Broadband News

Tue, 02nd Dec 2014

Dallas Buyers Club to pay up for expert witness flight

The expert that Dallas Buyers Club LLC used to determine which Australian customers allegedly shared the film online will be flown from Germany to Australia for cross-examination.

Source: ZDNet Australia

'Faster' NBN rollout slower than expected

NBN Co's multi-technology mix model of the NBN could reach one in three premises by the time of the next federal election.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Vodafone pledges better 3G reliability

Vodafone has deployed self-organizing network (SON) technology to enhance reliability on its 3G network during high-usage situations, the telco announced today.

Source: Computerworld

Mon, 01st Dec 2014

NBN Co’s MTM rollout go-slow: Malcolm Turnbull’s Mistake?

With the NBN Co having revised its figures from 2.7 million homes by June 2016 before the 2013 election to just 1.9 million homes now the Coalition is in power, has the NBN become as big a shemozzle under the LNP as it was under Labor?

Source: iTWire

NBN Co cuts back targets in new construction plan

NBN Co has released details on which suburbs will receive fibre-to-the-premise connections under its revised 18-month construction plan, which has scaled back the number of premises forecast to be connected to the NBN by June 2016.

Source: iTnews Australia

New NBN rollout plan revealed

Nbn Co has named the next 460 suburbs and towns to get the new-look National Broadband Network, in a move set to reignite controversy.

Source: The Australian

Fears businesses missing out in next Tasmanian NBN rollout

The next phase of the National Broadband Network rollout in Tasmania will be inferior and the project is behind schedule, an IT lobby group says.

Source: ABC News

NBN’s new construction plan bypasses cities

NBN Co has published a new rollout plan showing the next 400 locations to be connected. But the lack of HFC agreements with Optus and Telstra mean most metro areas miss out.

Source: iTWire

Perth to Singapore SEA-ME-WE-3 cable severed again

The SEA-ME-WE-3 cable linking Perth to Singapore was once again cut last night and will undergo repairs.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN releases construction plan

NBN Co has named the next 460 suburbs and towns to get the new-look National Broadband Network.

Source: Computerworld

Shape of things to come on NBN

People in 1.9 million homes and businesses will find out today what type of national broadband network technology they will get, in a move set to reignite controversy.

Source: The Australian

Four ACT suburbs included in next phase of NBN rollout

About 57,000 homes in Canberra will receive access to the National Broadband Network, as part of the latest rollout plan for the project.

Source: ABC News

Fri, 28th Nov 2014

We should be able to see George Brandis' metadata

There is a major difference between law-enforcement agencies and media accessing metadata, but arguably that changes when it comes to politicians using taxpayer-funded phones.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN in talks with Qantas, Virgin for in seat, inflight Internet!

Wish you could get a real Internet connection when flying about Australia rather than just on-board entertainment? NBN Co CEO Bill Morrow says talks are underway and it could happen as soon as late next year. 

Source: iTWire

Village Roadshow's iiNet piracy 'propaganda' complaint rejected

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission rejected a complaint from Village Roadshow co-CEO Graham Burke that iiNet's 'propaganda' around copyright infringement was misleading and deceptive.

Source: ZDNet Australia

ACMA hones in on malware with internet security portal

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has launched its Australian Internet Security Initiative portal to give internet service providers access to information about what IPs in their networks are infected by malware.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN to roll out quarter of ALP model

The company rolling out ­Australia’s super-fast internet plans to deliver fibre-to-the-premises to one in four homes, ­setting the scene for a fresh political storm over the nation’s biggest infrastructure project.

Source: The Australian

Thu, 27th Nov 2014

NBN Co to charge thousands for fibre-on-demand broadband connections

Consumers who miss out on a high-speed fibre connection to the national broadband network (NBN) will be offered the option to pay thousands of dollars for one when NBN Co rolls out its fibre-on-demand product early next year.

Source: SMH

Data retention bill fails scrutiny test

The Government’s plan to introduce mandatory data retention has failed to win the approval of a Senate committee tasked with scrutinising proposed legislation, which yesterday labelled it ill-defined and far-reaching.

Source: iTnews Australia

Southern Cross Cable telcos 'partnered' with spy agencies

Telcos and network providers on the main cable system connecting Australia and New Zealand to the United States provided interception capability to British and American spy agencies, according to documents leaked by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden.

Source: iTnews Australia

Communications coalition urges national focus on broadband adoption

Australia must set an ambitious broadband policy for the next fifteen years, a coalition representing consumers, small businesses, regional areas and competitive telcos has urged.

Source: Computerworld

Wed, 26th Nov 2014

NBN Co cuts CVC pricing for RSPs

NBN Co has followed through on plans to cut its much-criticised connectivity virtual circuit charge, dropping the price by 12.5 percent.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra doubles down on tempting tablets

Telstra is doubling up its range of tablets in selected stores to make more sales, with Telstra typically characterising it as ‘offering customers more choice this gift-giving season’.

Source: iTWire

Tue, 25th Nov 2014

Telstra turns on 700MHz '4GX' in Melbourne

Telstra has switched on its 700MHz band '4GX' network in Melbourne, just days after Vodafone rolled out its own 4GX network capability in the city.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Global online population hits 3 billion: ITU

There are now more than 3 billion people online globally, with two-thirds of all people with internet access now living in the developing world, according to new research by the United Nations agency charged with improving the world's access to IT infrastructure.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Turnbull, NBN Co ignored Telstra real-world FttN speed warnings

The Department of Communications and Telstra both warned Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull and NBN Co that the heralded speed test results in the Umina fibre-to-the-node trial may not represent speeds in a full FttN rollout.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Mon, 24th Nov 2014

Data retention little more than surveillance tax: Ludlam

Senator Scott Ludlam has labelled the Australian government's proposed data-retention scheme as little more than a surveillance tax, while calling for the release of a financial study into the scheme.

Source: ZDNet Australia

G20 needed fibre network to avoid delegate shirt-fronting

The G20 network needed fibre services with more than 15Mbps download speeds to keep delegates, media, and volunteers happy, according to the Australian Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Senate backs Ludlam on data retention costs

The Senate has passed a motion put by Greens Senator Scott Ludlam that calls on Attorney-General George Brandis to table a PricewaterhouseCoopers study into the cost to industry of implementing a data retention scheme.

Source: Computerworld

Vodafone forced to deny sale speculation

Vodafone Australia – and the international Vodafone Group - needs to be very careful what it says. The smallest comment will set off the rumour mill.

Source: iTWire