Broadband News
Tue, 08th Mar 2016
Basslink Tasmanian subsea cable to be repaired by May
The Tasmanian subsea cable, which contains fibre-optic assets used for telecommunications, should be repaired by late May, according to Basslink.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Aussie unis plan high-speed fibre research testbed
Three leading Victorian universities are planning to create a joint testbed for research that could significantly boost the capacity of fibre backhaul networks, a senate inquiry heard last week.
Source: iTnews Australia
The Netflix Mobile App Will Use Less Data (Soon)
Netflix makes constant iterative changes to its movie and TV streaming platform. Some of those are small, and some are major; most don’t make a huge difference to the way you watch videos though. A small change that might do exactly that for mobile users is on the way, though — a data saver option that doesn’t go all-out on video quality, in order to save your previous mobile data.
Source: Gizmodo
Optus denies name change to 'Yes'
Optus has said no to Yes, unequivocally saying that despite reports to the contrary, it is not rebranding.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Mon, 07th Mar 2016
MyNetFone ‘re-invents’ its home phone service with unlimited voice plans
Promising savings of ‘up to 60% off’ normal landline phone bills, with the free advanced features MNF’s VoIP customers expect, great value new home plans have just launched.
Source: iTWire
Amaysim-owned Vaya’s new plans: better value than Amaysim?
In January, Amaysim purchased low-cost MVNO Vaya, and now it has made changes to its plans which see almost all receive increased value.
Source: iTWire
Build it in fibre – ‘Just do it.''
Internet Australia (IA) has called for an urgent re-think on NBN urging the Australian Government Senate inquiry last Friday to ‘just do it’ and deploy fibre.
Source: iTWire
'Deploy Fibre': Internet Australia Backs FTTP At NBN Senate Enquiry
In the past Internet Australia (IA) has called for fast, ubiquitous broadband without publicly favouring a technological solution. Based on new fibre costings and backed by a survey of its members IA has now called for a re-assessment of the Government’s MTM model.
Source: Gizmodo
Turnbull’s MTM not good enough, IA chief tells Senate NBN Inquiry
The chief executive of Internet Australia, the peak body representing Internet users, has told the Senate NBN Inquiry currently underway in Canberra that the MTM broadband network being built by nbn is not good enough for Australia’s future needs.
Source: iTWire
Government acknowledges poor internet in Canberra's south but sticks to NBN plan
Minister for Communications acknowledges some areas of Canberra's southern suburbs have poor internet access.
Source: SMH
Fri, 04th Mar 2016
Ericsson signs Decmil for NBN fixed wireless panel contract
Decmil Group will be responsible for the design, supply installation, commissioning, and integration of hardware and software in relation to the NBN's fixed wireless network capacity expansion.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Optus, TPG: ACCC did not 'ignore' NBN in Telstra copper pricing
The ACCC did not ignore the existence of the NBN in choosing to cut Telstra's wholesale copper pricing by almost 10 percent, and nor did it ignore its own principles, TPG and Optus have argued in court.
Source: ZDNet Australia
'We Would Always Look At Ways To Reduce Cost And Time': NBN Defends 'Secret' FTTP Trials
A leaked internal document recently revealed that the company building the nbn has been trialling a reliable, cheaper fibre to the premises technology — which has the potential to reach of an all-fibre system to the home.
Source: Gizmodo
This Week's Biggest NBN And Telco News: NBN Rejects Budget Problems, What Is 5G?
Here’s where we round up all the Aussie news around the ‘net about the ‘net, every week. Check in here for a quick primer on everything from piracy to privacy to data retention and the NBN.
Source: Gizmodo
Secret nbn trial slashes per-premises costs in half
A new leaked internal document reveals secret trials of low-cost fibre-to-the-premises program by nbn.
Source: iTWire
Thu, 03rd Mar 2016
Telstra: ACCC decision will cause 'substantial' loss in NBN copper cost recovery
Substantial unrecouped depreciation associated with its copper network will never be recovered thanks to the ACCC's decision to cut wholesale copper pricing by 9.4 percent, Telstra has argued in court.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN to deploy skinnier fibre to lower build costs
A leaked internal NBN document has revealed the network builder will deploy thinner fibre optic cables throughout its network after finding the cables significantly reduced construction costs.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra outage affected 490,000 pre-paid customers
The second outage in three weeks left some pre-paid customers without access to voice or data yesterday.
Source: iTWire
Another NBN leak shows cheaper no-cabinet FttP trial in Victoria
NBN has been working with smaller kit that is cheaper and removes the need for the company to deploy fibre distribution hub cabinets, a new leaked document claims.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Wed, 02nd Mar 2016
Optus calls for telco competition inquiry
Optus chairman Paul O'Sullivan has called for a major overhaul of telecommunications legislation, including the creation of a new regulator with strong enforcement powers and the ability for customers to quit their existing broadband contracts once they are connected to the NBN.
Source: iTnews Australia
Optus chairman slams Telstra control over NBN copper, calls for fixed-line separation
The chairman of Optus has called for new fixed-line rules to police copper access; a government enquiry to look into formally separating Telstra from its fixed-line network; and customers to be released from contracts to transition to the NBN.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra prepaid mobiles suffer outage
Telstra's prepaid mobile customers were unable earlier today to make phone calls, top up, or check balances in another widespread outage.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Tue, 01st Mar 2016
Optus denies plans to cut 1,000 jobs to fund EPL deal
The telco has refuted reports that 1,000 jobs are on the chopping block, but conceded it would change its 'organisational structure' in future as it continually reviews operations.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra customers get 200GB free OneDrive
Telstra is offering new and existing customers 200GB free on Microsoft’s OneDrive for two years.
Source: iTWire
Optus 'Does Not Have Plans' To Axe 1000 Jobs
“As part of our FY17 plan, we have included $215m cost-out initiatives to protect profitability,” stated leaked internal documents from Optus — obtained by The Australian — that detailed a plan to cut up to 1,011 staff from customer service and network roles.
Source: Gizmodo
Mon, 29th Feb 2016
Government waters down NBN scope creep Bill
A Bill that would see the regulation surrounding the NBN loosened has had many of its proposed changes ditched.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Minister says reports on NBN rollout problems ‘just wrong’
The Minister for Communications, Mitch Fifield has poured cold water on media reports that a leaked government document has found that the National Broadband Network has fallen behind its rollout schedule and is not meeting its targets.
Source: iTWire
NBN Rejects Reported Delays And Budget Blow-Outs: 'We're On Track'
NBN has rejected claims of significant delays and massive budget blow-outs revealed in a controversial leaked internal progress report. “We will not be drawn on alleged internal documents,” a spokesperson for NBN said in a response to the report. “We report quarterly and our results are audited.”
Source: Gizmodo
NBN says FTTN rollout still on track
NBN has refused to be drawn on an internal document that reveals its fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) rollout has suffered significant setbacks.
Source: Computerworld
NBN Co confident of meeting targets, despite 'critical bottleneck'
The company constructing the National Broadband Network says it is confident of meeting its targets, despite a leaked internal document outlining a number of setbacks.
Source: ABC News