Broadband News

Tue, 28th Aug 2018

Optus continues rollout of Victorian rail mobile network

Optus says completion of work on a new mobile site in Maddingley in Victoria will provide improved coverage for mobile users on the State’s rail network.

Source: iTWire

Amaysim offers 'five simple tips to stream without maxing out your data'

Presumably because Amaysim doesn't yet offer an unlimited data plan, the company has issued some tips to help you ensure you don't use up all of your included data allowance before the end of your 28 day cycle.

Source: iTWire

What's New On Stan, Netflix, Hayu, Foxtel And Amazon For September

Another month, another collection of must-see TV shows and movies to binge on across the streaming services.

Source: Gizmodo

Mon, 27th Aug 2018

Labor says new ACMA report shows NBN 'a nightmare for small business'

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released a new report entitled "NBN consumer experience: Households and businesses – the end-to-end journey", and Labor sees bad news. 

Source: iTWire

The gigabit fibre NBN is a lost opportunity, when will we build and get it?

The sad reality of the NBN is that 100Mbps connections are just too slow in 2018, and only God knows when gigabit Internet will become cheap and affordable for all.

Source: iTWire

Amaysim considers leaving broadband as overall profit drops 76 percent

A majority of Amaysim's FY18 revenue came from its new energy business, with the company considering leaving the NBN sector due to high costs and higher churn than expected.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NetComm Wireless profit up 500 percent as it eyes 5G and FttC globally

NetComm Wireless has announced net profit of AU$8 million on revenue of AU$181 million, pointing to future growth across fixed-wireless, fibre to the curb, 5G, and industrial IoT.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NetComm Wireless leverages experience with NBN FTTC

ASX-listed NetComm Wireless says its experience with supplying distribution point units (DPUs) for NBN Co’s fibre to the curb (FTTC) rollout is helping it take advantage of overseas opportunities.

Source: Computerworld

Dodo rebrands with new prices, says it's 'not as stupid as we look'

Dodo's old bird has gone the way of the dodo, with a new bird looking much more realistic, along with new pricing for broadband, mobile and energy.

Source: iTWire

Free wi-fi comes to Perth's public transport network

The WA government will begin offering free commuter wi-fi on Perth’s public transport network from today, three years after it first promised to do so.

Source: iTnews Australia

Turnbull's tech legacy: the MTM (Malcolm-technology mix) NBN

Whenever a prime minister departs for good, there is talk of his or her legacy. And this time it is no any different; in the case of Malcolm Turnbull, who was scythed down last week by right-wing ideologues in his own party, that talk has already begun. But Turnbull has little to show on the tech front, even though he has often been lauded as a politician who "gets tech".

Source: iTWire

Scammers Are Pretending To Be Telstra And NBN

There's been a surge in "remote access" scams of late, with more than 8,000 Aussies losing a total of $4.4 million to Telstra, NBN, Microsoft and even NSW Police impersonators. Here's what to be on the lookout for.

Source: Gizmodo

Sat, 25th Aug 2018

Did TPG's David Teoh just outsmart the telco industry?

Camera-shy TPG Telecom chief executive David Teoh is known for keeping his cards close to his chest, however the 63-year-old billionaire appears to have played his hand beautifully.

Source: SMH

What's next for Chinese tech giant Huawei after being banned from Australia's 5G network?

Huawei hits out at Australia's "politically motivated" decision to ban it from the 5G mobile network — but what will happen next for the Chinese tech giant's operations on Australian shores?

Source: ABC News

Fri, 24th Aug 2018

Mobile phone plan costs tipped to soar amid 5G ban on Chinese companies

Australia’s decision to ban Chinese firms from 5G rollout will lead to more costly consumer telco plans, say experts.

Source: SMH

Huawei bares legal teeth over Australian 5G ban

Chinese telco vendor Huawei has slammed Australia's ban on it and ZTE from the country's 5G network rollout as "politically motivated, not the result of a fact-based, transparent, or equitable decision making process."

Source: iTnews Australia

Huawei ban: China asks Australia to drop 'ideological bias'

The Chinese Government has told its Australian counterpart to get rid of its "ideological biases" and create a "fair environment" for business in the country in the wake of the 5G ban imposed on Chinese companies Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corporation.

Source: iTWire

Thu, 23rd Aug 2018

Vodafone warns investment 'uncertainty' after Huawei 5G ban

Vodafone Australia has criticised the government’s decision to ban Huawei from local 5G networks, arguing the decision could change the economics of planned builds.

Source: iTnews Australia

DOCSIS 3.1 good, but long-term aim has to be fibre: claim

Enabling DOCSIS 3.1 on the HFC network would be a good thing in the short term, but the longer game will always be a full-fibre given its longevity, tech experts have told iTWire.

Source: iTWire

Australian government bans Chinese vendors for 5G

Huawei and ZTE have effectively been banned from taking place in 5G network rollouts in Australia, including 4G evolutionary networks, under a national security decision.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Huawei, ZTE banned from Australian 5G networks

Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE have been banned from supplying equipment for 5G networks in Australia.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN Co should have appointed interim CEO: Labor

The Australian Labor Party says it was not appropriate for the Federal Government to appoint a permanent chief executive for NBN Co, the company rolling out the national broadband network, this close to an election, especially given that the government is going through a great deal of turbulence.

Source: iTWire

Wed, 22nd Aug 2018

ACMA begins enforcing NBN migration rules backed by AU$10m penalties

The ACMA will be able to take NBN retail service providers to court to gain injunctions and civil penalties of up to AU$10 million for non-compliance with its new broadband transition regulations.

Source: ZDNet Australia

ACMA lays down the law on telco compliance to new rules

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued new rules providing regulatory safeguards for consumers moving to services delivered over the NBN – cautioning telcos to take immediate steps to embed the rules in their business practices.

Source: iTWire

Optus slashes another 440 roles

Optus has revealed it will be cutting another 440 roles as a result of further changes to the business.

Source: ARN

Fresh Optus cull claims another 440 staff

Optus will slash another 440 staff from its ranks as the carrier continues to shed headcount in an effort to control costs in line with its rivals.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN Co answer to HFC problem: repeat fix that failed

NBN Co, the company rolling out Australia's national broadband network, apparently believes that repeating something will result in a different outcome. Nothing else can account for the fact that the company this week decided to again replace equipment at the premises of a resident in South Australia for the second time, in the hope that it would solve the problems on his NBN HFC connection.

Source: iTWire

CFO Stephen Rue to be NBN Co’s next chief executive

NBN Co’s chief financial officer Stephen Rue will take over as the government-owned company’s chief executive from 1 September.

Source: Computerworld

TPG and Vodafone Australia discuss merger

TPG and Vodafone Australia have held “exploratory discussions” around a potential merger between the two companies.

Source: iTnews Australia

TPG confirms merger discussions with Vodafone

TPG Telecom has confirmed that it is currently in discussions with Vodafone Hutchison Australia regarding a potential "merger of equals".

Source: ARN