Broadband News
Wed, 05th Dec 2018
TPG board avoids second strike and spill
TPG looks to have avoided a second strike and the threat of a board spill after 94 percent of proxy votes were cast in favour of its remuneration report.
Source: ZDNet Australia
ACCC hauls Activ8me to court
Following a AU$12,600 penalty earlier this year, Activ8me is again facing legal action from the ACCC for its allegedly misleading advertisements over the cost of its NBN services.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Backhaul competition better but regulation still needed, ACCC finds
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is of a mind to continue to regulate the backhaul market in some parts of the country, but a draft decision released today by the ACCC would end regulation in 137 metro and 27 regional areas.
Source: Computerworld
Encryption bill: CA chief wants 'dangerous loophole' plugged
The Federal Government must act to plug a "dangerous loophole" in its encryption bill before it is passed by Parliament before the end of Thursday, the chief executive of the lobby group Communications Alliance, John Stanton, has said.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co is a victim of its own success: Telco review
The NBN Co has become a “victim of its own success” in regional Australia due to unprecedented demand for data, an inquiry has found.
Source: ARN
NBN and government should co-fund tech choice program: Regional telco review
The regional telecommunications independent review committee has recommended that NBN be clearer about tech upgrades, look into satellite and fixed-wireless issues, and increase data allowances.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co should be paying some costs for area switches
NBN Co should co-invest in area switches in regional and remote Australia so more go ahead and defray its own future upgrade costs for the fixed wireless and satellite networks.
Source: iTnews Australia
TPG faces allegations of misleading customers over plan prepayments
Telecommunications services provider TPG Telecom is facing allegations in the Federal Court by Australia’s competition watchdog, the ACCC, that it engaged in misleading conduct about a $20 "pre-payment" made by consumers, and including unfair pre-payment contract terms in some of the its plans.
Source: iTWire
Tue, 04th Dec 2018
Federal Government and Labor strike deal on encryption laws
New powers to allow police and intelligence agencies to intercept encrypted messages sent between terror suspects are expected to pass the Federal Parliament this week.
Source: ABC News
TPG caught in the ACCC firing line for misleading customers
The ACCC is seeking compensation for TPG Internet customers that have been caught up in its misleading conduct in relation to unfair prepayment consumer contract terms.
Source: ARN
TPG's $20 'prepayment' for extras lands it in hot water
TPG is set to face federal court proceedings over a $20 “prepayment” it takes from customers to cover costs incurred - but not included - in telecommunications plans, such as overseas calls.
Source: iTnews Australia
'Far too early to write the obituary for fixed broadband' as Telstra unveils 5G mobile plans
The focus of Telstra investor day this year is its new 5G mobile network. Sure it's fast, but will phone users notice the difference and will it be quick enough to drive people away from the NBN?
Source: ABC News
Defence turns on billion-dollar Telstra comms network
After years of delay and more than $1.3 billion, the Department of Defence is finally approaching the end of its tumultuous fixed telecommunications network replacement project with Telstra.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mon, 03rd Dec 2018
ACMA kicks off Scam Technology Project
The ACMA is looking into how to implement new networking technologies to prevent scam calls from coming through to Australians.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Australia’s diplomats at odds with crypto bill
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has said it “is pleased to endorse” international movements for a stable cyber environment free from state interference - a position which appears to put it at odds with some provisions of the government's Assistance and Access Bill.
Source: iTnews Australia
Fri, 30th Nov 2018
Vertiv chosen to build Sunshine Coast subsea cable landing station
Vertiv has won the tender to design and build the cable landing station for the Sunshine Coast International Broadband Submarine Cable, which will connect to the Japan-Guam-Australia subsea system.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Turnbull's 'laws of mathematics' statement is still alive
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull's comment about the laws of mathematics, in the lead-up to the drafting of the government's encryption bill, has not been forgotten, with one technology executive referring to it on Friday.
Source: iTWire
Chunk of Aussie Broadband goes on sale ahead of IPO
Investors have been offered a stake in booming ISP Aussie Broadband ahead of its expected IPO.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co's node cabinets turned into things of beauty
NBN Co’s large green node cabinets are being turned into canvases for local art and photography, with over 100 so far either receiving - or in line to receive - the ‘wrap’ treatment.
Source: iTnews Australia
Thu, 29th Nov 2018
NBN Co puts first G.fast capable kerbside kit in the ground
NBN Co is starting to deploy “trial” distribution point units built by Nokia in its fibre-to-the-curb footprint that have VDSL2 and G.fast modes, though it has “no immediate plans” to switch on the G.fast capability.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co puts gigabit-capable gear in the ground for FTTC
NBN Co revealed this morning that it had deployed the first G-fast-capable distribution point units (DPUs) as part of its roll out of fibre to the curb (FTTC).
Source: Computerworld
Wed, 28th Nov 2018
Piracy site-block expansion to search engines passes Parliament
It will be easier to block mirror sites under the amendment, with online search engines also now included.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NT calls for NBN to use existing fibre to deliver better broadband
The Northern Territory government is pushing for 39 communities to be connected to the National Broadband Network using existing optical fibre rather than NBN Co’s Sky Muster satellite service.
Source: Computerworld
Fast broadband boosts female entrepreneurship, says NBN Co
Fast-broadband connectivity is contributing to a boom in female entrepreneurship and giving women more flexibility to choose where and how they work, according to a new research report just released.
Source: iTWire
Tue, 27th Nov 2018
PNG upholds deal with Huawei to lay internet cable, derides counter-offer
Papua New Guinea will uphold its agreement with China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd to build its internet infrastructure, a PNG government minister said on Monday, dismissing offers from Western countries to take on the work.
Source: Computerworld
Site blocking expansion waved through committee
An expansion of site blocking laws to target cyberlockers, search engines and mirror sites has cleared a fortnight-long senate committee inquiry.
Source: iTnews Australia
Senate committee defends piracy site-block expansion
The piracy site-block expansion should be passed by Parliament, a Senate committee has recommended.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Mon, 26th Nov 2018
ACCC to continue regulating Telstra copper as NBN rollout completes
Telstra's ULLS, LSS, WLR, LCS, FOAS, and FTAS fixed-line services will continue being regulated for the next five years to ensure certainty during the end of the NBN rollout.
Source: ZDNet Australia
ATO may get direct telco metadata and bank data access
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) could be allowed to directly access telecommunications metadata and other records such as those held by banks under a proposal aired by Treasury late last week.
Source: iTnews Australia
ACCC extends declaration of Telstra's fixed line services
The ACCC has extended the declaration of six Telstra fixed line telecommunications services to 30 June 2024.
Source: ARN