Broadband News
Wed, 02nd Aug 2017
NBN: Morrow writes off write-down talk
NBN CEO Bill Morrow has rejected the idea of a write-down by the government of all or part of its investment in the National Broadband Network.
Source: Computerworld
Remote schoolkids 'missing whole terms' due to poor telecommunications
Kids living in remote areas are missing out on schooling because of unreliable phone and internet connections, and some frustrated parents are calling on the Federal Government to do more to help.
Source: ABC News
Tue, 01st Aug 2017
NBN creates dedicated churn team to resolve customer issues
As the rollout of the NBN has progressed, customers have increasingly taken to social media to vent their frustration at the company charged with deploying the National Broadband Network across Australia.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Govt steps in to stop NBN blame game
The Australian Communications and Media Authority will compel 21 businesses in the NBN ecosystem to reveal data about how they resolve issues in a bid to halt the current blame game between NBN Co and internet providers.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co tests entry into emergency comms
NBN Co is looking to expand into communications for disaster relief and emergency services, in a move likely to set it on a fresh collision course with industry.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra Doubles Tasmania's Undersea Internet Cable Speeds
Telstra has completed what it says is the first stage of a national upgrade to its backhaul transmission network, and Tasmania reaps the spoils -- its two Bass Strait undersea cables have been doubled in capacity to 1 terabit per second. Telstra says that the new tech can handle 200,000 HD videos being streamed simultaneously. Who wants to get out their phone and have a go?
Source: Gizmodo
Telstra 4G Now Covers 99.4 Per Cent Of Australia's Population
If you live pretty much anywhere where someone else lives in Australia, you'll be covered by Telstra 4G. Over 7000 Telstra mobile network towers and base stations around the country are switched on with 4G, and plenty of those are fast and long-range 4GX.
Source: Gizmodo
Vodafone offers 4G backup for NBN customers
Vodafone will offer customers of its fixed-line National Broadband Network services access to 4G mobile broadband while they wait for service activation and during faults.
Source: Computerworld
Vodafone calls for NBN’s CVC charge to be halved
Vodafone has called for significant changes to NBN’s wholesale pricing model, with the telco’s chief strategy officer, Dan Lloyd, arguing that the key variable cost associated with National Broadband Network connections — the Connectivity Virtual Circuit (CVC) charge — should be halved.
Source: Computerworld
Govt intervenes in NBN speed debate
The Federal Government is finally making a move to quell the mounting disquiet between nbn and its network RSPs over consumer speed issues.
Source: ARN
Telcos cry foul over controversial NBN charge for bandwidth
Australian internet providers are in open conflict with the national broadband network, urging the wholesaler to drop its controversial charge for bandwidth.
Source: ABC News
Mon, 31st Jul 2017
NBN Co warns positive financial return on shaky ground
NBN Co has warned it won’t achieve a positive financial return on the government’s multi billion-dollar investment in the network if usage levels – and revenue – remain at today’s levels.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN price wars - who is to blame?
nbn chief, Bill Morrow, has responded to claims that the nbn pricing model could be affecting how retail service providers (RSP) market the NBN.
Source: ARN
Internet Speeds Plummet After NBN Installation
Residents of Elan Tower in Sydney's Kings Cross are used to 100Mbps download speeds, thanks to the hybrid fibre coaxial cable they paid Telstra to install six years ago.
Source: Gizmodo
Fri, 28th Jul 2017
Slow NBN reseller name-and-shame just “bad business”
nbn's Bill Morrow has played down suggestions the company should “name and shame” RSPs that deliver slower-than-expected connection speeds.
Source: ARN
Over three quarters of Australians don't know their internet speed: NBN
With the halfway point of its rollout passed, NBN decides now is the time to educate users.
Source: ZDNet Australia
What's New On Netflix, Stan, Foxtel, And Hayu For August
From John Wick to John Wick, John Wick to John Wick - here's just a taste of what Netflix, Foxtel, Hayu and Stan are streaming for the month of August.
Source: Gizmodo
Core part of internet culture celebrates 30th birthday
The man responsible for a central part of the internet's ability to build an enduring, open, dynamic culture of users able to understand each other celebrates 30 years since his breakthrough invention.
Source: ABC News
Thu, 27th Jul 2017
MyRepublic has a year to make 1Gbps NBN plans work
Internet service provider MyRepublic is giving itself a year to secure cuts in NBN wholesale costs to a point where 1Gbps plans can be feasibly sold for as little as $130 a month.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tasmania Gets A 4G Boost From Vodafone
Vodafone just expanded its 4G coverage in Tasmania, with Steppes and Ouse getting a boost from today.
Source: Gizmodo
Wed, 26th Jul 2017
NBN provider says it will work to end the broadband 'blame game'
The company installing the NBN has declared the "blame game" with internet service providers is unacceptable and has vowed to do better.
Source: ABC News
Australians want 1Gbps but half cannot name current speed: MyRepublic
Whatever it is New Zealand has, we want that, and Australians hate ADSL, says commissioned survey.
Source: ZDNet Australia
When A Farmer's Internet Speed Was Slow, He Built A Private 53m Tower
An outback Queensland farmer hatched an unusual plan to counter slow internet speeds - build and install his own 53-metre tower.
Source: Gizmodo
Tue, 25th Jul 2017
NBN Co chief rules out imminent pricing change
NBN Co chief executive Bill Morrow says the company, which is rolling out Australia's national broadband network, has an image problem, but has ruled out any imminent pricing changes.
Source: iTWire
Optus to switch off 2G next month
Optus has announced that it will cease offering its 2G service from August 1, 2017, as a result of increased 4G uptake by customers.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Mon, 24th Jul 2017
Going full fibre will mean loss of face for Fifield: academic
Using fibre-to-the-distribution-point technology for the NBN instead of fibre-to-the-node will enable the Turnbull Government to save face and also provide a better network, a senior academic who was involved with the project at its inception says.
Source: iTWire
Full-fibre NBN will cost about as much as FttDP: experts
Switching the national broadband network to using fibre-to-the-distribution-point technology is an interim solution; the correct solution, which will cost about the same, is to go full fibre.
Source: iTWire
Lobby Group Tells NBN: Get Rid Of FTTN Already
NBN needs to ditch copper-based Fibre to the Node, says lobby group Internet Australia, saying it is "essential for Australia's economic and social development" to abandon the technology in favour of Fibre to the distribution point.
Source: Gizmodo
Fri, 21st Jul 2017
Optus will spend $1bn to improve its regional mobile network
Optus has pledged to spend $1 billion over the next year to improve its regional mobile network in what it claims is the biggest investment into regional coverage in the company's history.
Source: iTnews Australia
Optus pumps $1B into regional mobile network expansion
The new investment is company’s largest regional capital expenditure program in its 25-year history.
Source: ARN