Broadband News
Fri, 02nd Oct 2015
Cut submarine cable cripples Apple services for Telstra customers
Telstra Apple users have been struggling with significantly slowed data speeds to and from Apple services for the majority of this week following a break in the SEA-ME-WE submarine cable.
Source: iTnews Australia
Subsea cable leaves Telstra customers with Apple download delays
Subsea cable issues are causing delays for Telstra customers attempting to update, download, or stream across Apple services.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra customers report woeful internet speeds for Apple devices and sites
Telstra customers have taken to social media to complain of dismally low speeds when connecting to Apple sites or using their devices to do something as simple as download an app from the App Store.
Source: News.com.au
Thu, 01st Oct 2015
NBN Sky Muster satellite a 'game changer': Fifield, Morrow
Australia's new communications minister and the CEO of NBN have both lauded the successful satellite launch, saying it will close the digital gap despite caps on usage and higher prices.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Netflix October 2015 Australian content selection
Netflix also has a great selection of new TV shows including Netflix originals, and quality additions to the movie selection for the month of October!
Source: iTWire
Presto details October 2015 content selection
tPresto is bringing out the sizzling sausage in October, with the Walking Dead season 5, the final season of Dexter, Wentworth season 3 and plenty more!
Source: iTWire
NBN's first satellite heralds new era for regional broadband
Sky Muster, the first of the two satellites that will comprise NBN's Long-Term Satellite Service, has been successfully launched from Guiana Space Centre in South America.
Source: Computerworld
Amaysim launches Unlimited 1GB plan for the budget conscious
Telecommunications company, Amaysim, has launched its new Unlimited 1GB plan in Australia for $24.90. The company said, in a statement, that this new plan was launched with the budget conscious consumer in mind.
Source: ARN
NBN launches first satellite
The first satellite has been launched by NBN, aiming to provide the Australian population living in regional and remote areas with high-speed broadband.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Wed, 30th Sep 2015
Optus responds to TPG's move to Vodafone
Optus has responded to today's surprise announcement of a TPG Mobile-Vodafone partnership, claiming it is still working with TPG to nut out a revised wholesale agreement.
Source: ARN
Vodafone And TPG Have Teamed Up On Mobile Network Traffic In A $1bn Deal
Vodafone is Australia’s third largest mobile telco, trailing stronger competitors Optus and Telstra. TPG is a telecommunications company with a strong national data network and plenty of existing high-speed infrastructure. The two have teamed up in a $1 billion deal that sees TPG’s fibre network carrying Vodafone mobile network traffic, and it might be the first move in a larger partnership or even a merger.
Source: Gizmodo
TPG’s $1bn Vodafone deal delivers slap in face to Optus
TPG will invite more than 300,000 of its mobile phone users to takeup a new offer on Vodafone’s network which would switch them from the Optus network.
Source: CRN
TPG to become Vodafone MVNO, in exchange for dark fibre access
Telco TPG will prop up Vodafone's ailing infrastructure with its dark fibre, while Vodafone will take on all of TPG's wholesale mobile customer base as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO).
Source: ARN
Vodafone readies 5G after forging billion dollar TPG partnership
Vodafone is prepping its network for faster 5G Internet primed for virtual reality applications after striking a deal in excess of a billion dollars with TPG.
Source: ARN
Tue, 29th Sep 2015
Is Vodafone next on the telco auction block?
With Vocus swallowing Amcom and now merging with M2, and TPG consuming iiNet whole, Vodafone Australia looks likely to be the next telco bought out by a fixed-line provider.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN takes aim at satellite broadband leechers
NBN will equip itself with network monitoring tools to combat the potential for leechers sucking up high amounts of bandwidth on its soon-to-launch long-term satellite service.
Source: iTnews Australia
Australian 4G no longer world's fastest, but offers balance of speed and coverage
New Zealand has dethroned Australia as the nation with the fastest 4G LTE networks in the world, but Australia now offers both respectable speed and coverage, according to a new report.
Source: SMH
Mon, 28th Sep 2015
Investors question Vocus over proposed entry into retail market
Vocus has faced questions from analysts and investors over the value its foray into the retail telco market following its proposed M2 merger would provide for shareholders.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN awards second set of FTTx build contracts
NBN has handed six contractors deals for the second set of network deployments supporting its multi-technology mix.
Source: iTnews Australia
Data retention could send small ISPs to the wall, warns Internet Australia
Smaller Australian internet service providers could find themselves out of business thanks to the cost of capturing data on customers, unless the government comes to the party with funds, Internet Australia has said.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Competition set to rise in light of M2/Vocus merger
The proposed merger between M2 Group and Vocus Communications will create more competition in the market, according to its executives.
Source: ARN
Vocus, M2 to merge and create $3 billion telco
Vocus (ASX:VOC) and M2 (ASX:MTU) are to merge in a deal which will see the two listed companies create a full-service vertically integrated telco with a market capitalisation of more than $3 billion.
Source: iTWire
Data retention funding model to be revealed in November
The outline of a program to help defray the costs to telecommunications providers of implementing data retention is expected to be made public in November.
Source: Computerworld
Vocus-M2 merger to create $3b telecommunications firm
Telecommunications firms Vocus and M2 are planning to merge to create a $3 billion company that can better compete with industry giants Telstra and Optus.
Source: ABC News
Fri, 25th Sep 2015
Telcos silenced by AGD on data retention exemptions
Telecommunications and internet service providers that fall under the country's data retention legislation are being warned to keep quiet on whether they have been granted an exemption from the scheme or risk having it overturned.
Source: iTnews Australia
4G coverage worldwide: Australia level with Greece on average speed
Australia's coverage is ranked 14th globally and speeds 9th, with Vodafone providing the highest percentage of coverage and Telstra the fastest speeds.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Thu, 24th Sep 2015
Bill shock drops by 22 percent: ACMA
The number of consumers suffering bill shock has fallen by 22 percent over the last two years, according to new figures released by Australia's communications regulator.
Source: iTnews Australia
ACCAN tells telcos: introduce real time usage alerts
ACCAN, the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, is calling on telcos to ditch alerts up to 48 hours and introduce real-time alerts as Telstra has done.
Source: iTWire
The Government Wants To Use Mobile Broadband For Police, Fire And Ambulance Services In Australia
Australia’s main police, ambulance and fire agencies have their own dedicated radio bands, but need more rich communication between officers and dispatch to use 21st century tools like GPS, smartphones, tablets and the internet. A draft Productivity Commission report recommends using mobile broadband from commercial telcos like Telstra, Optus and Vodafone rather than cordoning off mobile spectrum and constructing a $6 billion dedicated public safety broadband network.
Source: Gizmodo
Wed, 23rd Sep 2015
Australia's New Communications Minister: 'We're Technology Agnostic' About The NBN
When leadership changes, there’s always the potential for certain passion projects to be brought to the fore. In his previous role as communications minister, Australia’s current prime minister’s history as a founding face in Australia’s internet was at odds with the decision to rationalise and roll-back the rollout of high-speed fibre to the home NBN. That might change. The new Turnbull-led, Liberal goverment is being just a bit cagey about how the NBN might evolve in the coming weeks and months.
Source: Gizmodo