Broadband News

Thu, 09th Jul 2009

Censordyne: net censoring gets a toothpasting

Toothpaste is the latest weapon mobilised to fight against the Federal Government's plan to censor the internet.

Source: SMH

Wed, 08th Jul 2009

NBN a threat to Telstra competitors says analyst

Despite the widespread ebullience about the announced Australian National Broadband Network, Telstra's competitors actually see it as a threat to their existing businesses - and they're right. This is the belief of a leading global telecommunications analyst.

Source: iTWire

Anderson, Switkowski on NBN shortlist

Former telco chiefs Chris Anderson and Ziggy Switkowski are believed to be on a short list of candidates to chair NBN Co.

Source: Australian IT

Tue, 07th Jul 2009

Funds wrangle hits NBN rollout

The spearhead of the federal government's $43 billion national broadband project appears to have been blunted as the likelihood of construction starting in Tasmania this month slips away while government costing negotiations drag on.

Source: Australian IT

Wanted: Questions for Senator Conroy about the NBN

With the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) holding a lunch this Thursday with Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, to discuss the future of high-speed broadband in Australia and the opportunities for the ICT industry, a rare opportunity to ask direct questions is available.

Source: ARN

NBN mailbag tallies 700 letters

The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) is drafting responses to over 700 letters received by various government ministers from their constituents about the National Broadband Network.

Source: iTnews Australia

Be patient with NBN investment returns: Hackett

Economic contributors to the National Broadband Network should view their return on investment over a 50-year timeframe, Internode managing director Simon Hackett has said.

Source: iTnews Australia

Looking beneath the net neutrality surface

IBRS advisor Guy Cranswick argues that the use of net neutrality is an aggressive manoeuvre to retain market share and withhold change in the telecommunications market.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Minchin expected NBN delays

Shadow Communications Minister Nick Minchin today said that he was not surprised with the lack of progress shown thus far in the roll-out of the first leg of the National Broadband Network in Tasmania.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Mon, 06th Jul 2009

Look, up in the sky! There's an ugly downside to Labor's broadband project

The uproar sparked by the unfettered installation of unsightly aerial pay TV cables in the 1990s was the catalyst for the formation of lobby group Sydney Cables Down Under and others like it.

Source: SMH

Basslink goes live; Aurora, Internode online

The fibre-optic Basslink cable linking Tasmania to the mainland has officially gone live, with two customers, Aurora and Internode, hooked up to receive transmissions.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Vale Internode Unwired customers

Internode is about to close its Unwired service, three years after it withdrew the plans from sale.

Source: iTnews Australia

Sat, 04th Jul 2009

Conroy opens NBNCo regulation debate

Communications minister Stephen Conroy has called for submissions on how to regulate the National Broadband Network company and its access regime.

Source: iTnews Australia

Fri, 03rd Jul 2009

Phone tax not enough for full broadband rollout

BT has said that a proposed 50 pence ($1.03) per month levy on phone landlines will not provide enough funds to cover the entire UK with fibre-optic broadband.

Source: iTnews Australia

A lot is riding on how we choose to take our fibre

If the national broadband network is to succeed, take-up of the service by domestic and business users must be rapid and as close to universal as possible. On that, all industry experts agree.

Source: The Age

Enex net filter lab contract up for grabs

Enex Testlabs' contract with the Department of Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy to provide technical advice on content filtering is up for review next month.

Source: iTnews Australia

Huawei considers Australian 4G lab

Huawei said it will consider building a research centre in Australia to enable carriers to test next-generation telecommunications technology for the National Broadband Network.

Source: iTnews Australia

Conroy wants comments on NBNco legislation

Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, is appealing for comments on the legislative framework for the National Broadband Network company (NBNco). Announced in April, the Government-owned organisation will be tasked with running the $43 billion wholesale fibre infrastructure.

Source: ARN

Blog: Will Rudd's bush backhaul bonanza deliver?

Rural areas will be welcoming the government's decision to put its money where its politicising is, funnelling $250m into a regional fibre upgrade to six rural centres. Remedying over a decade of near-neglect at the hands of telecoms privatisation, the investment could be the firmest step yet for Labor's NBN dream - but with inevitable political questions and a looming election, Rudd and Conroy need to deliver, and quickly, to preserve the NBN's credibility.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Thu, 02nd Jul 2009

Telstra slammed for job cuts plan

More than 160 positions have been cut since David Thodey took over the reins from Sol Trujillo as Telstra's chief.

Source: Australian IT

Department of Broadband to seek filtering help

The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy is set to open a tender seeking technical help to test content filtering products and services in August.

Source: ARN

Optus D3 satellite set for August launch

Optus has announced that it D3 satellite, the ninth in a 24 year history of Australian domestic satellites, will be launched by Arianespace during August.

Source: iTWire

NBN HQ decision will wait for board

The location of the National Broadband Network headquarters will not be decided until after the NBN company's board and chairman are appointed, Federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy told his state counterparts this week.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Internet filter sparks gaming war

Online games played by millions of Australians could be blocked by the Federal Government's controversial internet filter.

Source: The Courier-Mail

Wed, 01st Jul 2009

China delays Net filtering; Australia sticks to its guns

As China backs off from controversial PC filtering plans, Australia is looking to expand its censorship net, with plans to ban computer games too.

Source: APC Magazine

Cisco fleshes out strategy for $US34b collaboration market

Last October Cisco flagged its aim, based on its WebEx portfolio to become a major player in the market for enterprise collaboration. This week gave some indication of how it plans to get there, including expanding its collaboration portfolio to include office applications.

Source: iTWire

Rudd's big backhaul day in Darwin

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is shortly expected to announce during a trip to Darwin what areas of regional Australia will be targeted by the backhaul aspect of the government's National Broadband Network plans.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Federal Government picks towns for NBN bush kick-off

The Federal Government has opened a tender process seeking candidates to build, operate and maintain backbone transmission links to regional towns as part of the first steps in its $43 billion national broadband network (NBN) plan.

Source: ARN

Tue, 30th Jun 2009

Telstra billing woes worsen

Stress caused by problems plaguing Telstra's customer service and billing system is forcing the telco's retail employees and even some dealers into new lines of work.

Source: Australian IT

Net address change chaos feared

The international community fears that major changes to the world's internet addressing system being attempted by its peak regulator will destabilise the global network.

Source: Australian IT