Broadband News
Mon, 09th Apr 2018
Comms minister still confident about HFC role in NBN
Communications minister Senator Mitch Fifield has indicated he still supports the use of hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) in the rollout of the National Broadband Network.
Source: Computerworld
Fifield launches 5G paper, 'confident' on NBN HFC optimisation
The Bureau of Communications Research has published a new 5G working paper examining the potential GDP effects, while Comms Minister Fifield has said NBN's remediated HFC will 'deliver a great experience'.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telco coalition launches new challenge to ‘big three’
The Competitive Carriers Coalition today formally relaunched as ‘Commpete’ with the aim of challenging the market dominance of Telstra and Australia’s other major telcos.
Source: Computerworld
Telstra CEO Penn pushes NBN customer satisfaction
Telstra has announced its new in-home Wi-Fi coverage booster and 30-day NBN satisfaction guarantee, with CEO Andy Penn saying current pricing is 'unsustainable' for retailers.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Phone and internet service issues hit 10 million Aussies
Around one in two Australians have had an issue with their phone or internet service, according to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.
Source: ARN
Telstra CEO calls NBN prices 'unsustainable'
Telstra CEO Andrew Penn has warned of the telco's inability to continue to absorb increases in NBN wholesale pricing, calling for price regulation "as quickly as possible".
Source: iTnews Australia
NetComm powers FttDP solution for a million NBN customers
Australian networking solutions provider NetComm Wireless will supply hardware for the rollout of fibre-to-the-distribution-point connections - what the NBN Co calls fibre-to-the-curb - to about a million premises, the company's chief executive Ken Sheridan says.
Source: iTWire
Split up NBN Co before rollout ends: ACCC
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has recommended that the NBN Co, the company rolling out Australia's national broadband network, be split into two entities before it is privatised after the rollout ends.
Source: iTWire
Sun, 08th Apr 2018
NBN launches fibre-to-the-curb, but existing customers won't benefit
NBN Co announces a new technology mix to speed up the internet connections of 1 million homes, but existing customers experiencing problems with slow connections will not benefit.
Source: ABC News
NBN launches FttC network
NBN has launched its fibre-to-the-curb network, with around 1,000 premises in Coburg, Melbourne, and Miranda, Sydney, now able to order services capable of 100/40Mbps speeds.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Vodafone's Staggered 2G Network Shutdown Starts April 30 With Queensland
A few years back, Vodafone announced plans to stick a fork in 2G by September 2017, however, it actually lived on a bit longer than that. But this borrowed time is about to expire, with the company declaring a real end to its 2G network, starting on April 30.
Source: Gizmodo
Fri, 06th Apr 2018
Viasat calls for NBN satellite data limits to be dumped
Viasat Australia says that households on NBN’s Sky Muster satellite service should not be subject to “hard data caps”.
Source: Computerworld
Thu, 05th Apr 2018
Aussie Broadband's about-turn on unlimited plans
Aussie Broadband is set to make its first unlimited quota play after NBN Co agreed to make its permanent new price construct available from May 1.
Source: iTnews Australia
ACCC wants baby NBNs competing for customers and upgrading networks
When NBN Co is eventually sold off, the ACCC wants it broken into pieces and forced to battle for customers.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Comms market operating ‘çompetitively’ despite market concentration: ACCC
The competition watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), says Australia’s market for broadband and voice services is operating competitively despite the levels of market concentration.
Source: iTWire
Australian privacy commissioner launches investigation into Facebook
The Australian privacy commissioner has opened a formal investigation into Facebook after the social network revealed more than 300,000 Australians had been caught up in its global data harvesting scandal.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra wins big on mobile blackspots round three
Telstra has received government funding to build out almost 90 macro and small cell sites across Australia, while Optus has been allocated 12 sites and Vodafone just one.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Optus to build 12 new mobile sites as part of Fed Govt's black spot program
If the lack of Optus mobile coverage in specific locations in NSW, QLD and Tasmania, and it is leaving you feeling black, Optus and Federal Government's Mobile Black Spot program will shine bright white with fresh new coverage.
Source: iTWire
Optus takes 5G live in ‘world first’ at Commonwealth Games
Optus has launched Optus 5G Live, and in a claimed world first, is simultaneously showcasing 5G use cases and 8K video streaming on-the-go, on its live 5G trial indoor and outdoor network, at the Commonwealth Games at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast.
Source: iTWire
Concerns raised over NBN’s long-term commercial viability
The ACCC has flagged concerns over NBN Co’s ability to meet its long-term financial targets.
Source: ARN
ACCC queries inaction over future NBN split and sale
The ACCC has raised concerns about government inaction over how NBN Co will be split up for sale once the network is complete.
Source: iTnews Australia
ACCC report calls for government to get ready to split up NBN
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) final report into the state of the nation’s communications market has called for the government to plan for the future disaggregation of the NBN into competing networks.
Source: Computerworld
Wed, 04th Apr 2018
NBN underlying issues remain for rural rollout: NT government
The NT government has repeated arguments that Sky Muster cannot meet the broadband needs of rural Australians, with Viasat pointing out options to improve the service, while Aussie Broadband again called for a halt to the fixed-wireless network until congestion is fixed and Vodafone asked for spectrum sharing.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Labor blames 'NBN economic mess' for Morrow's exit
Labor communications spokesperson Michelle Rowland has laid the blame for the exit of NBN chief executive Bill Morrow squarely on the "economic mess' that the national broadband network has become under Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Source: iTWire
Spin lasts only for a season: Morrow's NBN Co lesson
When Bill Morrow took over as head of the NBN Co, the company tasked with building the national broadband network, he was fully aware with what he had to contend.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co boss Bill Morrow quits
The company behind the National Broadband Network will launch a global search for a new CEO after Bill Morrow announces he will step down before the end of the year.
Source: ABC News
NBN Co CEO Bill Morrow to leave
NBN Co CEO Bill Morrow will not see out the completion of the network build, revealing plans to leave by the end of the year.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tue, 03rd Apr 2018
ACMA warns three telcos on providing more NBN info
Ahead of its new rules on NBN consumer protections coming into effect in July, the ACMA has formally instructed three telcos to provide critical information summaries on their websites.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Aussie Broadband pips Internode on 100Mbps NBN tier
Aussie Broadband has quickly toppled Internode with its latest speed numbers for the NBN, becoming the first to claim an average 90Mbps out of a possible 100Mbps in the evening peak.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co goes self-service for processes
NBN Co will shift to the “next stage” of an internal business process excellence project with the deployment of a self-service tool to business teams and leaders.
Source: iTnews Australia