Broadband News
Thu, 04th Feb 2016
TPP regulations near ratification as nations sign
Under the newly signed TPP, ISPs will be forced to give up infringer details, government procurement barriers will be lowered, and cheaper global roaming rates will be encouraged.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra wholesale boss steps down after 45 years at telco
Telstra’s wholesale group executive Stuart Lee has stepped down after five years in the position.
Source: CRN
As 5G approaches, 3G and 4G are still getting faster
Most of the excitement at Mobile World Congress this month will be about 5G, which won't officially exist until 2020. But vendors will also be showing off new ways to speed up the 3G and 4G networks most people are using today.
Source: ARN
Wed, 03rd Feb 2016
NBN refuses to break down FttN, FttB, and FttDP numbers
NBN Co will not reavel to Senators how much FttN or FttDP will be rolled out in Australia, citing commercial in confidence.
Source: ZDNet Australia
One Of Tasmania's Major Undersea Internet Cables Will Be Cut For Over A Month
The major Basslink undersea power and communications cable that connects Tasmania to the Australian mainland will be cut until mid-March, while the company investigates and fixes a failure in its electricity transmission capacity. That’ll leave Tasmanians with severely reduced connectivity to the internet for nearly six weeks, although contingencies are in place.
Source: Gizmodo
New Survey Shows Pirates Are More Willing To Pay For Netflix
Do you or does anyone in your household download films, music or television shows vis the internet for free? Does your household subscribe to TV and content streaming services? These were the two questions asked in an online survey of over a thousand Australians, and the results tell a story long suspected; given the option, those who pirate will pay for content instead.
Source: Gizmodo
Telstra offers its Foxtel customers 3 months free Platinum HD Package
If you’re an ‘eligible customer’ of Telstra’s, you can enjoy Foxtel from Telstra without lock in contracts until ’30th April’ 2016, with all channel packs.
Source: iTWire
Telstra overtakes Woolworths as most valuable brand
Telstra has overtaken supermarket giant Woolworths to become Australia’s most valuable brand.
Source: CRN
Tue, 02nd Feb 2016
Optus outage downs Virgin Australia's check-in system
Virgin Australia passengers across the country were prevented from checking in for domestic flights for two hours this morning after an outage at the airline's telco partner Optus downed its check-in system.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN to trial satellite with 200 regional Vic users
NBN is gearing up for a customer field trial of its first Sky Muster satellite in regional Victoria, as it prepares for the commercial launch of internet services in April.
Source: iTnews Australia
What's New On Stan In February?
Known for its unique and local content, Stan has some pretty sweet TV and movie titles hitting the streaming service in the next month. Here are some of the highlights.
Source: Gizmodo
NBN aims for swift transition to new satellite service
NBN believes that through its partners it will have enough capacity for at least “several thousand” and potentially up to 10,000 activations a month on its Long Term Satellite Service.
Source: Computerworld
Nokia shows off 8Gbps over 50m copper runs in Germany
Deutsche Telekom has teamed up with Nokia to demonstrate the potential of XG-Fast, which Nokia claims is capable of 1Gbps symmetrical over a distance of 70 metres.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Quickflix continues descent in wake of streaming competitors
Quickflix has reported a AU$1.7 million drop in customer receipts for the December quarter, as well as losing another 7,856 customers.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Optus signs up Stan for entertainment offer
Optus has sealed a partnership with Stan to offer a three month bonus subscription to the video on demand service for customers who sign up for an eligible Home Broadband bundle on a 24-month contract.
Source: iTWire
Mon, 01st Feb 2016
NBN given new migration rules for service class zero premises
The federal government has revamped its policy on migrating services to the NBN to include a six-month extension on disconnection dates for difficult to service customers.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra-NBN customer migration policy released
The migration policy governing the transition of customers from Telstra's copper and HFC services to the NBN has been released, calling for information sharing between Telstra, NBN, and retailers.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Government releases nbn end-user migration policy
The progressive rollout of the NBN has seen a significant reduction in the instances of premises which were previously unable to connect to the broadband network, even though they had declared they were ready to be connected.
Source: iTWire
Optus tops up My Prepaid Ultimate plans
Optus has increased the data rollover limit on its My Prepaid Ultimate mobile plan and is offering some temporary bonuses.
Source: iTWire
Vodafone Is Axing Its $5 Daily Roaming Charge For NZ Travellers
Vodafone has made an important step in Australia’s slow but inexorable annexation of New Zealand. Until December, Vodafone Red plan customers will be able to use their mobiles across the dutch without being slugged the $5 daily international roaming charge that the telco applies when travelling further abroad.
Source: Gizmodo
Optus offers new prepaid mobile benefits
Optus is offering its Optus PrePaid Mobile customers bonus data for those that connect to My Prepaid Ultimate and recharge with either $30 or $40. This offer runs until May 1.
Source: ARN
ACT government defends seeking access to Canberrans' metadata
The ACT government has defended its right to seek access to Canberrans' private phone and internet records without a warrant.
Source: SMH
Vodafone's Newest Mobile Partner Is Qantas
Qantas is the latest name in a high-profile string of brands that Vodafone is using to further increase the appeal of its post-paid mobile plans. If you sign up to a new ‘Qantas Red’ plan on a 24-month contract, you’ll score yourself a bunch of Qantas points — and have access to Vodafone’s excellent $5 daily flat-rate international roaming.
Source: Gizmodo
Sun, 31st Jan 2016
More Telstra Exchanges go solar
Telstra has switched on its largest ever AC Grid Connect solar power systems at the Deer Park, Victoria, and Lyndhurst, South Australia, exchange buildings.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 29th Jan 2016
Interview: Nick Ross on the ABC, NBN, and why you'll never find a smoking gun
We reached out to the ex-ABC Technology Editor to clarify some of his claims about the ABC and its NBN coverage.
Source: PC Authority
What's New On Netflix In February?
Looking for some new content to add to your queue? You’re in luck. February sees Netflix air everything from LOVE to Shardnado 3. Here’s a round up on what’s on offer.
Source: Gizmodo
Thu, 28th Jan 2016
Basslink still searching for cable fault
Cable operator Basslink is still searching for a fault on its cable connecting Tasmania with mainland Australia that was first identified last month, but expects it to be repaired on schedule by mid-March.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telco ombudsman to rethink funding model
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman has employed audit firm KPMG to review its funding model to ensure the organisation can continue to pay for its future operations.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN puts mobile tower backhaul on fast-track
NBN is planning to expedite the commercial launch of backhaul services for mobile phone towers by up to nine months.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra ‘best performer’ in Asia Pacific telecoms market: IDC
Telstra has a big tick of approval as the best performer of all telcos in the Asia Pacific market last year, with global analyst firm IDC noting that industry specific solutions and cloud services - mainly in Australia - and its Indonesia joint venture with Telkom Indonesia helping in Telstra’s “upward push”.
Source: iTWire