Broadband News
Tue, 02nd Feb 2016
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
Largest DDoS recorded in 2015 hits 500gbps
Researchers at Arbor Networks say the largest DDoS attack it recorded in 2015 reached 500gbps, up from a 400Gbps peak recorded in 2014.
Source: iTnews Australia
World's next internet protocol under development
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has set up a working group to evolve the transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) that handles the vast majority of today's internet traffic.
Source: iTnews Australia
Shareholders approve M2 and Vocus merger
Shareholders have given their approval of the proposed merger between M2 and Vocus Communications.
Source: ARN
Wed, 27th Jan 2016
D-Link DHP-701AV review
This is one of the faster Ethernet-over-power (EOP) kits we’ve tested, pushing up to 35MB of data per second (or 260Mbps) around the network — slightly more than the average USB 2.0 connection and doubling the speed of D-Link’s earlier DHP-601AV model.
Source: APC Magazine
1 in 3 home Wi-Fi routers to double as public hotspots by 2017
Just like Telstra routers can be turned into public Telstra Air hotspots, so too is this phenomenon exploding around the world from a variety of carriers.
Source: iTWire
Usain Bolt Is The New Face Of Optus
He goes fast, Optus’ network goes fast…get it? In an Australian first, Olympian Usain Bolt has struck a deal with a local brand. He is to appear in documentary-style Optus advertising across TV, digital and retail with the wider theme of “Relentless Improvement”.
Source: Gizmodo
Mon, 25th Jan 2016
NBN Ads From An Alternate Future
Imagine an alternate universe. A future, or a past, where a fibre-to-the-premises NBN already exists and is being built out around Australia. Coming up to an election, an opposition campaign to dismantle that network is countered by a series of government advertisements about the advantages of FTTP, and its uses for high-definition video calls, telehealth, and Ultra HD video streaming. This is that universe, and these are those ads.
Source: Gizmodo
Synology RT1900ac review
While many unconventional brands have tried to gain a toe-hold in the broadband router market over the last half decade, only one or two have really managed to stick it out.
Source: APC Magazine
Fri, 22nd Jan 2016
Telstra privacy breach leaves customer's voicemail exposed
Richard Thornton did a factory reset on his second-hand iPhone 5, but the buyer kept receiving his voicemail.
Source: SMH
The plot thickens in the ABC's NBN (lack of) coverage
New revelations and evidence have emerged that paints a murky picture of editorial process at the ABC.
Source: PC Authority
This Week's Biggest NBN And Telco News: Telstra Rolls Out Copper Instead Of Fibre
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
Netflix Aussie geo-blocking circumvented. For now or for good?
Netflix is trying to live up to its legal commitments by geo-blocking Australian users. It may have failed.
Source: iTWire