Broadband News

Mon, 03rd Sep 2018

NBN to take FttC to MDUs

By supplying eight- and 16-port DPUs, NBN will be able to extend its fibre-to-the-curb network to multi-dwelling units, NetComm Wireless has announced.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Vodafone completes successful trial of regional 4G mobile services hub

Vodafone Hutchison Austra;oa has completed a successful trial of a self-install mobile coverage solution — the Vodafone Regional Coverage Hub — which is designed to deliver 4G voice and data services in locations across Australia where commercial networks are not traditionally deployed, or where coverage is patchy or unavailable.

Source: iTWire

NBN Co looks to FTTC for smaller multi-dwelling complexes

NBN Co will soon be able to more efficiently deploy fibre to the curb (FTTC) services instead of its more conventional DSLAM-based fibre to the basement (FTTB) services when connecting smaller multi-dwelling units (MDUs).

Source: Computerworld

Vocus builds fibre network between Darwin and Tiwi Islands

Vocus has been selected to build a sub-sea system that will provide a fibre optic link between Darwin and the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory.

Source: ARN

Aussie Broadband wants to stop buying extra IPv4 addresses

Aussie Broadband is set to fast-track IPv6 adoption and implement carrier grade network address translation (CGNAT) to bypass rising IPv4 costs.

Source: iTnews Australia

Fri, 31st Aug 2018

ACCC reconsiders Telstra copper regulation

Given the NBN rollout, the ACCC is seeking feedback on whether to continue regulating six Telstra copper services from mid-2019 until mid-2024.

Source: ZDNet Australia

TPG's 'aggressive' behaviour may decide fate of Vodafone merger

How did TPG Telecom became an $8 billion company? By spending $3.5 billion on "aggressive" takeovers in the last eight years, frequently paying significantly more than it needed to, writes David Chau.

Source: ABC News

NBN 'absolutely' still planning 5G fixed-wireless

NBN has told ZDNet that it is still planning to deploy 5G across its fixed-wireless service, while also looking into NG-PON2 for FttP, G.mgfast for FttN/B/C, and Full Duplex DOCSIS for HFC to enable speeds of up to 10Gbps.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Labor slams govt over NBN 'cost blowout' of $2b

The Australian Labor Party has described the national broadband network as being on "life support" with the announcement on Friday that the total outlay would be $51 billion, compared to the earlier figure of $49 billion described as "a cost blowout" that was "nothing short of a disaster".

Source: iTWire

NBN Co to get three more years to repay $19.5bn govt loan

The government is set to give NBN Co an extra three years to repay and refinance a $19.5 billion loan of public funds to complete the build.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN Co will not reach ARPU target even in FY22

NBN Co, the company rolling out Australia’s national broadband network, the NBN, will not achieve its desired $52 average revenue per user target to remove the red ink from its budget, even by FY22, two years after the rollout is completed in 2020.

Source: iTWire

NBN Co's HFC pause cost $900m

NBN Co has finally detailed numbers quantifying the economic cost of its five month HFC sales freeze, with remediation work costing $200 million and $700 million of revenue delayed.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN Co's build costs rise $2bn, 1.2m premises delayed

NBN Co’s HFC and fixed wireless problems will force the company spend $2 billion more on its rollout, with the total cost now expected to be $51 billion.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN base case funding jumps to AU$51b following HFC pause

NBN has said its HFC pause will impact revenue during the rollout by AU$700 million plus capex spend of AU$200 million; the wholesale pricing change will result in a AU$700 million deferral of revenue; and the fixed-wireless capacity upgrade program will result in an additional AU$800 million in capex.

Source: ZDNet Australia

TPG Voda merger sure to have some growing pains

The proposed merger between challenger carriers Vodafone Australia and TPG has raised as many questions as answers after the chief executives of both the telcos mounted a spirited push to sell the deal to shareholders ahead of regulatory scrutiny.

Source: iTnews Australia

Thu, 30th Aug 2018

Boost Mobile head urges ACCC to reject TPG-Vodafone merger

Boost Mobile founder and chief executive Peter Adderton has urged the ACCC to reject the proposed merger between Vodafone Hutchison Australia and TPG Telecom on the grounds that it would remove from the telco space the one factor that has led to increased competition over the last year or so – a fourth big mobile player.

Source: iTWire

TPG-Vodafone will be 'very aggressive': David Teoh

The new TPG could offer plans that are 'even better' than its previously advertised AU$9.99 per month mobile service, David Teoh has said, once the merger completes and it can offer bundled fixed and mobile deals.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Watchdog to take 12 weeks to review TPG-Vodafone merger

The Australian competition watchdog, the ACCC, says it will soon kick off a public review into the merger that is proposed between Vodafone Hutchison Australia and TPG Telecom.

Source: iTWire

TPG, Vodafone Australia agree on $15bn merger

Challenger carriers TPG and Vodafone Australia (VHA) have agreed on terms to merge the two brands to create a fully integrated mobile and fixed line telco estimated to be worth $15 billion.

Source: iTnews Australia

TPG and Vodafone Australia to merge into AU$15b telco named TPG

TPG and Vodafone Australia have reached an agreement to merge their businesses to form a telecommunications giant with an approximate enterprise value of AU$15 billion.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Telstra shares rise on news of two rivals in $15 billion merger

Telecommunications companies TPG Telecom and Vodafone confirm they will combine in what they are calling a "merger of equals".

Source: ABC News

NBN prepares to take on business market in earnest

NBN Co is launching a range of new services that target Australia’s SMBs and enterprises, which are expected to play a key role in delivering the revenue the company needs for the federal government to make a return on its investment in the NBN project.

Source: Computerworld

NBN Co sets up ops centre exclusively for business

NBN Co has set up a dedicated operations centre with 100 staff to handle business connections and fault fixes.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN Co opens business operation centre in Melbourne

NBN Co has opened a business operation centre in Melbourne to help providers support organisations connecting to the National Broadband Network.

Source: ARN

Wed, 29th Aug 2018

Optus slams Telstra 'empty rhetoric' on 5G

Telstra's second 5G launch announcement has been met with a second criticism from rival carrier Optus.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Vocus switches on ASC subsea cable system

The Australia-Singapore Cable will be ready for service in mid-September, Vocus has announced after switching on the 40Tbps subsea cable system.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Telstra switches on second 5G area

Telstra has switched on 5G in Toowoomba, one of the first regional areas in the world to gain access to the new mobile networking technology.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Huawei suggests 'a bit of xenophobia' in 5G ban

Huawei Australia chairman John Lord suggests xenophobia was a factor in the Federal Government's decision to ban the Chinese telecommunications giant from supplying Australia's 5G mobile network.

Source: ABC News

Tue, 28th Aug 2018

NBN Co still planning to roll out 100Mbps-capable fixed wireless devices

The new default device that will be installed in end-user premises for NBN fixed wireless connections will have a theoretical maximum download speed of up to 100 megabits per second, despite NBN Co cancelling its plans to offer 100Mbps wireless services.

Source: Computerworld

NBN Co's FTTC rollout drives up connections in limbo

NBN Co is seeing higher proportions of premises being included in its weekly rollout numbers that can’t support a retail service, with fibre-to-the-curb largely behind the increase.

Source: iTnews Australia