Broadband News
Thu, 18th Jun 2009
ACCC refuse to regulate access from Telstra's 'legacy' ISDN & DDAS services
The ACCC has brushed aside claims from Optus, Primus and other carriers that there are no technically comparable substitutes to ISDN and the Digital Data Access Services in regional and rural areas and has removed these from the list of 'declared' services, giving Telstra the freedom to raise prices, or to discontinue supply if it so chooses.
Source: iTWire
Optus: $9.99 to use iPhone as modem
Optus has outlined the additional cost its iPhone customers face if they want to use their device as a modem.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Wed, 17th Jun 2009
Foxtel makes pitch for fourth network
Foxtel has joined the growing chorus of media companies seeking a review of Australia's telco regulation ahead of the NBN rollout.
Source: Australian IT
Calls and net access cost less
The average price of phone calls and internet access is falling, but sectors of the telecommunications industry are still bedevilled by lack of competition, according to annual report on telco pricing.
Source: The Age
IDC: Wireless demand at risk without backhaul update
Mobile carriers need to get their collective act together with backhaul equipment if they are to keep up with increasing wireless demands, according to IDC.
Source: ARN
Carrier "power" changes signalled to prevent NBN delays
The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy has refused to rule out legislating access to Telstra's conduits and ducts to facilitate underground deployment of fibre for the national broadband network.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tue, 16th Jun 2009
Search begins for NBN chiefs
The government could announce the board of executives to head its $43 billion national broadband network as early as next month after international headhunter Egon Zehnder was anointed to lead the search.
Source: Australian IT
Optus back on the ASX would be a good thing
SingTel has been reported as contemplating reducing its 100 percent stake in Optus to around 20-30 percent and relisting the company on the ASX. That could be a good thing for the Australian telecoms market.
Source: iTWire
Optus HFC sale could be NBN victory
If the sale of the SingTel Optus HFC network to the National Broadband Network Company goes ahead, it could mark the first significant strategic victory by the company since it lost the cable wars a decade ago.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Most NBN cables could hang overhead
Unsightly overhead cables will be rolled out across the country to provide the National Broadband Network, the Federal Opposition has warned.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Mon, 15th Jun 2009
Fast NBN sparks fresh web fears
The NBN has prompted some top web publishers to call for new federal intervention to ensure unrestricted access to their content.
Source: Australian IT
Internode expands ADSL2+ network in face of NBN
Internode plans to almost double the number of its ADSL2+ ports with a mix of new DSLAMs and expansion at exchanges it already services.
Source: iTWire
iiNet case to hinge on 20 accounts
The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) case against Australian ISP iiNet will now hinge on evidence contained within 20 anonymous customer accounts, Justice Cowdroy ruled in the Federal Court today.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Tasmania prepares for NBN with $14.7m
Following news that the long-awaited Basslink network is set to run on June 30, the Tasmanian Government has committed a $12.7 million equity contribution from the state's budget to Aurora Energy's optic fibre system as part of the state's National Broadband Network (NBN) initiative.
Source: ARN
Too much risk in aerial NBN cables: Kelso
Removalists and garbage trucks become enemies of broadband uptime.
Source: iTnews Australia
iiNet wins another round in copyright case
Perth-based ISP iiNet has scored a minor victory in its legal battle with film and TV organisations that are pursuing it for alleged breaches of copyright by not preventing its customers illegally accessing copyright material via its services.
Source: iTWire
Sat, 13th Jun 2009
Media partners leap to Telstra defence
The AFL, NRL and V8 Supercars argue that telecommunications regulation is "sufficient".
Source: iTnews Australia
Aussie Gov't regulatory reform paper branded a sham
While most responses to the Government's discussion paper on regulatory reform have taken it as a bona fide document and attempted to respond to the issues canvassed, telecommunications consultant and commentator, Kevin Morgan, has dismissed it as merely reflecting the views of Telstra's competitors.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 12th Jun 2009
Internet filter ISPs reveal clean-filter technologies
Six of the nine Internet service providers participating in the Government's Content filter trial are using a Marshal8e6 solution.
Source: ARN
Tasmania hurls $12.7m at NBN projects
The Tasmanian Government has allocated $14.7 million to NBN initiatives in its state budget, including establishment of an advisory group to find more opportunities for investment.
Source: iTnews Australia
Massive response to NBN regulatory reform paper
The 127 submissions made to the Federal Government's telecommunications reform paper may be the tip of the iceberg.
Source: iTnews Australia
Revealed: Telstra's regulatory reforms wishlist
Telstra wants an independent telecommunications adjudicator to be set up to resolve equivalence and service-level issues with access seekers.
Source: iTnews Australia
Thu, 11th Jun 2009
Blog: NBN - tackling the questions
Hot on the heals of the release of a new Communications Alliance discussion paper, Phil Dobbie spoke to four industry players to tackle some of the fundamental questions that the industry, and hopefully the government, are asking.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Analysts: Industry needs more info on NBNCo
The Government will need to provide far more information about the proposed structure of NBNCo if it wishes the private sector to vend assets into it, according to a note by Macquarie Equities.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra appoints new wholesale chief
Telstra has appointed Paul Geason as Group Managing Director, Telstra Wholesale, effective from June 30.
Source: ZDNet Australia
IBM says NBN should start in the country
Australia should focus its broadband investment outside the main cities to avoid creating a digital divide in IT, IBM says.
Source: Australian IT
ANAO can access secret NBN docs
The Australian National Audits Office has confirmed it can request the National Broadband Network ACCC and expert panel documents being kept under wraps by the government.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Tasmanian budget pumps $14.87m into NBN initiatives
The Tasmanian Government, in its state budget, The Tasmanian Government, in its state budget, has confirmed it will invest $12.7m into Aurora Energy and has announced other initiatives designed to maximise broadband opportunities created by the National Broadband Network (NBN), which will be rolled out first in Tasmania.
Source: iTWire
Minchin calls for release of "secret" NBN letter
Shadow Minister for Communications Nick Minchin has called on the Government to release a confidential letter of advice received from the NBN Expert Panel.
Source: iTnews Australia
Satellite internet needs ground investment to be NBN-ready
The Federal Government is being advised to consider investing in the ground segment of the IPSTAR broadband satellite network to fast-track its suitability for use by the 10 per cent of Aussies to miss out on NBN fibre.
Source: iTnews Australia