Broadband News
Wed, 25th Feb 2015
95 percent of metadata retained will be of no use: ASIO
ASIO has told Senate estimates it needs telcos and service providers to retain metadata on all customers, even though the vast majority will be of no interest to authorities.
Source: ZDNet Australia
iiNet, DBC face three-week wait for piracy ruling
iiNet and Dallas Buyers Club face a three-week wait to find out whether the rights holder can obtain the names and residential addresses of almost 5000 people it claims downloaded its movie without paying last year.
Source: iTnews Australia
iiDallas: Has the ISP copyright code failed before it has begun?
Alleged loopholes in the copyright enforcement justify Dallas Buyers Club LLC proceeding with its attempt to unearth the personal details of Internet service providers' customers, lawyers representing the rights holder for the 2013 movie Dallas Buyers Club argued in court this morning.
Source: Computerworld
Tue, 24th Feb 2015
NBN Co's gaze returns to Telstra's South Brisbane fibre
The approximately 20,000 premises on Telstra's fibre network in South Brisbane could soon be on the NBN, with the two companies set to recommence negotiations in the first quarter of 2015.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Brandis snubbed consumer groups, ISPs in piracy debate
Australian Attorney-General George Brandis did not officially meet with internet service providers or consumer rights groups a single time in the 10 months spent planning a crackdown on online copyright infringement, according to documents obtained by ZDNet.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Review stalls NBN’s Rolls Royce
An NBN review reveals that costs for building fibre-to-the-premises are higher in built-up areas, sinking hopes of more homes getting the ‘Rolls Royce’ model.
Source: The Australian
Mon, 23rd Feb 2015
Telstra to build 22 new WA mobile towers
Telstra will build 22 new mobile phone towers across regional Western Australia after the state government announced it would invest $45 million into boosting mobile coverage.
Source: iTnews Australia
AFP backs privacy and metadata over anonymity
As Australia's PM ramps up his push for the passing of the government's mandatory data-retention Bill, AFP assistant commissioner Tim Morris has said that the agency cannot support the right to anonymity where it may lead to unlawful activity.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Draft copyright code published
Rights holders and ISPs have published a draft of the Government mandated code intended to combat online copyright infringement.
Source: iTWire
Telecom outages continue after Queensland cyclone
Telstra is scrambling to restore services in Queensland after Tropical Cyclone Marcia hit the state’s north coast on Friday morning, damaging properties and leaving many areas without power.
Source: Computerworld
Greens to scuttle data retention bill
The Greens remain determined to scuttle proposed data retention laws, slamming the current plan while leaving open the possibility of amendments to tighten data security.
Source: The Australian
Vodafone launches shared plans, Stan partnership
Vodafone Australia has signed an agreement with video-streaming Nine-Fairfax joint venture Stan to provide video services to its mobile customers as the company launches shared plans.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co signs $400m HFC deal with Arris
NBN Co has signed a $400 million deal with Arris Group to upgrade Telstra and Optus' hybrid-fibre coaxial networks for use as part of the national broadband network.
Source: iTnews Australia
Shake-up at Telstra as David Thodey departs
Outgoing Telstra chief executive David Thodey says the company is prepared for a potential exit of some senior staff in the wake of chief financial officer Andy Penn being picked as his replacement.
Source: SMH
Fri, 20th Feb 2015
NBN deal was my biggest challenge: Thodey
Outgoing Telstra CEO David Thodey has said the biggest challenge in his six years at the helm of Australia's largest telecommunications company was improving the relationship between Telstra and the government before signing the NBN deal.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Three-strike piracy code draft targets residential internet users
Film studios and ISPs have released a new draft code that is aimed at curbing the number of Australians who illicitly download TV shows, films, and music online.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Australia ranked 20 on OECD fixed broadband rankings
Australia continues to lag behind many other developed nations on fixed broadband subscriptions while excelling in wireless broadband, according to world rankings released by the OECD.
Source: Computerworld
Massive news: Penn is big new Telstra CEO
Telstra has clearly been pencilling in a new CEO for some time, but today it has made the announcement official - Andrew Penn will start on May 1.
Source: iTWire
Turnbull pays tribute to Thodey
Communications minister Malcolm Turnbull has lauded Telstra CEO David Thodey as a "thought leader and skilled executive".
Source: Computerworld
ISPs unveil draft anti-piracy scheme
Under a draft industry code of practice unveiled today by telco group Communications Alliance, ISP customers will be issued with a series of warning notices in response to alleged online copyright infringement.
Source: Computerworld
Many still paying for 1800 calls from mobiles
Consumer group ACCAN says many Australian telcos have yet to make all 1800 number calls free from mobile phones.
Source: iTWire
iiNet breaks the billion dollar barrier
iiNet’s numbers are all headed in the right direction. It’s not the underdog any more.
Source: iTWire
David Thodey leaves Telstra, replaced as CEO by Andrew Penn
Telstra's chief executive David Thodey announces he is leaving Telstra after six years in charge, and will be replaced by the company's chief financial officer.
Source: ABC News
Thu, 19th Feb 2015
Vocus signs $58.5m deal for Southern Cross Cable capacity
Vocus is set to increase its capacity on the undersea cable connecting Australia and New Zealand with the United States by 10 percent, after entering a $58.5 million purchase program deal for the extra capacity.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN rollout helps iiNet add 25,000 broadband customers
iiNet's strong NBN strategy has seen the company creep up on Optus, growing its fixed-line customer base to 975,000 in the first half of this financial year.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Amaysim rings up big win for second year running as 4G coming
Amaysim has been recognised as ‘mobile service provider of the year’ by Roy Morgan for two years in a row, with 4G now just weeks away.
Source: iTWire
TPG puts FTTB plan back on sale
TPG has put an NBN rival fibre-to-the-basement plan back on sale after being forced to stop taking new orders following the introduction of new carrier license conditions.
Source: iTnews Australia
iiNet edges closer to overtaking Optus
Internet service provider iiNet is closing the gap between itself and Australia's second largest broadband provider Optus after posting significant growth in both revenue and fixed-line subscribers in its first half.
Source: iTnews Australia
Streaming service Stan on-track for 100k sign-ups
Early adoption of the Stan video streaming service has "exceeded expectations," Fairfax CEO Greg Hywood said today.
Source: Computerworld
iiNet warns on NBN cut-off
We knew it was going to happen, but the end is nigh for up to 40,000 premises hit by the NBN copper cut-off. iiNet warns it will start to happen tomorrow.
Source: iTWire