Broadband News
Wed, 09th Sep 2015
‘Simply wrong’ says NBN chief to critics of the broadband network
National Broadband Network chief Bill Morrow has defended the potential of the NBN to deliver very fast broadband services, hitting back at criticism that fibre-to-the-node technology would consign Australia to becoming an “internet backwater.”
Source: iTWire
NBN talks up network's gigabit potential
NBN is preparing to launch trials of G.fast technology, which could potentially allow gigabit speeds over some National Broadband Network connections that rely on existing copper phonelines.
Source: Computerworld
Multi-technology nbn will lift Australia’s broadband performance, says nbn co’s Bill Morrow
Fibre-to the node (FTTN) technology will help to lift Australia’s position as a world leader in the delivery of fast, reliable broadband, according to nbn co CEO, Bill Morrow.
Source: ARN
Google hits YouTube adblockers with unskippable adverts
Anyone using Chrome adblocking plugins suddenly finds blocked ads back and bigger than ever on YouTube.
Source: PC Authority
Tue, 08th Sep 2015
The NBN: why it's slow, expensive and obsolete
The Abbott Coalition government came to power two years ago this week with a promise to change Labor’s fibre to the premises (FTTP) National Broadband Network (NBN) to one using less-expensive fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) technologies, spruiking its network with the three-word slogan: "Fast. Affordable. Sooner."
Source: SMH
Telcos invent new way to deliver fast broadband via copper
A new telco industry specification that aims to make it possible for providers to deploy fast copper broadband with technologies such as G.Fast and VDSL2 has been developed by the not-for-profit Broadband Forum.
Source: iTnews Australia
Emeritus Professor slams Coalition NBN as 'bad deal'
The Coalition’s nbn has come under intense attack from the University of Melbourne's Emeritus Professor Rod Tucker who says the broadband network is so slow it is obsolete before it’s in place and Australia has got a “bad deal”.
Source: iTWire
Should the copyright notice scheme to be scrapped?
Electronic Frontiers Australia and Choice have called for the copyright notice scheme to be dumped. The scheme, which will take the form of an enforceable code for ISPs, was due to take effect at the start of this month.
Source: Computerworld
Mon, 07th Sep 2015
Telstra, Vodafone compete on mobile data, plan inclusions
Australia's telcos are putting data first in their mobile plans due to the uptake of online messaging and streaming services, upping allowances, and rolling over unused data.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN predicts three million new Australian jobs by 2030
According to a report commissioned by NBN, three million new jobs will be created or redefined within the next 15 years. It is a trend NBN expects to continue, following the three million jobs that have emerged since the year 2000.
Source: ZDNet Australia
ACCC draft backhaul ruling bad for businesses
The ACCC's recent draft decision on backhaul pricing will see most Australians paying less for broadband, but a pricing discrepancy means some businesses could end up paying more.
Source: iTnews Australia
Data retention: Tax Office could get metadata access
If a key recommendation of a parliamentary inquiry is implemented, the Australian Taxation Office will able to gain warrant-free access to so-called 'metadata' retained under the government's data retention scheme.
Source: Computerworld
Pole operators hit back over NBN aerial cable plan
Australia's electricity network operators have slammed a federal government proposal to increase the thickness of overhead NBN cables.
Source: iTnews Australia
Choice Says Netflix Is Killing Piracy In Australia In Problematic Survey
The launch of Netflix in Australia really is killing piracy. At least that’s according to a new survey. There’s a bit of a problem with that survey though, and it’s one that keeps popping up when we try to chart piracy.
Source: Gizmodo
Fri, 04th Sep 2015
30 percent of Australians still pirate online material: Choice
According to a survey conducted by consumer advocacy group, Choice, 30 percent of Australians are illegally downloading, streaming, or watching shows or movies.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Optus pairs with Airbnb for data roaming, discounted accommodation
Optus and Airbnb are joining forces to provide users with a AU$50 voucher for accommodation, as well as a AU$30 SIM for global roaming.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Malcolm Turnbull visits Sunshine Coast to view proposal for new undersea communications cable
A plan to make the Sunshine Coast a vital internet gateway is luring Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull to the area on Friday to view the proposal in person.
Source: SMH
AMTA calls for less regulation from ACMA
In a submission clearly aimed at lessening the powers of regulator the Australian Communications and Media Authority, the peak body representing mobile operators has called for deregulation of its industry.
Source: iTWire
Transmission prices heading down with ACCC draft decision
Price cuts aimed at maintaining a competitive transmission services market in the telecommunications sector will likely flow from the ACCC’s draft final access determination for transmission capacity issued today.
Source: iTWire
Thu, 03rd Sep 2015
The Telstra TV Is Delayed
The Telstra TV is actually pretty exciting. A rebadged Roku 2 box featuring all of your catch-up content in the one place. Cool, right? Here’s what sucks: you’ll be waiting for it just a liiiitle longer.
Source: Gizmodo
Optus switches on 3X the 4G Cat 9 LTE-A power for Note 5, S6 Edge+
4G LTE-A speeds are getting a boost on Optus in Melbourne’s CBD, followed by Sydney CBD in early 2016 and both Brisbane and Adelaide’s CBDs from mid-2016.
Source: iTWire
ACCC suggests monitoring broadband services
Australia's consumer watchdog has outlined plans to push monitoring broadband performance, saying it would improve quality and pricing thanks to competition.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN will boost GDP by 1.8%: new study
The National Broadband Network (NBN) will likely deliver a substantial benefit to Australia’s economy, according to a newly released study which also found that the greatest economic benefits will be derived from telehealth and teleworking.
Source: iTWire
Netgear’s Nighthawk X4S, the world’s best broadband router?
Netgear launched its flagship Nighthawk X4S with world-first, world beating specs just hungry for a decent NBN to plug into, but it works with ADSL2+, too.
Source: iTWire
Wed, 02nd Sep 2015
50Mbps NBN wireless on track for pre-Christmas launch
NBN's speed boost to its fixed wireless service, which will see the potential maximum speed of connections increased to 50Mbps downstream and 20Mbps upstream, should be commercially available before Christmas.
Source: Computerworld
'Netflix for pirates' in Hollywood's sights
Popcorn Time, the software dubbed "Netflix for pirates" and "Hollywood's worst nightmare", is now in the sights of movie studios as it continues to gain traction among those who find its simple once-click user interface too hard to resist.
Source: SMH
DBC opts against appeal in iiNet piracy ruling
The owner of the Dallas Buyers Club film has decided not to appeal a recent ruling in its ongoing piracy fight with a number of Australian ISPs, and will instead rework how it plans to calculate damages from alleged infringers.
Source: iTnews Australia
Optus, Exetel sign two-year NBN aggregation deal
Exetel will have access to all of Optus' National Broadband Network points of interconnect and technologies under a new agreement.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telcos riled by ACCC broadband monitoring plan
The competition regulator is on a collision course with the telecommunications industry over its plan to measure the performance of fixed broadband services.
Source: iTnews Australia
Optus to provide Exetel with nbn aggregation services
Optus Wholesale has announced it will deliver nbn aggregation services exclusively to Australian ISP provider Exetel, extending its 10-year relationship.
Source: ARN