Broadband News

Tue, 08th Aug 2017

More than 120 domains on Foxtel’s anti-piracy hit list

Foxtel latest push to stop online copyright infringement seeks to have major Australian ISPs block more than 120 domains that it says are linked to movie and TV piracy.

Source: Computerworld

Mon, 07th Aug 2017

NBN Co to start satellite multicast trials

NBN Co will soon begin a six-month trial of multicast services on Sky Muster to aid education departments and schools in delivering distance education.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN inequity separates 'haves' and 'have nots': Devonport Council

FttN 'appears to have failed the end user', Devonport City Council has said, warning that NBN's multi-technology mix model will widen regional gaps by providing slower-speed broadband to rural areas.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Tassie telco warns of emerging “two-tier” NBN

The NBN's Multi Technology Mix rollout is seeing some RSPs, like TasmaNet, forced to adopt a "two-tier" approach to market.

Source: ARN

Fri, 04th Aug 2017

NBN Co lures Nokia boss to CTO role

NBN Co has lured the head of Nokia's Australia and New Zealand operations to become its new chief technology officer.

Source: iTnews Australia

Optus pumps $20M into network prep for Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games

​Optus commits to $20 million investment to improve its mobile network in preparation for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Source: ARN

Full-fibre NBN only by 2030, will cost $30b more: expert

Given its current state, Australia will only be able to have a full-fibre national broadband network by 2030, and that after shelling out an additional $30 billion to $50 billion, according to a network expert.

Source: iTWire

Thu, 03rd Aug 2017

Adelaide's 'GigCity' High-Speed Internet Network Is Live

Adelaide's $7.6 million GigCity network is up and running, promising affordable internet access for businesses up to 100 times faster than the national average, for $49.90 to $179.90 per month.

Source: Gizmodo

NBN Co says FTTC dreams thwarted by board, govt

NBN Co executives say they took a proposal to convert the fibre-to-the-node footprint to fibre-to-the-curb to the board and government but the plan was rejected because it ran counter to the statement of expectations.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra clears last microwave links out of 4G band

Telstra is expected to clear the last of its microwave backhaul links out of the 1800 MHz spectrum band before the end of the first quarter of 2018.

Source: iTnews Australia

Wed, 02nd Aug 2017

ACCC would prefer NBN and retailers to reach CVC resolution

The competition regulator stands ready to make a call on pricing if an agreement cannot be reached.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN Co looks to raise minimum broadband speeds

NBN Co is looking at ways it can improve how users experience its network, with everything from “minimum [speed] assurance” to changes to the basic 12/1 Mbps wholesale product on the table.

Source: iTnews Australia

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