Broadband News
Mon, 12th Dec 2016
NBN cut-off date looms for almost 350,000 Australian homes and businesses
Many Australians risk losing their phone and internet access in 2017, with their home services cut off if they fail to switch to the National Broadband Network service available in their area.
Source: SMH
Stop using vulnerable Netgear routers: CMU CERT
Users of certain models of mass-market Netgear routers have been advised by Carnegie Mellon University's Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) to stop using the devices until a serious and easily exploited flaw is fixed.
Source: iTnews Australia
Vodafone fills CTO role in Australia
Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) has named Kevin Millroy as CTO, following the departure of Benoit Hanssen in August.
Source: ARN
Thu, 08th Dec 2016
NBN Co says it's still too early for MTM operating costs
NBN Co does not have a “defined operating cost” for each access technology in its multi-technology mix, and claims any attempt to apportion costs now would be “misleading”.
Source: iTnews Australia
Vodafone Will Sell You A Sony Phone And A PS4 So You Can Sony While You Sony
Do you need a new phone? Could you also use a new PS4 while you're at it, too? Vodafone has a new bundle that gets you a shiny new PlayStation 4 Slim and Sony's mid-range Xperia X -- presumably so you can play PS4 games on your phone using Remote Play.
Source: Gizmodo
Symbio Networks strikes Aussie VoIP deal with MyRepublic
Backed by Symbio, MyRepublic will deliver VoIP over the NBN and ADSL in Australia.
Source: ARN
NBN hits snag in FTTdp adoption
NBN Co is concerned that up to one million users in its planned fibre-to-the-distribution point (FTTdp) rollout could fall afoul of Australia's electricity laws due to the way the network equipment is powered.
Source: iTnews Australia
The Australian Government Is Letting Netflix Classify Its Own Shows
Netflix recently made an appeal to the Federal Government to allow a self-classification system, bringing streaming services on par with broadcasters and the digital games industry - ultimately meaning Aussies don't have such huge delays between when shows become available, and when we get to see them.
Source: Gizmodo
Wed, 07th Dec 2016
Rowland says govt supressing unflattering NBN information
Labor’s broadband spokesperson, Michelle Rowland, has accused the government of suppressing unflattering information about the NBN, citing its refusal to release redacted portions of the 2013 strategic review into the National Broadband Network.
Source: Computerworld
TPG to focus on FttB, mobile, corporate business to manage NBN margin squeeze
Australian telco TPG will look to boost its on-net business and get into mobile in both Australia and Singapore to make up for margin pressure felt as its ADSL business comes to an end.
Source: ZDNet Australia
BigAir shareholders approve Superloop acquisition
Over 97 percent of shareholders in BigAir voted for the company's purchase by fibre infrastructure company Superloop.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Regional Australia is crying out for equitable access to broadband
Internet and broadband connectivity are the foundation of the networked economy. But to ensure the benefits of the networked economy are evenly distributed, the Australian government needs to ensure access to the internet to encourage and support innovation.
Source: PC Authority
TPG shares soar after Teoh reassures investors
TPG shares jumped today following several months of decline, after the telco reassured shareholders it had plans to combat low profit margins from the national broadband network.
Source: iTnews Australia
Nokia, Vodafone eye 4G rollout for Melbourne’s train system
Nokia and Vodafone have teamed up for a proposal that would see them roll out 4G across Melbourne’s train system.
Source: Computerworld
Tue, 06th Dec 2016
Telstra could miss out on billions after calls to scrap USO agreement
Telstra could see billions of dollars in federal funding dry up after calls to scrap the company’s Universal Service Obligation arrangement with the government.
Source: ARN
'A fraught experience': NBN creating digital divide in some areas
NBN customer David Sneddon sometimes has to go to extreme lengths — like putting his internet dongle up a tree — to get an internet connection at his home, located in one of the nation's first rollout areas.
Source: ABC News
Alcatel-Lucent to build Australia Singapore Cable
Vocus has picked Nokia-owned Alcatel-Lucent to build the subsea cable connecting Perth, Western Australia and Singapore.
Source: iTnews Australia
Aussies Continue To Shop In Stores Despite Existence Of Internet
As a city dweller relying on public transport, online shopping has changed my life. I haven't set foot inside a supermarket (outside of emergencies) for almost three years. But that's not the norm - in fact it's far from it - with new research revealing just three per cent of Australians do their grocery shopping online.
Source: Gizmodo
Vocus inks deal with Alcatel-Lucent for $228 million Australia Singapore Cable
Vocus Group has secured a deal with Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks for the construction of the $228 million Australia Singapore Cable (ASC).
Source: ARN
SA calls for 'urgent' audit of mobile blackspot funding
The South Australian Labor government has called for an "urgent" investigation into the federal government's latest round of funding for mobile blackspots, claiming it has been short-changed.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mon, 05th Dec 2016
NBN warned Switkowski column went beyond facts and showed favouritism
Department of Communications told NBN a draft article by its chair presented 'real risks to the company' prior to NBN's decision to push ahead with its publication.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Netflix hits 5.75 million Aussie subscribers, as take-up challenges Foxtel
Netflix has hit a high of 5.75 million subscribers to its video on demand service, despite the latest research revealing that over four in ten people with Netflix in the home watch less than three hours a week, including some subscribers viewing nothing at all.
Source: iTWire
Meet Telstra's new chief operations officer
Telstra has tempted a US-based executive from networking giant Juniper to cross the world and become its chief operations officer.
Source: iTnews Australia
Fri, 02nd Dec 2016
FttN overtakes brownfields FttP serviceable premises on NBN: Fifield
The Australian government claims to have kept its promise to speed up the rollout of the National Broadband Network.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Optus misses out on spot in new whole-of-gov telco panel
Optus has missed out on being one of the initial line-up of telcos appointed to the federal government's new four-year, whole-of-government telecommunications services panel.
Source: iTnews Australia
What's New On Netflix, Stan And Foxtel Anytime In December
From Batman. Assault On Arkham!, to Doctor Who. The Husbands of River Song and Westworld -- here's just a taste of what Netflix, Stan and Foxtel Anytime are streaming for the month of December.
Source: Gizmodo
Procurement panel to help keep its govt’s Internet bill down
The federal government hopes that a new telecommunications procurement panel will help departments minimise the costs of a range of telco services including Internet access.
Source: Computerworld
Thu, 01st Dec 2016
Netflix and chill set to become Netflix and fly
Streaming service Netflix announces a new download option to take your favourite shows on the road.
Source: ABC News
Australia follows New Zealand lead to carrier block remaining Note 7 handsets
Whether it be rugby, fibre networks, or preventing handsets prone to spontaneous combustion from connecting to mobile networks, New Zealand has beaten Australia to the punch once again.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra labels Vodafone a "freeloader"
Telstra has accused Vodafone of showing its “true colours” as an infrastructure “freeloader” as the war of words over a potential regulated opening of part of Telstra’s regional mobile network intensifies.
Source: iTnews Australia