Broadband News
Fri, 17th Jun 2016
Telstra Has Free Wi-Fi All This Weekend Around Australia
Telstra is giving away free Wi-Fi — again — from 17 to 20 June. But this time it’s not to make up for a service outage.
Source: Gizmodo
Thu, 16th Jun 2016
NBN caretaker compliance enforcement decisions rest with Switkowski: Turnbull
Senior Liberal ministers have backed the decision of NBN chairman Ziggy Switkowski to wilfully break the caretaker conventions.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Internet Australia takes Switkowski to task over NBN ‘leaks’ comments
Internet Australia chief Laurie Patton has weighed into the debate about NBN Co chairman Dr Ziggy Switkowski’s newspaper opinion piece on the AFP raids on Labor functionaries over leaks of NBN information, suggesting the broadband network chief is using his comments to create a public distraction from the “very serious flaws” in the NBN's current design strategy.
Source: iTWire
Telstra re-opens Air network for world wi-fi day
Telstra will open up its Air wi-fi network for free to all mobile device users this weekend in celebration of the first world wi-fi day.
Source: iTnews Australia
Labor's NBN Plan Shows It Listened To Critics Of The Current Broadband Rollout
Labor’s broadband plan includes few surprises and fulfils Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s commitment to responsibly increase the construction of fibre to the premises (FTTP). At the same time, it would ensure the completion of the National Broadband Network (NBN) is not delayed further.
Source: Gizmodo
Fetch finally fetches fetching Presto TV
Fetch TV has snagged Presto TV to stream on Fetch’s Gen 3 PVRs, and will come to existing Gen 2 PVRs in early July alongside a new Fetch TV mini box, too.
Source: iTWire
Telstra celebrates inaugural World Wi-Fi Day: Free Wi-Fi from 17 to 20 June!
Monday 20 June is World Wi-Fi Day, and along with leading tech organisations worldwide, will join in giving hundreds of millions worldwide free Wi-Fi for four days.
Source: iTWire
Turnbull backs NBN chairman Ziggy Switkowski
NBN’s chairman, Ziggy Switkowski, has done a “remarkable job,” Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said today. Under Switkowski and CEO Bill Morrow, NBN has undergone a “phenomenal turnaround,” the prime minister claimed during a doorstop interview.
Source: Computerworld
Wed, 15th Jun 2016
Labor accuses NBN of cover up, would look at board positions
Opposition leader Bill Shorten has called the breach of caretaker conventions by NBN shameful.
Source: ZDNet Australia
The State Of 4G In Australia: Telstra Is Fastest, But Vodafone Wins Out On Availability
Wireless coverage mapping expert OpenSignal has released its first ever report on the state of mobile networks within Australia, and its findings are pretty interesting, if not completely surprising: Telstra currently offers the fastest possible download speeds on 4G, but that comes at the cost of slightly higher latency where Vodafone and Optus swing ahead. Vodafone also wins out on the availability of its 4G networks, with a slight advantage over both its competitors.
Source: Gizmodo
NBN raids: Switkowski article breached caretaker conventions, says DPMC head
An op-ed penned by NBN’s chairman, Ziggy Switkowski, violated the caretaker conventions that guide the activities of the public service during an election campaign, according to the secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC).
Source: Computerworld
Craig Joyce leaves Telstra
Telstra director of security practice, Craig Joyce, has finished up at the company after a two and a half year stint.
Source: ARN
nbn encourages Australia to list details on national Medical Alarm Register
National broadband company, nbn, has requested all Australians with medical alarms or devices to sign up to its national Medical Alarm Register. The information on the register helps identify households with medical alarms and where support may be needed to help minimise a break in service.
Source: ARN
NBN chairman snubbed caretaker rules, top public servant says
The nation's top public servant rebukes the chairman of the National Broadband Network for writing an opinion piece during the election campaign.
Source: ABC News
5G requires fibre-based infrastructure: Nokia
Building a converged 5G network will depend on both underlying mobile and fixed-line infrastructure, according to Nokia.
Source: ZDNet Australia
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