Broadband News
Mon, 22nd Jun 2015
Copyright legislation: Fears of scope creep for website-blocking regime
A bill designed to limit ISP subscribers' access to overseas-based websites that facilitate piracy will create the architecture of a "second Internet filter" in Australia, Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said today.
Source: Computerworld
The problems with Dallas Buyers Club 'settle or face large fines' letters
Lawyers for Dallas Buyers Club LLC were back in court last week, as part of the continuation of their pursuit of Australians who they allege have downloaded the Dallas Buyers Club movie illicitly. The proceedings concerned the letter that the lawyers acting for the film's producer Voltage Pictures want to send to the 4726 customers who have been identified by their respective internet service providers.
Source: SMH
UK's NBN model falls short on advertised speeds
Only 3 percent of fibre-to-the-cabinet users in the UK can get the average download speed advertised on the service.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Fri, 19th Jun 2015
Telstra to kill off dial-up
Telstra will retire its dial-up internet plans and migrate the last of its remaining customers by December this year.
Source: iTnews Australia
Letter sets out Dallas Buyers Club demands
Despite an attempt by lawyers representing Dallas Buyers Club LLC to keep them confidential, a draft letter and telephone script reveals how the owner of 2013 movie Dallas Buyers Club intends to push for alleged pirates to settle with the company.
Source: Computerworld
Prime Minister Tony Abbott makes NBN speed promise his government can't keep
Prime Minister Tony Abbott guaranteed all Australians 50 megabits per second speeds by the end of the decade on Thursday. There's just one problem - it's not going to be possible.
Source: SMH
Geoblocking: Government and Opposition conspire once again to trash democracy
The Internet site blocking bill passed the Australian House of Representatives this week thanks to an unholy alliance between the ruling LNP coalition and opposition ALP. The free passage of this bill drives yet another nail in the coffin of Australian democracy, demonstrating that the political elites no longer represent the will of the people but rather the interests of offshore corporations.
Source: iTWire
Dallas Buyers Club investors sue firm suing Australian ISPs
While Voltage wants to know how much alleged infringers earned, it is being accused of hiding from investors how much Dallas Buyers Club earned outside of the United States.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Businesses slowly increasing web, social media presence: ABS
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has identified that while most Australian businesses are connected to the internet via broadband, only 33 percent of businesses take online orders.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Thu, 18th Jun 2015
Australian agencies accessing metadata more than ever before
A long-awaited report into Australian government agencies accessing telecommunications data has revealed a 1.2 percent jump in authorisations for data in the last financial year.
Source: ZDNet Australia
VoiP attracts 5 million-plus Aussies, and growing
The take up of VoIP services in Australia has risen significantly over recent years, with more than 5 million adult Aussies now using a VoIP service.
Source: iTWire
Dallas Buyers Club wants to know torrenters' wage and download history
'Are you now, or have you ever been, a torrenter?' is just one question that Voltage Pictures is seeking to ask people alleged to have illicitly downloaded Dallas Buyers Club.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Greens call for delay of anti-piracy 'Internet filter'
The Australian Greens have called for Labor to support delaying a Senate debate on the government's anti-piracy bill.
Source: Computerworld
Dallas Buyers Club won't reveal how much pirates will pay
Dallas Buyers Club LLC will be forced to submit to the Federal Court the methodology it intends to use to determine how much alleged movie pirates will have to pay to fend off a potential copyright suit.
Source: Computerworld
Wed, 17th Jun 2015
Optus considers future of 2G mobile services
Optus is reviewing the future of its 2G GSM mobile services after parent Singtel opted to shut down its Singapore 2G network.
Source: iTnews Australia
Piracy site-blocking Bill clears Australian House
Legislation that would see copyright holders able to have sites blocked with a Federal Court injunction is one step closer to becoming law.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Tue, 16th Jun 2015
Optus' three-part strategy to becoming a multimedia provider
Shield, expand, and capture will be the three initiatives that Optus will focus on to extend beyond being just a telecommunications company.
Source: ZDNet Australia
First NBN satellite to be launched in September
Commercial service from one of NBN Co's pair of Ka-band satellites is expected to begin next year, following a launch date set for September.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Thicker NBN aerial cables to face community opposition
The federal government is likely to face opposition over its proposal to increase the thickness of overhead cables erected as part of the national broadband network "to the size of your wrist" without requiring local or state planning approvals.
Source: iTnews Australia
Data retention: Govt preparing to issue guidelines for telco grants
The government has indicated that guidelines for the grants program designed to help telco’s implement their data retention obligations are on their way, but will offer scant details on the precise timing of the scheme.
Source: Computerworld
Turnbull announces ACMA shakeup
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced a ‘review’ of the ACMA to ensure it remains ‘fit for purpose’ in an era of significant change.
Source: iTWire
iiNet releases TPG bid document to shareholders
Corporate regulator ASIC has registered the iiNet Scheme Booklet, which sets out the information shareholders need to evaluate the proposal from TPG to buy the company.
Source: iTWire
TPG's iiNet takeover edges closer to reality
TPG inched closer to attaining its hard-fought goal of buying out rival internet service provider iiNet yesterday, but it faces a nerve-wracking wait to learn the deal's regulatory fate.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mon, 15th Jun 2015
Telstra hits out at overcharging claims from Vodafone
Telstra has attributed its success to being able to attract customers willing to pay for its services at a premium, following a report by the Centre for International Economics accusing the telco of ripping off customers.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Amcom beats down TPG's attempts to block Vocus merger
Amcom Telecommunications shareholders have smacked down TPG's efforts to scuttle the company's merger with Vocus Communications in a mass turn out of support for the deal.
Source: iTnews Australia
CCC blasts Telstra’s price drag on economy: Vodafone/CIE report
Australia’s Competitive Carriers Coalition has wasted no time in blasting Telstra following the report of the CIE report via Vodafone showing a massive Telstra price premium.
Source: iTWire
Australia's internet hit hard by massive Malaysian route leak
A misconfiguration at Telekom Malaysia late last week caused large-scale routing issues which cascaded through providers in Oceania and elsewhere in the world, resulting in customers experiencing severe network problems.
Source: iTnews Australia
Amcom enters trading halt ahead of crucial merger vote
Telecommunications provider Amcom has entered a trading halt as it prepares for the result of a crucial shareholder vote on its proposed merger with fellow communications provider Vocus.
Source: iTnews Australia
Research shows Telstra customers pay $3.1bn premium
Telstra customers are paying a hefty premium on their monthly bills, with the premium for using the incumbent telco over other operators clocking in at $20 per month for fixed line services and $9 per month for mobile services, according to new research.
Source: The Australian
Fri, 12th Jun 2015
iiNet shareholders to meet in July on TPG bid
iiNet shareholders will meet on 27 July in Perth to decide whether to approve the takeover of the company by rival telco and ISP, TPG.
Source: iTWire