Broadband News
Mon, 28th May 2018
Telstra to begin work on mobile coverage in Geelong rail tunnel
Telstra will begin working next month on the provision of mobile coverage in the Geelong rail tunnel, the company said in a statement today. A critical part of the work is expected to be completed by the end of June.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co turns to RSPs for new wholesale bundle pricing
NBN Co is gearing up to introduce new wholesale bundle pricing for fixed wireless services and its entry-level, low-usage broadband offering.
Source: ARN
NBN to overhaul fixed-wireless pricing
NBN is looking to simplify its two-part wholesale pricing charge for fixed-wireless, as well as consulting on a new fixed-wireless product that 'better aligns to the capability of the network'.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co: the money is good, the results aren't
The NBN Co pays its staff handsomely, figures revealed ahead of Senate estimates hearings last week show, with 8% of its 6044 staff taking home more than $200,000.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 25th May 2018
That’s all folks: NBN currently has no plans for more FTTC
NBN’s chief executive, Bill Morrow, says the company is not currently contemplating expanding the number of premises connected using fibre to the curb (FTTC).
Source: Computerworld
'We killed it': NBN boss dumps top-speed plans for hundreds of thousands of customers
The company rolling out the National Broadband Network axes the idea of providing maximum-speed plans to over 300,000 potential customers, announcing it is dumping plans to provide 100 megabit per second speeds on its fixed wireless network.
Source: ABC News
Comms union slams Optus over Virgin Mobile job cuts
The news that Optus will be axing 200 jobs across Australia due to its decision to phase out its subsidiary Virgin Mobile over the next two years has been described as "a devastating blow to workers".
Source: iTWire
Thu, 24th May 2018
NBN rips up 100Mbps fixed-wireless plans
Australia's National Broadband Network (NBN) company has killed off its plans to offer a 100/40Mbps fixed-wireless product, with NBN CEO Bill Morrow telling Senate Estimates on Thursday there is no economic case for it.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co kills 100Mbps on fixed wireless
NBN Co has “killed” off plans to offer 100Mbps services on its fixed wireless network so it can concentrate on meeting its minimum performance obligations.
Source: iTnews Australia
Optus eyes staff redeployment as it phases out Virgin Mobile brand
Optus is working to find employment opportunities for Virgin Mobile Australia staff in other parts of its business as it moves to phase out the Virgin brand over the next two years.
Source: ARN
Optus will progressively close Virgin Mobile
Optus is set to phase out its Virgin Mobile brand over the next two years and will contact customers “in the coming days” to outline their options.
Source: iTnews Australia
Wed, 23rd May 2018
Telstra 'unlimited' mobile network ads banned by court
Telstra's 'unlimited' mobile network advertising campaign has been found to be misleading and deceptive conduct under a Federal Court decision, with an injunction preventing it from continuing the ads.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Optus fined AU$1.5m for misleading NBN customers
Optus has been forced by the Federal Court to pay AU$1.5 million in penalties after misleading its customers about switching over to NBN's HFC network.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Optus fined $1.5m for forcing HFC customers onto NBN
Optus has been fined $1.5 million by the federal court for trying to force customers off its HFC network and onto the NBN in a bid to fast-track migration payments from NBN Co.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tue, 22nd May 2018
Software fault caused Telstra mobile outage
Telstra has yet to determine the root cause of the software fault that resulted in a nationwide mobile outage on Monday, but said it is investigating this with its technology vendors.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Software fault triggered Telstra mobile network outage
The calamitous collapse of Telstra's mobile network on Monday was triggered by a software fault which led to multiple elements across the network failing, the company said on Tuesday, offering an apology for the disruptions suffered by its customers.
Source: iTWire
NBN announces business satellite service for 2019
The NBN Business Satellite Service will make use of existing Sky Muster spectrum and infrastructure, with trials to take place at the end of this year ahead of service launch in the first half of 2019.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co to chase mining sector with business satellite
NBN Co is set to target its forthcoming “business-grade satellite service” at the remote operations of Australia’s resources sector as well as farmers in the first instance.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co details 2019 business satellite service launch
NBN Co has revealed the details of its new wholesale business-grade satellite service for remote and rural Australia to be launched in the first half of 2019.
Source: ARN
Mon, 21st May 2018
Telstra says service 'back to normal levels', but no word on why it happened
The national Telstra outage that affected 3G and 4G voice and data services this morning and afternoon appears to be over, but we're still waiting for an explanation.
Source: iTWire
Telstra's 3G and 4G networks 'continue to be progressively restored nationally'
Telstra's latest outrageous outage on its 3G and 4G networks is being fixed, and while the "root cause" is yet to be determined, the reason why can't be unlimited.
Source: iTWire
Optus pitches benefits of new broadband offerings
Australia’s second biggest telco Optus is tempting customers with a promise of fast speeds, more entertainment options and $10 off their monthly bill with the launch of its new suite of fixed broadband plans.
Source: iTWire
Vodafone launches 4.9G on Huawei in Sydney’s West, more sites to come
Vodafone's first FDD Massive MIMO trial site has gone live in Parramatta, the first of five sites across Australia to act as trial locations for 4.9G, with Sydney's Chinatown and Haymarket to follow, and it's using Huawei technology to make it happen.
Source: iTWire
Telstra grappling with another mobile outage, says triple-0 service not affected
Telstra says sorry to angry customers as it is hit with another outage to its mobile phone network, with reports of problems in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and other population hubs.
Source: ABC News
Vodafone starts deploying its first massive MIMO sites
Vodafone is rolling out the first three massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) sites on its mobile network in Sydney.
Source: iTnews Australia
Vocus hires Kevin Russell as new chief
Vocus has secured the services of long-time retail telecommunications executive Kevin Russell as its new CEO following Geoff Horth’s exit in February.
Source: iTnews Australia
Fri, 18th May 2018
ACMA opens consultation on 5G spectrum auction
The ACMA is seeking feedback on its upcoming 5G spectrum auction in Australia.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Optus and Telstra battle in court over 'unlimited' mobile ads
Optus argued in court that consumers could assume Telstra's 'unlimited' mobile network ads refer to unlimited network coverage and unthrottled data speeds; Telstra argued the industry is 'awash' with unlimited advertising.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Thu, 17th May 2018
Comms Alliance suggests 'improvements' to NBN migration rules
The telecommunications industry lobby group, Communications Alliance, has put forward what it says are improvements that would make new draft NBN migration rules more oriented to consumers and easier to put in place.
Source: iTWire
Optus clocks earnings surge despite NBN suspension woes
Optus has revealed a $42 million quarter-on-quarter fall in net profit for the three months ending March, citing lower revenues from NBN service migrations.
Source: ARN