Broadband News

Thu, 26th Mar 2015

Turnbull embraces the Internet of Things

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has thrown his support behind the Internet of Things (IoT), spruiking the potential of the technology to deliver huge efficiencies for cities and generate revenue.

Source: Computerworld

Malone predicts further consolidation – is Vodafone next?

As he fights against TPG’s takeover of iiNet, the company he founded, Michael Malone has predicted that is only the first step in a wider industry consolidation, tipping that Vodafone Hutchison Australia will be next to be swallowed.

Source: iTWire

Turnbull takes ownership of site-blocking bill

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been handed responsibility for an online copyright infringement bill that will allow content owners to apply for websites that faciliate online piracy to be blocked.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN Co director Simon Hackett slams fibre-to-the node

Internet entrepreneur and NBN Co board director Simon Hackett has slammed the fibre-to-the-node technology underpinning the government’s National Broadband Network saying it “sucks” and that he wishes it would disappear.

Source: The Australian

Akamai: Most Internet attacks in Q4 originated in China

A majority of the Internet attack traffic in 2014's fourth quarter originated in China, followed by the U.S., according to cloud service provider Akamai.

Source: ARN

Wed, 25th Mar 2015

Telstra escapes ACCC connection fee regulations

The consumer watchdog said in its draft decision on non-price terms for regulated services that it does not have to extend the scope of its connection charge regulations due to Telstra's ability to manage external contracts.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Australian govt eyes emergency mobile broadband network

The Australian government has asked the Productivity Commission to conduct a cost-benefit analysis into a dedicated national mobile broadband network for emergency services.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN Co's Hackett continues to back all-fibre NBN as first choice

NBN Co board member and Internode co-founder Simon Hackett has said that his first choice for Australia's National Broadband Network would have been 100 percent fibre.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Location-tracking resolution not in data-retention Bill scope: Brandis

Australian Attorney-General George Brandis has reiterated claims that the data-retention Bill does not force service providers to retain data that, as an industry, they do not already collect.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Data retention debate: Labor has 'vacated the field,' says Ludlam

The crossbenchers have provided the "true opposition" to the government's proposed data retention regime, Greens Senator Scott Ludlam told a press conference earlier today.

Source: Computerworld

TPG could buy out Vodafone by next year: iiNet founder

iiNet founder and former CEO Michael Malone has said that Vodafone Hutchison Australia could be acquired by TPG within the next year as Australia's telecommunications industry heads down a consolidation road that will lead to just three major players.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Twitter clamps down on online abuse with quality filter feature

Twitter wants to cull online abuse by letting users filter it out from their feeds.

Source: PC Authority

Getup.org.au urges Australians to go dark

GetUp is an independent movement of 888,877 Australians working to build a more progressive Australia and bring participation back into our democracy. To say they are unimpressed with the Federal Governments proposed meta data retention rules is an understatement.

Source: iTWire

TPG’s Teoh defends iiNet deal, offers to meet Malone

As the battle over the sale of iiNet to TPG gets ugly, TPG’s CEO has offered to meet with the most vocal critic of the deal, iiNet founder Michael Malone.

Source: iTWire

Brandis reveals data retention will cost telcos $4 per user

Attorney-General George Brandis has revealed that a secretive report into the cost of the Government's proposed data retention scheme put the ongoing financial burden on telcos at just under $4 per customer per year.

Source: iTnews Australia

TPG boss David Teoh ‘will respect iiNet’s customer-centric culture’

TPG Telecom’s media-shy boss David Teoh has broken his ­silence on the company’s $1.4 billion takeover of iiNet, pledging not to rip the heart out of its ­customer-centric culture and saying his company has much to learn from the rival broadband provider.

Source: The Australian

Tue, 24th Mar 2015

BBC warns of Australians avoiding piracy code

BBC Worldwide has said that the proposed copyright infringement code is 'ill equipped' to handle Australians masking their IP address to avoid detection while illicitly downloading TV shows or films.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Malone is right, iiNet should not be sold to TPG

Michael Malone bothered about how much TPG will pay for iiNet? Or is the founder of one of the better ISPs in Australia more concerned about his creation going downhill in terms of service and reputation?

Source: iTWire

Vast majority of metadata checks determine phone owner: Turnbull

Australian Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said that the vast majority of metadata queries used by police are to determine who the account holder of a phone is.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Govt seeks to limit Telstra advantage in NBN Co data flows

The federal government is seeking to remove any perceived or actual advantage to Telstra as a result of the information it receives from NBN Co on the network rollout.

Source: iTnews Australia

TV operators under threat as Netflix launches

Australia's free-to-air and pay television operators are under assault again, this time with the entry of the US video streaming service Netflix into the local market.

Source: ABC News

TPG posts strong results ahead of proposed iiNet buy

Internet service provider TPG has posted strong customer and revenue growth as it works toward taking over rival ISP iiNet.

Source: iTnews Australia

TPG grows broadband base ahead of iiNet acquisition

As it prepares to consume iiNet, TPG has revealed strong growth in its broadband business for the six months ending 31 January 2015.

Source: Computerworld

ACCC seeks industry feedback on NBN Co information

The ACCC is seeking feedback from telecommunication companies on the information that NBN Co should disclose about the network rollout.

Source: ARN

Mon, 23rd Mar 2015

iiNet board 'seriously concerned' about culture post-TPG buy

iiNet chairman Michael Smith has admitted the company is "seriously concerned" about how low-cost operator TPG might handle iiNet's culture should the proposed merger of the two businesses go ahead.

Source: iTnews Australia

iiNet founder Michael Malone slams TPG offer, calls for board spill

iiNet founder and former chief executive Michael Malone has called on fellow shareholders to reject TPG Telecom's $1.4 billion takeover bid and launched a scathing attack against iiNet's board of directors.

Source: SMH

Telstra extends NBN migration window in new plan

Telstra's new NBN migration plan outlines moves to extend the disconnection window for customers moving from one network to the other under the government's multi-technology model for the network.

Source: ZDNet Australia

ATO in $453m fight over Optus sale

The Australian Tax Office is fighting a $453 million legal claim lodged by the former majority owner of Optus over a tax bill associated with its 2001 sale of the telco.

Source: iTnews Australia

Official - Netflix announces Australian pricing

Netflix Australia has announced its pricing, one day before officially launching.

Source: iTWire

Telstra joins Netflix attack with T-Box Presto bonus

Telstra has launched Presto on its T-Box, with a free six-month subscription arriving today, alongside Foxtel IQ3’s launch, the day before Netflix arrives.

Source: iTWire