Broadband News
Tue, 14th Jun 2016
Basslink subsea cable returns to service
After more than six months of repairing a fault of an unknown cause, the telecommunications and energy subsea cable is being returned to service.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra resolves broadband outage affecting 75k customers
Yet another outage for Australia's incumbent telco saw 75,000 customers unable to access the internet on Saturday afternoon.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Australia cannot afford more politicking with NBN: Turnbull
Seven years of politics surrounding the NBN is all the country can bear, says Australia's longest-serving NBN political agitator.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Plan to hire Irish 'Copper Gurus' for NBN labelled a disgrace by union
The Communication Workers Union has slammed plans to bring in copper workers from Ireland to help construct the NBN.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN fibre for Western Tasmania under both parties
The Coalition will deliver FttN to Western Tasmania while Labor will provide FttP, according to new policies announced over the weekend.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Fibre to the node to be phased out under Labor NBN policy
Up to 2 million more homes will receive fibre to the premises (FTTP) under Labor’s National Broadband Network election policy.
Source: Computerworld
Mon, 13th Jun 2016
Labor pledges to end FttN for up to 2 million FttP NBN connections
The Opposition will retain the HFC network in its revised plan for the National Broadband Network, with the total capital cost to jump by AU$3.4 billion.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Labor pledges 2m more will get FttP if it wins
The Australian Labor Party has unveiled its NBN policy for the forthcoming federal election, pledging that up to two million more premises would get fibre to the premises (FttP) compared to what it called the "second-rate NBN" of the Coalition.
Source: iTWire
As Telstra outages are unavoidable, what’s your only backup plan options?
Outages. When they’re expected, they’re annoying; when they’re unexpected, even more so, so what’s a good backup plan?
Source: iTWire
This Is Labor's Plan For The NBN
Two weeks out from the Australian federal government election on July 2, the Labor Party has released its policy documents for its plan for the National Broadband Network. Labor’s NBN plan, it says, will build fibre to the premises (FTTP) NBN to “up to two million more” Australian homes and businesses, double the number covered under the current Liberal rollout plan. The party says that there will be no additional impact to the country’s budget and the NBN’s financial cap.
Source: Gizmodo
Labor's NBN Attack Ad Is Simple, But Smart
Labor has just announced its policy for the National Broadband Network should it win government at this Federal election, and it’s accompanying that with a smart attack ad that will strike fear into the heart of any internet-connected Australian.
Source: Gizmodo
Sat, 11th Jun 2016
Telstra outage 11 June 2016 turns NBN into ‘No Broadband Network’ for 75,000 users
Telstra’s annus horribilis continues with 75,000 users experiencing NBN as the 'No Broadband Network' and ADSL as 'Aussie Downloads Stopped Line'.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 10th Jun 2016
Basslink sets Tuesday return to service
Cable operator Basslink expects its beleaguered subsea Bass Strait cable to return to service next Tuesday, bringing an end to six months worth of work finding and reparing a cut in the interconnector.
Source: iTnews Australia
Following social media site breaches, Netflix requires password resets
Following several social media site breaches, Netflix said users whose passwords may have been compromised must change their login credentials.
Source: PC Authority
Optus expands football offering
Optus has expanded its football offering by securing the broadcast and digital rights to fifteen exclusive matches and three simulcast matches of the pre-season International Champions Cup (ICC) tournament.
Source: ARN
Wed, 08th Jun 2016
Basslink completes subsea cable repairs ahead of late-June launch
The third joint on the damaged submarine cable supplying Tasmania with fibre-optic telecommunications services has been completed, with testing ahead of a relaunch later this month.
Source: ZDNet Australia
USO reform a step closer with issues paper released
Telstra's USO funding could soon be taken away, with the Productivity Commission releasing an issues paper on whether to replace the outdated system.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Time to get the politicians off the NBN hook
COMMENT: A compact rectangular box, which can be held in one hand, offers both sides of politics a means of getting off the hook on serious political dilemmas they face over their current approaches to Australia’s internet and general digital telecommunications requirements.
Source: iTWire
Former NBN CTO enjoys broadband challenge in Hong Kong
Gary McLaren was chief technology officer at NBN Co and a member of its executive committee through its earliest and most turbulent times.
Source: Computerworld
Akamai reveals 125 per cent jump in DDoS attacks
Akamai has recorded a large year-on-year increase in distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, with its Q1 State of the Internet – Security report also revealing significant growth in 100Gbps+ DDoS attacks.
Source: Computerworld
Tue, 07th Jun 2016
25Mbps NBN is 'good enough': Barnaby Joyce
The minimum speed provided by the NBN is sufficient for those in rural areas, the deputy prime minister has said.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN named as most important issue for 6 percent of voters
Out of a choice of seven topics, the National Broadband Network was the least selected option in a poll of 1,003 voters.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telecommunications market under microscope with Productivity Commission review
The Productivity Commission has called for industry submissions on the future direction of telecommunications in Australia as it prepares to hold a public inquiry into the telecommunications Universal Service Obligation (USO) compliance provisions.
Source: iTWire
Foxtel Subscribers Now Get Hayu For Free
Hayu is a streaming service just for reality TV. We’re talking Kardashians by the limo-load and houses full of Real Housewives. And now, if you’re the kind of person that already binges on Foxtel cable, you’ll be able to stream Hayu for free.
Source: Gizmodo
Bandwidth a big driver of economic success, says McKinsey & Co
Gustav Grundin, an associate principle in McKinsey & Co’s Telecommunications, Media and Technology Practice in Asia, claims there is a very close correlation between a nation’s economic performance and its level of connectivity, and says that connectivity is the driver of economic performance.
Source: Computerworld
Decision to ditch all-fibre NBN about politics, not cost: Windsor
Former independent MP Tony Windsor has said that the conflict over the technology used to underpin the National Broadband Network is about politics not the cost of a fibre to the premises (FTTP) rollout.
Source: Computerworld
Mon, 06th Jun 2016
Optus offers free EPL as sign-up bonus
A free 2016/17 season pass to English Premier League (EPL) football is available as a sweetener on Optus postpaid mobile plans as low as $30 a month.
Source: iTWire
Vodafone brings Business Flex to SMBs
Vodafone has revealed a new suite of flexible plans and expanded its portfolio Ready Business Apps aimed at small businesses.
Source: ARN
Fri, 03rd Jun 2016
NBN revenue, procurement, cost recovery approved by ACCC
The ACCC has approved NBN's FY15 revenue, procurement, and pricing, as well as a proposal that provides NBN with the opportunity to recover an additional AU$6 million.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Ben White to head Optus consumer business
Veteran Optus executive, Ben White, has been appointed managing director, marketing and product for the telco’s consumer business.
Source: iTWire