business) before that will be the case because the technology has to come down in price."

"This next generation network is changing the way we live and work." AAP