Broadband News
Mon, 18th Apr 2016
NBN clocks up more than AU$44m in new copper
NBN's actual spend on replacing copper between the node and pillar has been AU$30 million more so far than the cost estimated in October.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Strained Streaming: Why is streaming catch up video in Australia so painful?
No HD, no central portal, logins and awful flash streamers. In the age of Netflix, Stan and Hulu, why are Australian media companies still struggling with online?
Source: PC Authority
Telstra Is Once Again Supporting Marriage Equality
Last week Telstra announced that it would be taking a “neutral stance” on marriage equality — a position in stark contrast to its history of supporting the LGBIT+ community.
Source: Gizmodo
nbn network connected SMBs set to boost Australia’s economy
Small and medium businesses are set to contribute an additional $4 billion to the Australian GDP each year following completion of the nbn network rollout.
Source: ARN
Vocus signs on for Telstra fixed-line, Optus mobile services
Dodo, iPrimus, and Commander will provide customers with fixed-line services courtesy of Telstra and mobile services across the Optus network for an undisclosed amount.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Optus Wholesale inks mobile deal with Vocus Communications
Wholesale mobile provider, Optus Wholesale, has signed an exclusive three-year mobile agreement with Vocus Communications (ASX:VOC). The 36 month agreement is an extension of an 11-year relationship with M2 Group, which merged with Vocus in February this year.
Source: ARN
Fri, 15th Apr 2016
TPG wins multi-million dollar deal with I-MED Network
Telco and broadband provider TPG has signed a multi-million dollar agreement to deliver a dedicated high speed network connecting all locations across Australia for the country’s largest medical imaging clinic group, I-MED Network.
Source: iTWire
Stan Adds Support For 4K TV And Movie Streaming
4K TVs are selling like hotcakes in Australia, but we’re still somewhat starved of good Ultra HD content to show on them. Until 4K Blu-ray launches locally in a few weeks, your only real choice is the top-tier Netflix package. But Netflix’s strongest rival, Stan, has just switched on behind-the-scenes support for 4K TV and movies through its partnership with Brightcove.
Source: Gizmodo
No action on SubPartners' third fibre optic cable plan for Tasmania
Negotiations to build a third fibre-optic cable connecting Tasmania to the mainland stall after delays by IT company SubPartners.
Source: ABC News
Thu, 14th Apr 2016
Telstra losing its Thodey-mojo to reawaken old memories
Since the start of this decade, Telstra managed to do away with many of the gripes against it, but in 2016 the company has returned to something more like its former self.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra CEO says telco still supports marriage equality
Telstra chief executive Andrew Penn has attempted to downplay yesterday’s controversy by reinforcing the company’s support for marriage equality.
Source: CRN
Wed, 13th Apr 2016
Telstra's CEO Tells Staff Its Marriage Equality Stance 'Will Be Disappointing To Some People'
Telstra CEO Andy Penn has taken to the company’s internal message board to tell employees that while he understands its move away from explicit support for marriage equality in Australia may be “disappointing”, he and Telstra management believe that it’s now up to government to decide the matter.
Source: Gizmodo
Tue, 12th Apr 2016
Small ISPs doing nothing about data retention compliance: Comms Alliance
The risk of bankruptcy is preventing smaller ISPs from meeting their data retention compliance obligations, the Communications Alliance has said.
Source: ZDNet Australia
First nbn FTTN area to go live in W.A.
The National Broadband Network has marked a new milestone with the first FTTN area in Western Australia set to go live from Friday this week in the Perth suburbs of Cannington, Wilson, Langford and Beckenham.
Source: iTWire
SBS rolls out new anti-ad blocking technology
Hot on the heels of Network 10 implementing a solution to defeat ad blockers, SBS TV has also now started rolling out new anti-ad blocking technology from Switch Media across its On Demand services including the network website, iOS and Android apps.
Source: iTWire
Australian govt fintech chairman joins Telstra board
With 20 years of financial services knowledge under his belt, Craig Dunn will bring his experience as a strategic adviser for government and major companies to the Telstra board as he joins as a non-executive director.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Realtek’s ‘end-to-end’ FTTdp solution with 212MHz G.fast
Leading global IC company Realtek has announced its enhanced Gigabit to the home over copper twisted pair and coax at a tech conference in Indonesia this week.
Source: iTWire
Mon, 11th Apr 2016
NBN says it's ‘non discriminatory’ in response to ACCC ‘concerns’ over HFC deal
The National Broadband Network has responded to concerns by the competition watchdog about potential unfair competition in the telco sector over an HFC deal between it and Telstra, simply confirming its credentials as Australia’s open access wholesaler only ‘non-discriminatory operator’.
Source: iTWire
NBN FttN users increasingly opting for slower speeds
As more customers are connected to the NBN's fibre-to-the-node network, the vast majority of users are going for 25/5Mbps and 12/1Mbps services.
Source: ZDNet Australia
HFC deal sparks ACCC ‘competitive’ concerns on Telstra NBN work
The competition watchdog, the ACCC, has raised concerns about the effect on competition in the telecommunications market from the level of Telstra’s involvement in the building of the National Broadband Network.
Source: iTWire
NBN Gives Telstra $1.6B To Upgrade Australia's HFC Cable Network
Telstra and nbn have signed a contract to build out and speed up the telco’s existing hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) cable internet network, bringing it up to current standards to “deliver nbn™ broadband capability” to customers that will be moved onto it as part of the current government’s multi-technology mix National Broadband Network. The deal is worth a massive $1.6 billion for Telstra, and will run until the NBN build is complete in 2020.
Source: Gizmodo
NBN: Return to fibre-to-the-home rollout seems increasingly unlikely
The odds that the National Broadband Network rollout will return to the original plan that called for most homes to be connected by fibre to the premises (FTTP) seem to slim at best.
Source: Computerworld
Telstra's NBN construction deal raises competition worries
The competition watchdog raises concerns that Telstra may benefit against its rivals from the information it gains while helping to build parts of the NBN.
Source: ABC News
Telstra picks up AU$1.6 billion HFC contract from NBN
Australia's incumbent telco has picked up a deal to design and manage construction within its HFC footprint.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Fri, 08th Apr 2016
Shorten confirms 'hybrid' NBN under Labor
Labor will retain a multi-technology mix approach to the NBN if elected, Bill Shorten has said, but with 'a greater proportion of fibre'.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Why are we surprised that the NBN is a mess?
Politicians excel at dog-whistling. Given that, it is surprising that people are now expressing surprise at the mess that NBN has become, given the clear signals that the Coalition provided well before it was voted into office.
Source: iTWire
NBN’s ‘fibre to the most economic point’ a global trend, local Nokia boss argues
The National Broadband Network’s rollout strategy is following a global trend, according to the managing director of Nokia Oceania, Ray Owen.
Source: Computerworld
Thu, 07th Apr 2016
NBN rollout could become cheaper, faster with new fibre-optic cable technology
New fibre-optic cable technology will potentially halve the cost of joining cables and speed up network delivery, according to NBN major provider Prysmian.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN spending over AU$60K a day on external lawyers
Despite the Telstra and Optus deals being put to bed a year ago, NBN spent AU$8.7 million in legal fees between mid September 2015 and the end of January 2016.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Waleed Aly Is Right About The NBN
Opinion: The government’s NBN roll-out is running behind schedule. At least, that’s according to leaked documents quoted by The Project and Waleed Aly, in last night’s “Something We Need To Talk About” segment. Who to blame? Tony Abbott, Aly says, and “the guy who he says invented the internet”, Malcolm Turnbull.
Source: Gizmodo