Broadband News
Wed, 12th Aug 2015
Turnbull responds to MyRepublic
The head of Singaporean broadband supplier MyRepublic got a lot of publicity yesterday criticising the NBN. Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull was not impressed.
Source: iTWire
Tue, 11th Aug 2015
Australian Internet of Things market growth explodes
The Internet of Things (IoT) home market is exploding across Australia, with adoption and spending on IoT home products and services forecast to grow eleven-fold over the next four years.
Source: iTWire
Final Dallas Buyers Club ruling due August 14
The final Federal Court ruling in the court clash between the rights holders of the movie Dallas Buyers Club and a group of ISPs led by iiNet will be handed down on August 14.
Source: Computerworld
Optus customers get Wi-Fi calling and SMS on iOS, Android app
Optus customers will be able to use a new app to make and receive calls and SMSes over Wi-Fi via their existing phone number.
Source: ZDNet Australia
iiNet keeps top spot in Netflix speed rankings
In July, customers of ISP iiNet enjoyed the fastest average speeds in Australia when viewing Netflix content, according to the updated ranking released by the video-streaming goliath.
Source: Computerworld
Telstra threat MyRepublic details Australia launch and slams NBN
The Singaporean company named as one of Telstra's biggest worries by its outgoing chief executive David Thodey has labelled parts of the $41 billion national broadband network as "shit" as it prepares to launch services in Australia.
Source: SMH
Singapore's MyRepublic to enter Australian broadband market and resell NBN
Singaporean broadband supplier MyRepublic has announced it will enter the Australian market – but only over FTTH. The company's CEO has made some very pointed and unflattering remarks about the FTTN NBN.
Source: iTWire
Mon, 10th Aug 2015
Aldi goes XXL-rated with new $45 mobile plan
AldiMobile has launched a new XXL mobile plan with a whopping 43,200 minutes of talk time, 50,000 SMS, 20,000 MMS and 4GB data for $45 per 30 days.
Source: iTWire
Brandis urged to dump telco security reforms
Australia's telecommunications sector is continuing its crusade against the government's proposed industry security reforms, with submissions to the draft legislation revealing universal opposition to the suggested changes.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mobile penetration in Australia continues to grow
Mobile penetration across Australia has soared to 137% of the country alongside a slowing in the number of mobile subscribers in recent years.
Source: iTWire
iiNet copper telephone line customers face disconnection
Telecommunications vendor, iiNet's copper telephone line customers will soon be facing disconnections as part of the compulsory migration to the NBN.
Source: ARN
Copper cut-off looms for 30,000 homes
The NBN will eventually replace the existing telephone system. All existing phone lines will need to be transferred. For some, that day will come sooner than they think.
Source: iTWire
Sat, 08th Aug 2015
New chipsets lay groundwork for gigabit speeds to more homes
Chipset vendors such as Broadcom and STMicroelectronics have launched products that'll make it possible to offer gigabit speeds over fiber as well as over copper and cable networks.
Source: Computerworld
Fri, 07th Aug 2015
Telco national security law passage planned for spring
The Australian Parliament will be introducing the telco national security laws during the spring session, with hopes to pass the legislation in that time.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra first telco to offer dedicated in-store wearables range
With wearables delivering actionable fitness, information and lifestyle benefits, Telstra has decided now’s the time to offer the public an affordable range across 370 stores.
Source: iTWire
Thu, 06th Aug 2015
Ex-Telstra boss David Thodey lands at CSIRO
Former Telstra chief executive officer David Thodey has been appointed chairman of the board for Australia's peak science and research organisation CSIRO.
Source: iTnews Australia
Vocus and Amcom integration powers ahead with new products
As part of the integration process three new products have been adapted from the Amcom product suite under the Vocus Communications brand including Ethernet Multipoint, SIP Trunks and IP WAN services.
Source: ARN
Wed, 05th Aug 2015
Quickflix looks to acquire unnamed Chinese content company
Streaming company Quickflix has entered an MOU to acquire a Chinese TV and movie content company, just days after announcing a loss of 14 percent of its customer base in the second quarter of 2015.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Internet Australia joins outcry at telco infrastructure security bill
Internet Australia has joined representatives of the telecommunications and ICT industries in condemning a draft bill the government says is intended to boost the security of Australia's telco infrastructure.
Source: Computerworld
Optus to cease 2G services from April 2017
Telecommunications company, Optus, will soon shut down its 2G GSM network. According to the company, 2G services will cease effective April 1, 2017, as consumers increasingly use more data and opt for the latest 4G smartphones.
Source: ARN
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