Broadband News
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funding could soon be taken away, with the Productivity Commission releasing an issues paper on whether to replace the outdated system.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
Trident partners with Matrix on Perth, Jakarta, Singapore subsea cable link
Trident Subsea Cable has renewed its partnership with Matrix Networks — the operator of the Matrix Cable System with NAP Info Lin Nusa — as it progresses towards the development phase for its high-capacity fibre optic subsea cable linking Perth, Jakarta and Singapore.
Source: iTWire
ACCC takes court action against debt collection agency which purchased debts from Telstra
Australia’s largest privately owned debt acquisition firm, ACM Group, which purchased debts from Telstra, has been taken to court over its dealings with consumers by the competition watchdog, the ACCC.
Source: iTWire
Wed, 01st Jun 2016
Labor to deliver ‘deliver fibre-based broadband’, says Albanese
Shadow infrastructure minister Anthony Albanese has criticised the Coalition’s handling of the National Broadband Network and said that Labor “proposes to deliver fibre-based broadband” in contrast to the “copper-based system” being rolled out by the government.
Source: Computerworld
NBN: Labor to offer ‘greater proportion of fibre’, still not sold on FTTN: Shorten
Labor leader Bill Shorten has offered new hints at the shape of the NBN policy that his party will take to the election.
Source: Computerworld
Tue, 31st May 2016
NBN seeks regulatory amendment to support fibre, copper, HFC network mix
The move to a multi-technology mix network means having to amend the special access undertaking, with NBN submitting its proposed variations to the ACCC.
Source: ZDNet Australia
ACCC seeks feedback on nbn SAU proposed updates
The ACCC is looking for feedback on nbn Co’s proposed variations to its Special Access Undertaking (SAU).
Source: ARN
NBN Co wants ACCC approval for variations to Special Access Undertakings
NBN Co wants to vary its Special Access Undertakings (SAU) to include fibre-to-the-node, fibre-to-the-basement and hybrid fibre coaxial technologies to which the SAU will apply.
Source: iTWire
NBN: Question marks over copper costs persist
It’s still too early to determine how much effort will be required to whip into shape the elements of Telstra’s copper network that will be used for the National Broadband Network, according to an analysis prepared on behalf of NBN.
Source: Computerworld
Vodafone invests $9m in 32 new mobile base stations
Vodafone is expanding its regional mobile network, having invested more than $9 million in 32 new mobile base stations that will sprout across New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland and Western Australia.
Source: ARN
Mon, 30th May 2016
Telstra outage apology now subject to $25 compensation complaints
Telstra’s COO, Kate McKenzie, publicly apologised (again) for yet another Telstra outage, but its customers think the $25 compensation offered is churlishly cheap.
Source: iTWire
Optus Business, Macquarie Uni to invest AU$10m in cybersecurity hub
Optus Business and Macquarie University will establish a cybersecurity hub that will focus on three topic areas: Computing and IT, business and economics, and security studies and criminology.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Former iiNet execs join Trident board
Australian subsea cable network operator, Trident Subsea Cable, has appointed former iiNet chief executive officer David Buckingham and the telco’s former business business officer and chief technology officer Greg Bader, as non-executive directors.
Source: iTWire
Vodafone expands with 32 new regional mobile sites, most by year’s end
Vodafone is expanding its regional mobile network in NSW, Tas, QLD and WA, with $9+ million being invested in 32 new base stations.
Source: iTWire
What's New On Netflix, Stan And Foxtel Anytime For June
From Orange Is The New Black, to Daria (yes!), to The X Files — here’s just a taste of what Netflix, Stan and Foxtel Anytime are streaming for the month of June.
Source: Gizmodo
Telco groups see flaws in website-blocking guidelines
A draft document setting out whole-of-government guidelines for the use of Section 313(3) of the Telecommunications Act 1997 contains some useful material for agencies but also has some significant flaws, according to industry group Communications Alliance.
Source: Computerworld