Broadband News
Mon, 05th Sep 2016
Southern Cross Cable plots new trans-Pacific route
The Southern Cross Cable Network (SCCN) is looking at building a new circuit between Sydney, Auckland and Los Angeles to supplement its existing figure-eight circuit.
Source: iTnews Australia
The ACCC Wants Your Opinion On The NBN
Here’s your chance to share your feedback. The ACCC is holding a Communications Sector Market Study, today opening the door to both industry and consumers on a range of issues from the NBN to data demand and mobile coverage.
Source: Gizmodo
Telstra slams Australian mobile roaming service inquiry
Telstra has slammed an inquiry by the Australian competition watchdog into whether it should declare a wholesale domestic mobile roaming service.
Source: ARN
Fri, 02nd Sep 2016
Coverage, oversight flaws found in mobile blackspot program
Australia's national auditor has criticised the federal government’s mobile blackspot program for duplicating existing coverage, inadequately assessing tower proposals, and failing to properly monitor the program's performance.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN: ACCC still has concerns over Telstra’s rollout role
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says it is continuing to work with NBN and Telstra to ensure that the latter’s role in the National Broadband Network rollout doesn’t give it unfair advantage over other telcos.
Source: Computerworld
TPG seeks spectrum in Singapore
TPG has confirmed that it is seeking spectrum in an auction being conducted by Singapore’s Infocomm Development Authority (IDA).
Source: Computerworld
Thu, 01st Sep 2016
Analysis: The NBN Corporate Plan quietly reveals some big problems.
There are a few points that NBN likes to continually push, day in, day out, in order to steer the narrative towards its strengths and hide scrutiny from its weaknesses.
Source: PC Authority
Surge in home Internet-connected devices as IoT spending explodes
Technology is rapidly taking control of Australian homes, with the number of Internet-connected devices predicted to rise to 29 as consumers embark on an Internet of Things (IoT) “spending spree”.
Source: iTWire
Wed, 31st Aug 2016
NBN eyes gigabit speeds on all network technologies
The CTO of NBN has pointed towards GPON, DOCSIS 3.1, XG-FAST, Carrier Channel Aggregation, and QAM to attain gigabit speeds across most network technologies in the future.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra repairs issues with Telstra Mail service
The telco has repaired its email service, over which customers experienced issues with logging in, sending, and receiving messages.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co to file patent on new HFC workaround
NBN Co plans to patent an approach it has developed to allow it to bring VDSL to homes in Telstra’s HFC footprint that lack the necessary lead-in cables.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN and Nokia trialling XG-FAST for multi-gigabit speeds on copper
The trials could allow copper-based broadband technologies including FttN, FttB, and FttDP to attain aggregate speeds of up to 8Gbps.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN raids: Government backs Labor's call for privileges committee determination
The government will support Labor's bid to have the Senate privileges committee look at whether documents seized by federal police should remain under lock and key.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN seeks to push copper speed limits in XG-FAST trial with Nokia
NBN is planning to trial an emerging copper-based broadband standard that could potentially deliver even faster speeds than the still nascent G.Fast technology.
Source: Computerworld
Tue, 30th Aug 2016
ACMA allocates additional spectrum for mobile broadband, M2M
The 803-960MHz band will be used for mobile broadband and M2M services, among others, with compliance due between June 2018 and June 2024.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Consumer ‘uncertainty' on broadband speeds negative effect on NBN take-up: IA claim
Internet Australia chief executive Laurie Patton has raised concerns about the “low-subscriber take-up” of the National Broadband Network suggesting that the problem may be exacerbated by consumers not signing up because of uncertainty about the speed of the Internet service delivered by the NBN Co.
Source: iTWire
Telcos want to set their own rules for internet service claims
The telecommunications industry thinks it should be allowed to develop its own guidelines on the claims internet service providers can make to customers about broadband speeds and performance.
Source: iTnews Australia
NetComm Wireless reports AU$2m profit on the back of NBN rollout
Contracts with NBN have led to NetComm Wireless reporting a net profit of AU$2 million on revenue of AU$74.3 million and EBITDA of AU$6.23 million.
Source: ZDNet Australia
What's New On Stan, Netflix, Foxtel Anytime And Presto In September
From Supergirl, to Offspring and every Star Wars movie ever (yes, even the ones we don’t speak of) — here’s just a taste of what Netflix, Presto, Stan and Foxtel Anytime are streaming for the month of September.
Source: Gizmodo
NBN Shifts 1 Million Premises From HFC to FTTN
NBN Co has moved 1.2 million premises from the “HFC” pile to the “FTTN” pile in its construction planning, which is bad news for anyone living in those premises. As for who that is exactly, we’ll have to wait a little longer to find out.
Source: Gizmodo
Telco body wants industry to lead on broadband speed claims
Communications Alliance should develop guidelines for retail service providers (RSPs) about making broadband performance claims, the telco industry body has argued.
Source: Computerworld
Mon, 29th Aug 2016
Telco groups support improved broadband performance and speed information
While ACCAN simply approved of better broadband performance information for consumers, AMTA and Comms Alliance have recommended that a new guideline be established by industry itself.
Source: ZDNet Australia
'Fast' Doesn't Tell Us How Fast Your Broadband Is, Telcos
The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) says that information about broadband speeds isn’t being communicated to consumers in a clear and upfront way.
Source: Gizmodo
ACCAN highlights ‘vague’ claims by Australian broadband RSPs
ACCAN has recommended that new measures be implemented to improve clarity around broadband providers' speed claims.
Source: ARN
Fri, 26th Aug 2016
NBN reduces peak funding by AU$2b down to AU$54b
NBN has updated its forecasts on network technology footprints, as well as narrowing and reducing its peak funding requirements for the high-speed broadband rollout.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN narrows in on rollout cost, future revenue
An update to NBN’s corporate plan reveals that the worst case scenario for completing the National Broadband Network rollout is somewhat better than it previously expected. Although NBN still expects peak funding for the rollout to be $49 billion, the worst case scenario is $54 billion, compared to $56 billion in the previous corporate plan.
Source: Computerworld
nbn cools on HFC amid cost increase
nbn has reduced its forecast dependence on existing HFC infrastructure, citing increased costs for the technology.
Source: ARN
Thu, 25th Aug 2016
NBN claims top-secret classification on leaked docs: Conroy
Senator Stephen Conroy has said his office was not allowed to film yesterday's AFP raid at Parliament House, because national security matters were at stake.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Review: Linksys AC750 ADSL/VDSL Wi-Fi Modem Router X6200
This is the modem router for those looking to step up from what the telcos provide. Unless you purchase a ‘premium’ router from a telco for an extra cost, you’ll probably be lumped with a basic router with only wireless N and a basic feature set. The X6200 seeks to correct this injustice with dual-band wireless AC and high-end functions.
Source: PC Authority
Optus boosts mobile coverage in the Northern Territory
Telecommunications company, Optus, will be boosting mobile coverage across 12 locations in the Northern Territory, following the introduction of cells that provide mobile coverage through Optus satellites.
Source: ARN