Broadband News

Thu, 12th Nov 2015

Optus gained 314,000 4G customers last quarter

Optus has announced a net profit of $426 million for the half-year to 30 September, as it gained 314,000 4G customers in just the last quarter.

Source: CRN

Inabox acquires AAPT, NBN wholesaler

Telco and IT provider Inabox has acquired the assets and customer base of AAPT wholesaler CloudXchange.

Source: CRN

M2 Group launches nbn Connect

Telecommunications company, M2 Group (ASX: MTU), has launched nbn Connect in a plan to dramatically increase competitive access to the national broadband network.

Source: ARN

​Optus plans mobile broadband product launch

Optus CEO Allen Lew has revealed that it will soon be launching a new mobile broadband product.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Entertainment and nbn Drive Optus growth

Optus has announced strong growth for the quarter ending 30 September 2015 driven by both its mobile entertainment bundles and a hike in demand for its NBN services.

Source: iTWire

Wed, 11th Nov 2015

Data growth exploding along with shift of data traffic from mobile networks to Wi-Fi

Australian data growth is accelerating rapidly, with data volumes through fixed broadband services predicted to grow ‘exponentially’ as we Aussies consume more and more subscription video on demand, music streaming and e‐commerce services.

Source: iTWire

​TPG set to raise AU$300m to pay for iiNet acquisition

TPG plans to use the AU$300 million in raised funds to partly repay its AU$1.85 billion bank debt that has increased as a result of the iiNet acquisition.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Vocus and Nextgen signed up for the Australia Singapore Cable (ASC)

Growing first tier telecoms player Vocus has joined with Nextgen to build a telecommunications submarine cable between Australia and Singapore, which is set to increase existing capacity ten fold.

Source: iTWire

Tue, 10th Nov 2015

ACMA registers new TV code to keep pace with streaming

The media industry regulator has registered a new code governing commercial TV standards in a bid to cover the advent of streaming services and the ability to broadcast across multiple platforms.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Foxtel Platinum subscribers get Presto Entertainment bundle

If you’re a Foxtel Platinum subscriber, you’ll now get full access to the Presto Entertainment bundle, but only if you subscribe directly from Foxtel. 

Source: iTWire

Ransomware takes evolutionary step and targets websites

One of the most malicious and effective forms of malware, Ransomware, appears to have taken the next evolutionary step and has now been found embedded in websites.

Source: ARN

Mon, 09th Nov 2015

nbn triples revenue, loses $336 million for quarter

In its financial results just released, nbn has recorded strong customer and revenue growth in the three months to 30 September but still had a gross loss of $336 million.

Source: iTWire

Arctic reaction from Internet Australia to the TPP release

Internet Australia (IA) is ‘cranky’ about the government ushering in ‘trade deals in secret’, with reference to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, released late last week.

Source: iTWire

Telstra Just Pulled 1Gbps Over Its 4G Network

Think 100Mbps over a fibre connection is cool? Try 1000Mbps (1Gbps) over a wireless 4G connection. That’s what Telstra and Ericsson just hit in their new network testing.

Source: Gizmodo

NBN launches HFC pilot

NBN has launched a hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) end-user pilot, the company announced today.

Source: Computerworld

nbn reveals first quarter results

​nbn has revealed its first quarter results showing it incurred capital expenditure of $1.063 billion and EBITDA loss of $336 million during its first quarter ending September 30.

Source: ARN

Fri, 06th Nov 2015

TPP: ISPs will hand over copyright infringer details

The full text of the TPP ties in with WikiLeaks' leaked document last month, stating that ISPs must hand over copyright infringer details to rights holders when legally compelled.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Sydney telco reseller in trouble for revealing silent numbers

SpinTel is the latest in a string of retail service providers to be caught out by ACMA for inadvertently allowing the personal details of its silent line customers to be published in a number of phone directories.

Source: CRN

ACCC moves close to 'superfast' broadband regulation

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a draft decision on regulating a 'Superfast Broadband Access Service', with the ACCC set to compel the operators of deliver 25Mbps+ services to open their networks to competitors.

Source: Computerworld

Thu, 05th Nov 2015

Telstra takes ACCC to court over wholesale price cut

Telstra has launched a legal appeal against the competition watchdog over its decision to lower the telco's wholesale prices.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra takes court action over wholesale price cuts

Telstra has filed an appeal in the Federal Court against a decision of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to cut the prices Telstra can charge other telcos that use its copper network to deliver services.

Source: Computerworld

Optus claims 100 percent mobile coverage thanks to satellite app

The telco has claimed that it will now provide 100 percent of Australia with mobile coverage -- as long as remote customers use SatSleeve and are within direct line of sight of its satellite.

Source: ZDNet Australia

​Vocus acquisition of M2 gets ACCC go-ahead

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will not oppose Vocus Communications’ (ASX: VOC) planned acquisition of M2 Group (ASX: MTU), the competition watchdog revealed today.

Source: Computerworld

ACCC approves M2-Vocus merger

The consumer watchdog in Australia has decided not to oppose the M2-Vocus merger because the companies do not directly compete and will therefore not inhibit future competition in the sector.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Wed, 04th Nov 2015

Government tightlipped on organisations seeking ‘metadata’ access

The government won’t reveal how many organisations are seeking the right to warrant-free access to telecommunications data kept as part of the data retention scheme.

Source: Computerworld

Tue, 03rd Nov 2015

Dotcom: Extradition treaty not for copyright infringement

It is not possible to find Dotcom guilty of wire fraud under the legal definitions of both the US and NZ, with the extradition treaty also not covering copyright infringement, according to his lawyers.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Victoria seeks 'metadata' access for Racing Integrity Commissioner

Victoria's government is pushing for the state's Office of the Racing Integrity Commissioner to gain warrant-free access to the so-called 'metadata' retained under the data retention scheme.

Source: Computerworld

Optus targets renters, movers with new broadband product

Optus has launched a wireless broadband plan specifically aimed at renters.

Source: CRN

Quigley pins Turnbull NBN cost blowout on MTM delays: Report

Former NBN Co CEO Mike Quigley has defended the NBN's original fibre-to-the-premises rollout, saying the government must admit it grossly underestimated the cost and time it would take to shift to the multi-technology mix.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Mon, 02nd Nov 2015

Kim Dotcom: FBI deliberately mistranslated 'evil' statement

Dotcom has accused the US of wilfully mistranslating him and of trying to twist the New Zealand legal definition of copyright infringement to mean fraud.

Source: ZDNet Australia