Broadband News
Mon, 02nd Mar 2015
Quickflix losses deepen as Netflix Australia launch looms
Quickflix has reported deepening losses, with a first-half net loss of AU$8.6 million for the six months ending December 2014, as the launch date for Netflix Australia closes in.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Optus records 480 Mbps download speeds to single user device
Optus has achieved download speeds of 480 megabits per second (Mbps) to a single user device.
Source: ARN
Australians harass George Brandis as the true cost of metadata retention is revealed
The true cost of the Abbott government's new metadata retention laws has been revealed, with the government quietly publishing the estimated price tag without announcing it.
Source: SMH
Telstra, Ericsson to partner on 5G
Telstra will partner with its long-term equipment supplier Ericsson to define 5G technology in an effort to launch the network for commercial use in 2020.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra unveils ambitious timetable for rollout of VoLTE, 5G
Telstra has announced an ambitious timetable to roll out new-age technologies that offer blisteringly fast broadband over wireless and in-built video calling as part of call services.
Source: The Australian
Fri, 27th Feb 2015
Still time to speak up about data retention bill, Internet Society says
The Internet Society of Australia has warned that the rush to implement a data retention regime could potentially damage Australia's economy.
Source: Computerworld
Labor backs controversial data retention bill
The Abbott Government's plan to force internet service and telecommunications providers to store the metadata of their customers for two years looks likely to pass into law after the Labor opposition put its support behind the scheme.
Source: iTnews Australia
Labor set to back data retention regime
The government's controversial data retention legislation will be debated in parliament next week, with Labor reportedly set to back the scheme to force telecommunications providers to keep customer data for 24 months.
Source: Computerworld
NBN Co out to tame troublesome copper
Making sure faults in the legacy copper network are kept to a minimum and speeds are delivered as promised will be a top priority for the next phase of the NBN rollout.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Thu, 26th Feb 2015
Scentre teams with Optus for Westfield's 21 centre Wi-Fi rollout
Free Wi-Fi could be coming to a Westfield shopping centre near you.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co CEO bullish on network's progress
NBN Co CEO Bill Morrow this morning said he was "incredibly excited" by the government-owned company's half-year results.
Source: Computerworld
Choice campaigns against 'Hollywood horror film' copyright code
Advocacy group Choice has launched a campaign to push for more protections for consumers in the impending copyright enforcement code for Internet service providers.
Source: Computerworld
NBN Co losses climb as rollout steps up
NBN Co's financial losses are climbing as the network builder ramps up the speed at which it connects premises to the national broadband network.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co talks up potential of HFC, wireless
NBN Co has talked up a planned increase to the maximum speed offered on the fixed wireless component of the National Broadband Network and the potential of the company's HFC network to hit gigabit speeds.
Source: Computerworld
NBN Co triples revenue, boosts run rate
NBN Co CEO Bill Morrow has said that the company is on target to meet its full-year goal of having over 1 million Australian premises able to connect to the National Broadband Network.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Choice slams ‘medieval’ anti-piracy scheme
Consumer group Choice is calling on consumers to help educate Malcolm Turnbull.
Source: iTWire
Wed, 25th Feb 2015
95 percent of metadata retained will be of no use: ASIO
ASIO has told Senate estimates it needs telcos and service providers to retain metadata on all customers, even though the vast majority will be of no interest to authorities.
Source: ZDNet Australia
iiNet, DBC face three-week wait for piracy ruling
iiNet and Dallas Buyers Club face a three-week wait to find out whether the rights holder can obtain the names and residential addresses of almost 5000 people it claims downloaded its movie without paying last year.
Source: iTnews Australia
iiDallas: Has the ISP copyright code failed before it has begun?
Alleged loopholes in the copyright enforcement justify Dallas Buyers Club LLC proceeding with its attempt to unearth the personal details of Internet service providers' customers, lawyers representing the rights holder for the 2013 movie Dallas Buyers Club argued in court this morning.
Source: Computerworld
Tue, 24th Feb 2015
NBN Co's gaze returns to Telstra's South Brisbane fibre
The approximately 20,000 premises on Telstra's fibre network in South Brisbane could soon be on the NBN, with the two companies set to recommence negotiations in the first quarter of 2015.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Brandis snubbed consumer groups, ISPs in piracy debate
Australian Attorney-General George Brandis did not officially meet with internet service providers or consumer rights groups a single time in the 10 months spent planning a crackdown on online copyright infringement, according to documents obtained by ZDNet.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Review stalls NBN’s Rolls Royce
An NBN review reveals that costs for building fibre-to-the-premises are higher in built-up areas, sinking hopes of more homes getting the ‘Rolls Royce’ model.
Source: The Australian
Mon, 23rd Feb 2015
Telstra to build 22 new WA mobile towers
Telstra will build 22 new mobile phone towers across regional Western Australia after the state government announced it would invest $45 million into boosting mobile coverage.
Source: iTnews Australia
AFP backs privacy and metadata over anonymity
As Australia's PM ramps up his push for the passing of the government's mandatory data-retention Bill, AFP assistant commissioner Tim Morris has said that the agency cannot support the right to anonymity where it may lead to unlawful activity.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Draft copyright code published
Rights holders and ISPs have published a draft of the Government mandated code intended to combat online copyright infringement.
Source: iTWire
Telecom outages continue after Queensland cyclone
Telstra is scrambling to restore services in Queensland after Tropical Cyclone Marcia hit the state’s north coast on Friday morning, damaging properties and leaving many areas without power.
Source: Computerworld
Greens to scuttle data retention bill
The Greens remain determined to scuttle proposed data retention laws, slamming the current plan while leaving open the possibility of amendments to tighten data security.
Source: The Australian
Vodafone launches shared plans, Stan partnership
Vodafone Australia has signed an agreement with video-streaming Nine-Fairfax joint venture Stan to provide video services to its mobile customers as the company launches shared plans.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co signs $400m HFC deal with Arris
NBN Co has signed a $400 million deal with Arris Group to upgrade Telstra and Optus' hybrid-fibre coaxial networks for use as part of the national broadband network.
Source: iTnews Australia
Shake-up at Telstra as David Thodey departs
Outgoing Telstra chief executive David Thodey says the company is prepared for a potential exit of some senior staff in the wake of chief financial officer Andy Penn being picked as his replacement.
Source: SMH