Broadband News
Wed, 05th Aug 2015
Senate committee calls for GST changes to treat bitcoin as money
An Australian Senate committee has warned of the over-regulation of digital currencies like bitcoin in their early stages, and recommended legislative changes to treat digital currencies as money.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra opens new innovation lab
Telstra has opened its new ‘Gurrowa’ R&D lab in Melbourne, which it says will be the centrepiece of its development efforts.
Source: iTWire
Tue, 04th Aug 2015
Foxtel set to launch legal action to block piracy websites
The pay TV company is preparing to launch a legal case "in the coming months" to have piracy-related websites like The Pirate Bay blocked from access in Australia.
Source: ABC News
NBN charges to lift lines may force boat builder to shed staff
A Tasmanian boat builder fears he may have to close or move his business because of the cost of transporting boats past NBN infrastructure on the east coast.
Source: ABC News
Yatango drops prices and increases 4G data
What a yatangled web Yatango weaves with its $23.90 unlimited voice and SMS plan, while three other plans get an always welcomed data boost.
Source: iTWire
Mon, 03rd Aug 2015
Windows 10 commandeers users' upload bandwidth
Microsoft will use its customers' upload bandwidth to deliver Windows 10's updates and apps with a peer-to-peer technology resembling BitTorrent, a fact that has caught some by surprise.
Source: ARN
Government access to Telstra customer information jumps by 6 percent
Australian telecommunications company Telstra has revealed that it provided access more than 90,000 times to customer information over the course of the last financial year.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Sensis publishes hundreds of silent numbers online
Sensis and Telstra are investigating a privacy breach that led to the publication of the unlisted phone numbers and addresses of at least 230 residential and business customers.
Source: iTnews Australia
Optus launches data pooling for individuals and small business customers
Telecommunications company, Optus, has launched a new offer that lets users pool and share data across all of their eligible mobile broadband and mobile devices. Optus customers can share data more easily across their tablets, dongles and mobile phones by creating their own Data Pool.
Source: ARN
Telstra reveals increase in warrant-free access to customer data
Access to Telstra customer data by law enforcement agencies increased in FY 14-15, the telco revealed in its latest transparency report.
Source: Computerworld
NBN to double construction workforce
Company building the National Broadband Network launches a $40 million program to boost total construction workforce to 9000.
Source: The Australian
National Broadband Network jobs drive for SA and NT
The National Broadband Network expands its workforce by creating up to 400 jobs in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Source: ABC News
Fri, 31st Jul 2015
Mega denies claims by Kim Dotcom of NZ government control of company
Encrypted cloud storage service Mega has hit back at claims by Kim Dotcom that it is in the hands of a wanted Chinese investor whose shares have been seized by the New Zealand government.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Quickflix in ASX trading halt – acquisition imminent?
DVD rental and streaming pioneer Quickflix has requested a trading halt in its shares on the ASX, only until Monday. That almost certainly means someone is about to buy it.
Source: iTWire
Thu, 30th Jul 2015
Mobile phone, Internet charges hit consumers hard
The cost of mobile phone and Internet charges are a big concern for many Australians, with charges for the services putting increased pressure on household budgets.
Source: iTWire
Americas are just 2 weeks away from running out of IPv4 addresses
John Curran, CEO of the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN), told attendees at the Campus Technology conference in Boston on Wednesday that the IP address authority's pool of IPv4 addresses has dwindled to 90,000 and will be exhausted in about two weeks.
Source: Computerworld
Wed, 29th Jul 2015
Telstra launches Telstra TV
Telstra has partnered with with streaming platform, Roku, to launch Telstra TV, a new streaming service designed specifically for Australian consumers.
Source: ARN
ANU chosen as Australian hub for global internet overseer
The Australian office for a major international consortium which oversees internet standards will be established at the Australian National University in Canberra.
Source: ABC News
'Telstra TV' to integrate Netflix, Stan and Presto
Telstra will become a major new player in Australia’s fast growing streaming video market, releasing ‘Telstra TV’, using technology from US streaming vendor Roku.
Source: iTWire
Tue, 28th Jul 2015
Data retention: Labor and Coalition set for non-fight over bipartisan legislation
Attorney-General George Brandis has condemned Labor after a motion at the party's conference called for a review of data retention laws.
Source: Computerworld
Telcos could face Huawei ban, Malcolm Turnbull confirms
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed there may be circumstances in which telcos are told they cannot use a certain company's telecommunications equipment under new controversial national security laws.
Source: SMH
iiNet votes in favour of TPG takeover
iiNet shareholders have voted overwhelmingly for the company’s $1.6 billion takeover by TPG. It will all be done within six weeks.
Source: iTWire
Mon, 27th Jul 2015
Telcos hit out at govt's infrastructure security legislation
Representatives of the telecommunications industry have flatly rejected as regulatory over-reach a government scheme intended to boost infrastructure security.
Source: Computerworld
iiNet shareholders vote yes to TPG takeover
iiNet shareholders today voted overwhelmingly in favour of rival TPG's bid to take over the internet service provider, as the pair wait to see how Australia's competition regulator responds to the deal.
Source: iTnews Australia
iiNet shareholders vote in favour of TPG Telecom merger
iiNet shareholders have approved a $1.56 billion takeover offer from TPG Telecom in a move that will create Australia's second-biggest provider of fixed-line internet services.
Source: SMH
Upbeat NBN set to bump up staff
The company building the government’s $41bn National Broadband Network is about to embark on a massive hiring spree.
Source: The Australian
Australia to chase Amazon and other overseas retailers to collect GST: Hockey
Rather than inspecting packages when they enter the country, the Australian government will get online retailers to apply and collect GST, Treasurer Joe Hockey has said.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Vocus' next target: Telstra and Optus' customers
It's been likened to a David and Goliath battle - two small ISPs fighting tooth and nail to fend off attacks by TPG's Goliath in an effort to create a new company that would significantly shake up the Australian telco market.
Source: iTnews Australia
Optus joins telco fury over govt wholesale access intervention
Optus has raised concerns over the decision by Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull's department to support incumbent Telstra against proposed lowered wholesale access prices for its copper network.
Source: iTnews Australia
iiNet enters trading halt as shareholders cast their vote
ASX-listed ISP, iiNet (ASX:IIN) has entered into a trading halt pending the announcement of the results from a scheme meeting held on July 27.
Source: ARN