Broadband News

Thu, 30th Mar 2017

NBN sends in field team to assess Cyclone Debbie impact

NBN has despatched a field team to areas in Queensland affected by Cyclone Debby in order to assess damage to National Broadband Network infrastructure.

Source: Computerworld

The 4013 urban premises to receive NBN satellite

More than 4000 premises in “urban” electorates across Australia are being offered Sky Muster satellite services to connect to the national broadband network.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN fixed wireless to get a speed boost to 100Mbps

NBN will offer a 100/40 megabits per second wholesale service on its fixed wireless network from early 2018.

Source: Computerworld

Wed, 29th Mar 2017

Consumer buck-passing is the unchanging NBN model

Of the menagerie of original sins with the NBN, the urge for it to be cashflow positive as quickly as possible keeps returning to hurt everyone involved.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN says it has ‘zero tolerance’ over leaks

NBN says that it takes seriously “any potential crime or breach of employee code of conduct, such as the theft of company materials, and will continue to take a zero tolerance approach in the best interests of the company, its shareholders, and the Australian taxpayers.”

Source: Computerworld

NBN rollout info by electorate released by Communications Department

Australians can check when their suburb will have NBN build commenced and under what technology thanks to an extensive document released by the Department of Communications.

Source: ZDNet Australia

AFP loses access to seized NBN documents

The Australian Federal Police has been refused access to thousands of documents it seized from former senator Stephen Conroy last year, after the politician's claim of parliamentary privilege was upheld.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN data usage continues to soar

The average household connected to the National Broadband Network is churning through 148 gigabytes of data every month, according to NBN.

Source: Computerworld

Vocus director steps out of the boardroom to lead wholesale business

Vocus director, Michael Simmons, has stepped out of the boardroom and into the company’s executive ranks to lead its enterprise and wholesale business.

Source: ARN

Tue, 28th Mar 2017

Telstra loses legal fight over wholesale fee cut

Telstra has lost its legal battle to overturn a decision by the ACCC that forces the telco to lower the fees it charges rivals for access to its copper network.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra loses fight against wholesale price cuts

Telstra has failed in its attempt to overturn a decision by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission that cut the prices the company can charge for wholesale services over the copper network.

Source: Computerworld

NBN points to 'tight cap' on mobile data preventing streaming despite speeds

While mobile operators are spruiking 'ever-faster speeds', their data caps are prohibiting consumers from streaming video content worry free -- something that NBN instead enables, the company has said.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN Co can't muddy SAU with open-ended clauses

NBN Co looks to be facing defeat in its campaign to insert open-ended clauses into the core regulatory agreement that sets terms and conditions for its operations until 2040.

Source: iTnews Australia

ACCC not sold on some changes to key NBN agreement

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued a draft decision rejecting a number of changes proposed by NBN to the network operator’s Special Access Undertaking.

Source: Computerworld

Macquarie Telecom vies for investor confidence after Vocus sell-off

​Macquarie Telecom has moved to reassure shareholders after fellow telco, Vocus Group, sold off its multimillion-dollar stake in the company.

Source: ARN

Mon, 27th Mar 2017

NT government slams NBN's 'technically inferior' satellite service

NBN should cut the cap, move more users onto fixed-wireless services, and improve its Sky Muster satellite service reliability, the Northern Territory government has suggested.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Qantas postpones NBN on-board Wi-Fi after 'stability issues'

Wi-Fi on-board Qantas' domestic flights has been postponed until the middle of the year, with the Australian airline saying it is working with NBN and ViaSat on 'stability issues'.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN 1Gbps services would cost AU$400 due to 'unfair' CVC: MyRepublic

Ahead of launching its gigatown in July, MyRepublic has said that no one else is offering 1Gbps services across the NBN because it would cost RSPs between AU$300 and AU$400 thanks to the CVC charge.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NT govt unloads on NBN satellite, pushes for fixed wireless

The Northern Territory’s government has called for fixed wireless instead of satellite to be used to deliver broadband to remote communities in the NT, accusing NBN’s Sky Muster service of delivering “poor performance”.

Source: Computerworld

ACCC upbeat on support for broadband speed monitoring program

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says it is “hopeful” of an announcement “in the near future” about government funding for an ACCC broadband speed monitoring program.

Source: Computerworld

Union flags further Telstra redundancies as outsourcing push continues

Telstra has continued cutting staff in its infrastructure divisions as the company moves to outsource services, according to the CWU.

Source: ARN

Fri, 24th Mar 2017

NBN Co is leaving complex premises for last

Homes and businesses that are connected to the NBN but can't get a service may be forced to wait years for their problems to be fixed as NBN Co relegates complex cases in favour of boosting numbers

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN connections to speed up under new industry codes: ACMA, Comms Alliance

Comms Alliance has registered two codes with the ACMA, aiming to speed up NBN connections and ensure simple transfer between NBN retail service providers without delay.

Source: ZDNet Australia

TIO can't break down NBN complaints by access tech

The TIO has rebuffed requests by policymakers to act as an alternate source of data on NBN Co’s network problems, arguing it has an incomplete view and does not collect information on the NBN access technologies used by complainants.

Source: iTnews Australia

Broadband connections get timely turnaround treatment

Fixed-line broadband connections have been added to a new version of the Communications Alliance's Connect Outstanding Industry Code.

Source: ARN

Thu, 23rd Mar 2017

Stan Now Has Offline Downloads

Stan has officially launched the ability to download and then view programs offline, free for subscribers.

Source: Gizmodo

Australian ISPs confirm non-attendance in Roadshow site-blocking hearing

The court process will be quicker with most of the targeted internet service providers -- including Telstra, Optus, and Vocus -- confirming their intention to not appear in court or contest the application for injunction.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Wed, 22nd Mar 2017

NBN Watch: Why Australia drops in speed rankings, plus the silver lining ahead

While the NBN could undoubtedly have been a lot better, what we're getting is still an amazing infrastructure project.

Source: PC Authority

Tue, 21st Mar 2017

TPG reverses brief iiNet customer exodus

TPG has overseen a rebound in broadband subscriber numbers for iiNet, overcoming a small exodus following its $1.4 billion buyout of the group.

Source: iTnews Australia

TPG sees iiNet earnings surge

iiNet continues to pay dividends for TPG, which has revealed a half-yearly earnings surge from the freshly integrated business.

Source: ARN