Broadband News
Fri, 07th Nov 2014
TPG Telecom buys into Amcom and Vocus merger talks
TPG Telecom has dramatically dealt itself a seat at the table in merger talks between Amcom and Vocus by becoming a substantial shareholder in one of the players.
Source: SMH
Nextgen ditches NBN virtual connect product
Nextgen Networks has stopped taking new connection orders for its NBN virtual connect product after claiming technical changes to be introduced by NBN Co would force it to spend big to change its infrastructure.
Source: iTnews Australia
Thu, 06th Nov 2014
Why I want my Telstra metadata
Since publishing the story about my 15-month battle for my mobile phone metadata, several readers have asked me why I'm pursuing access considering I already know who I've called, who's called me, where I've been, which websites I've visited and so on.
Source: SMH
Graeme Samuel unloads on Scales, defends Telstra and says content is king
Former head of the ACCC Graeme Samuel has roundly criticised the Scales Report into the NBN for being 'fundamentally flawed' and 'factually wrong'.
Source: iTWire
Wed, 05th Nov 2014
Telstra fined $18k for publishing judge's home address
A Sydney judge claims to have been forced out of his home after Telstra listed his name and address in the White Pages following its connection of a phone line for his home security system.
Source: iTnews Australia
ACCC should give up telecom regulatory powers, says former head
A former chairperson of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has supported spinning off the agency’s telecom regulatory role to a specialist entity.
Source: Computerworld
Data retention: what happens when bytes go missing?
At this stage of the Australian government's clumsy effort to put data retention laws in place, it is clear that the public is not being told the whole truth. Or even a fraction of it.
Source: iTWire
Tue, 04th Nov 2014
Australian government's metadata access may be widened
The Attorney-General's Department has admitted that proposed mandatory data retention legislation may be used for far more than what the government has claimed it will be required for.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN review costs top AU$2 million
The Department of Communications has revealed the full extent of the cost for the panel tasked with conducting a cost-benefit analysis into Australia's broadband options, and the other reviews it has undertaken since the election of the Coalition government.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Brandis wrong on copyright and data retention: IP expert
Attorney-General George Brandis appears to have erred in his claim that the government's proposed data retention regime couldn't be used to pursue people who engage in online copyright violations, according to an expert on Australian intellectual property law.
Source: Computerworld
We don't have any pre-existing metadata laws: Brandis
While on the one hand, the Australian government is claiming that security agencies will not get access to any new data under mandatory data retention, Attorney-General George Brandis has claimed that the legislation is required because there aren't any existing metadata laws.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra class action won't end like Vodafone, says law firm
The lawyers behind a class action levelled at Telstra over late fees are confident their efforts will be more successful than a recent class action over network issues that failed to get up against against Vodafone.
Source: iTnews Australia
Data retention laws 'can't be and they won't be' used against pirates: Brandis
Attorney-General George Brandis has said that the government's proposed data retention laws "can't be and they won't be" used to pursue Australians engaged in online copyright violation.
Source: Computerworld
Mon, 03rd Nov 2014
iiNet reports fibre break in Darwin
Approximately 4,000 iiNet customers in Darwin won't be able to access the Internet due to an unplanned outage, the ISP has reported.
Source: Computerworld
Telstra's new 4GX, extreme speed: X marks the HotSpot!
Telstra's 4G LTE-A service has officially launched at last with the 4GX name, with smartphones such as the Galaxy Note 4 reaching Cat 6 LTE-A speeds and Telstra's new 4GX hotspot launched today, too.
Source: iTWire
Amcom Telecommunications acquires Megaport's fibre network for $15m
Perth-based Amcom Telecommunications (ASX: AMM) has acquired Megaport's fibre network in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane for $15 million.
Source: Computerworld
Optus 4G expands reach in Darwin
Optus customers with compatible devices will now get faster mobile Internet in Greater Darwin as the telco expands its superfast 4G services beyond Darwin’s central business district.
Source: ARN
Fri, 31st Oct 2014
On metadata legislation and used-car salesmanship
Australia's proposed data-retention laws still leave too many questions unanswered. Turnbull and Brandis must fill in the blanks.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Film studios could use retained data to sue torrenters
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed that copyright holders could sue ISPs to get hold of data retained as part of the government's mandatory data-retention regime.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telcos relieved at limited scope and cost of data retention law
Police will use new laws requiring customers' phone and internet records to be stored for two years to target terrorists, child abusers and potentially illegal music and movie downloaders.
Source: SMH
Thu, 30th Oct 2014
Secret government briefing admits metadata law cost and warns of 'internet tax' campaign
A leaked copy of a Coalition party room submission admits there is a cost attached to data retention and the government is anticipating a campaign against the laws that will describe it as an "internet tax".
Source: SMH
Optus beefs up home bundles
New home phone and internet bundles from Optus include Fetch TV.
Source: iTWire
Govt blasted over data retention laws
The Australian Government has "crossed the line" by trying to "rush through" legislation that will force telcos and service providers to retain customer metadata for two years, according to industry and political opponents of the bill.
Source: iTnews Australia
Turnbull introduces data retention legislation
The Coalition Government has introduced legislation governing the mandatory retention of telco metadata into Parliament - a bill that does not provide any explanation of what data is to be stored.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mandatory data retention legislation hits the Australian parliament
Australian Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has this morning introduced legislation that will force telecommunications companies to retain customer data for two years.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Wed, 29th Oct 2014
iiNet wins Victorian free wi-fi deal
iiNet will build and operate Victoria’s free wi-fi network under a $6.7 million deal with the state government and Melbourne City Council.
Source: iTnews Australia
Free public Wi-Fi network coming to Victoria
The Victorian government and iiNet have announced a free public Wi-Fi network in Melbourne, Ballarat and Bendigo.
Source: Computerworld
iiNet outflanks NBN Co with 100Mbps downloads in Geelong
iiNet is taking the fight to NBN Co in Geelong with download speeds of up to 100Mbps in a bid to cash in on unmet demand in the area.
Source: ARN
Today is stop Data Retention Day
A group led by three senators will gather at Parliament House today to protest against the Government’s plans to force telcos and ISPs to store customer data.
Source: iTWire
Telstra CIO resigns
Telstra CIO Patrick Eltridge has resigned and will leave the company in a month’s time, the telco has confirmed.
Source: iTnews Australia