Broadband News
Wed, 13th May 2015
Telstra launches global service over its low latency 100Gbps link between Sydney and Perth
Telstra and Ericsson have together deployed the latest optical WaveLogic 3 technology from Ciena that aims to achieve unparalleled network performance for latency, reach, resiliency and capacity across Australia.
Source: ARN
Telstra Retail had better ADSL tools than Wholesale: ACCC
Between May 2012 and October 2014, up to 282 customers may have been told that they could not receive an ADSL service from an ISP, only to find that Telstra Retail said they could.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra failing to keep wholesale data safe from retail staff
Telstra retail staff are continuing to access commercially sensitive data on wholesale customers, breaching the telco's structural separation undertaking (SSU) for the third year in a row.
Source: iTnews Australia
Website-blocking inquiry pushes back reporting date
A Senate committee has pushed back the reporting date of an inquiry into a bill that will potentially force ISPs to stop their customers from accessing websites linked to piracy.
Source: Computerworld
Tue, 12th May 2015
Netflix reveals the best and worst Australian ISPs
Cut-price internet service provider TPG has ranked highest among Australian ISPs.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Budget 2015: Gap in govt funding for data retention criticised
The Internet Society of Australia has slammed a $131 million government funding package to help telcos implement the data retention regime. The funding falls short of estimated capital cost of establishing the regime, which will require telcos to retain a range of customer data for two years.
Source: Computerworld
Microsoft joins European, Asian subsea cable projects
Microsoft has provided funding for three new trans-oceanic cable projects in an effort to bolster its cloud infrastructure for Azure and other services with data transfer capacity increases and route optimisations for lower connection latencies.
Source: iTnews Australia
TPG tops Netflix speed rankings
TPG has taken top spot in Netflix's inaugural comparison of the Internet speeds achieved by the streaming service's Australian customers.
Source: Computerworld
Mon, 11th May 2015
Untimed local call regulation to stay: Turnbull
Australian Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has dismissed reports that the government is looking to remove requirements for telcos to offer untimed local calls.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Foxtel welcomes GST tax on digital transactions
Foxtel says it welcomes the Government’s ‘move to level the digital playing field’, which means it welcomes your costs going up - but do you?
Source: iTWire
Hockey confirms Google, Netflix taxes
The federal government has revealed plans to expand the goods and services tax to digital products such as those provided by Netflix and Google under proposed legislation to feature in tomorrow's budget.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tasmanian government seeks operator for Wi-Fi hotspots
The Tasmanian government has approached the market seeking an operator to build and run free Wi-Fi hotspots at 50 locations around the state.
Source: Computerworld
Netflix targets Australian ISP broadband speeds with monthly performance ratings
Netflix will start rating the connection speeds of Australian internet service providers to determine which one offers the best prime time viewing of its video streaming service.
Source: SMH
Telstra Mobile accelerates faster to boldly Go
Telstra’s new Go Mobile plans: better value with personal and business contracts, and a no contract Go Casual plan alongside voice and data sharing companion SIMs.
Source: iTWire
How Vodafone uses data to guess customer’s satisfaction rating
Vodafone has figured out a way to calculate its customers’ net promoter scores (NPS) without having to survey them directly.
Source: iTnews Australia
Govt outlines planned telco tax for satellite, wireless NBN
A government research bureau has suggested a new levy on Australia's biggest telcos to help fund the satellite and wireless components of the national broadband network.
Source: iTnews Australia
Fri, 08th May 2015
ACCC slashes mobile, SMS prices
The ACCC has issued a draft decision outlining the prices that mobile network operators will charge each other and fixed-line network operators for receiving calls and SMS.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Malone won't block TPG bid for iiNet
iiNet's former CEO Michael Malone has confirmed that he has no intentions of blocking TPG's potential takeover of the company he founded in his parents' garage.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Thu, 07th May 2015
Optus customers to get Wi-Fi calling on iOS and Android
Optus has announced its intention to offer customers the ability to make and receive calls and text messages over Wi-Fi to its Android and iPhone customers later this year.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Will the GST be imposed on Netflix?
Film buffs are set to be stung when the federal government moves to impose the goods and services tax on online services like Netflix.
Source: Computerworld
Market declares TPG winner of iiNet bout, but is the fight over yet?
The bidding war for iiNet may not yet be done and dusted, even after TPG yesterday upped its offer to $1.56 billion to trump the other iiNet suitor, M2. Now the market waits to see whether M2 will come back to the table yet again with an increased offer.
Source: iTWire
Telstra offers low-latency link between ASX and SGX
Telstra (ASX: TLS) has launched a low-latency network that connects the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) data centre in Sydney with the Singapore Exchange (SGX).
Source: Computerworld
Comcast previews DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem due early 2016: OZ NBN implications?
US cable and Internet provider Comcast has developed its own DOCSIS 3.1 modem which when combined with a DOCSIS 3.1 network can deliver 1Gbps+ speeds.
Source: iTWire
iiNet board opts for certainty with TPG
The certainty of the revised TPG offer for Internet service provider iiNet was a key factor in the ISP’s board recommending it over a competing offer from M2, according to iiNet chairperson Michael Smith.
Source: Computerworld
Wed, 06th May 2015
Labor proposes adopting two-stage NBN policy
Australia's opposition party has proposed formally adopting a two-stage rollout of the National Broadband Network with fibre to the premises returning should Labor be elected to federal government.
Source: ZDNet Australia
iiNet: TPG won't trash our brand
Like Volkswagen buying Porsche, TPG will want to retain the quality of iiNet for the money it is offering for the deal, according to iiNet chairman Michael Smith.
Source: ZDNet Australia
ACCC to cut costs of mobile calls, SMS
Mobile customers could experience lower call and SMS costs after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) proposed halving the cost telcos can charge each other for landing calls.
Source: iTnews Australia
ISPs left with bill after Dallas Buyers Club court clash
iiNet and the other Internet service providers will have to pay the majority of the costs related to court proceedings involving Dallas Buyers Club LLC.
Source: Computerworld
Court orders ISPs to pay Dallas Buyers Club owner's legal costs
The Federal Court orders a group of internet service providers, including iiNet, to pay 75 per cent of the legal costs relating to the Dallas Buyers Club copyright case.
Source: ABC News
iiNet takeover war: TPG strikes back
The iiNet board has backed a AU$1.5 billion counter offer from TPG to take over iiNet.
Source: ZDNet Australia