Broadband News
Tue, 05th Aug 2014
Development of NBN policy rushed and chaotic, review finds
An independent audit, commissioned by the Federal Government, has found the policy's formation was flawed and NBN Co was not fit for purpsoe.
Source: ABC News
Mon, 04th Aug 2014
ACCC floats new rules to monitor NBN competition
Australia's competition watchdog has proposed a new set of rules which would require NBN Co to store details of different NBN access services, including take-up and retail service provider market share, for 12 months to allow it to monitor how competition develops across the network.
Source: iTnews Australia
Government vague, divided on copyright crackdown: Dreyfus
Proposals to crack down on online copyright infringement are vague and Attorney-General George Brandis and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull appear divided on the schemes, according to Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Copyright holders - it's your problem, says Turnbull
Malcom Turnbull says it is up to copyright holders to "sue mums and dads" who download pirated content. But that's not quite what the rights holders want.
Source: iTWire
ACCC wants cheaper mobile phone calls
The ACCC is conducting an inquiry into the pricing of mobile phone calls that go to a different network.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 01st Aug 2014
ACCC pushes for cheaper mobile calls and texts
Australia's competition watchdog has put forward a number of proposals to cut the cost of mobile phone calls and text messages in order to bring them in line with international equivalents.
Source: iTnews Australia
An internet of bins: Networking Splendour in the Grass
Building a large temporary network in the middle of a remote field for a music festival presents some unique challenges to the Splendour in the Grass organisers.
Source: ZDNet Australia
ACCC revises mobile terminating access service prices
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has put mobile terminating access service (MTAS) pricing up for discussion to promote competition between telecommunications providers.
Source: ARN
Rights owners must sue mum and dad copyright infringers: Turnbull
Copyright holders must be prepared to sue mums and dads and students for copyright infringement in order for any deterrence scheme to be effective, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has warned.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Thu, 31st Jul 2014
World Cup sets records for Akamai
Content delivery specialist Akamai says the recently-concluded FIFA World Cup set a new record for live sports events and contributed to the highest-ever total traffic peak.
Source: iTWire
Piracy is theft but content owners need to up their game: Turnbull
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said online copyright infringement needs to be deterred in Australia, but has said content owners should pay for any notification system and ensure their content is available in a timely and affordable manner.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Wed, 30th Jul 2014
Attorney-General seeks public input on anti-piracy law changes
Attorney-General George Brandis and communications minister Malcolm Turnbull have opened a public consultation on changes to the enforcement of copyright law.
Source: Computerworld
Ericsson Australia wins four-year NBN Co contract
NBN Co has handed Ericsson Australia a four year contract to deliver fixed wireless and satellite services to premises across regional Australia.
Source: ARN
NBN Co plans cut on controversial capacity charge
NBN Co has flagged it is planning to cut its controversial connectivity virtual circuit charge by 12.5 percent in October, amongst other proposals to change the company's pricing model.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Data retention scheme would lead to surveillance tax on consumers, say telcos
Internet users could pay up to $100 a year extra if the federal government implements a scheme requiring telecommunications companies to store customer phone and internet data for two years, according to one of the country’s largest internet service providers.
Source: SMH
TV finally losing its heated battle with the Internet
The seemingly inevitable is finally upon us - Internet use has almost taken over from TV as our preferred source of entertainment, while reading news online has overtaken newspapers according to a new survey.
Source: iTWire
Australian mobile users switch to Aldi, Amaysim
In a relatively saturated mobile market, Australian mobile resellers Amaysim and Aldi are picking up market share, according to the latest statistics.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Tue, 29th Jul 2014
Telstra retreat hands Vodafone Splendour mobile coverage win
The mobile services of both Telstra and Optus were virtually unusable for the 30,000 pundits attending this year's Splendour in the Grass festival, while the underdog Vodafone performed best.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Vodafone announces big 4G push – in the city
Vodafone says it aims to reach 95% of Australia’s metropolitan population with its 4G network by end of 2014.
Source: iTWire
Govt must store data in retention regime: iiNet
The Government must be responsible for the storage and protection of data held as part of its 'unnecessary and disproportionate' proposed mandatory data retention regime, according to the scheme's most vocal opponent, internet service provider iiNet.
Source: iTnews Australia
Vodafone re-allocates 850MHz 4G spectrum a week after Telstra and Optus 700MHz launch
Vodafone pulled the plug on its bid for a chunk of the 700MHz spectrum in 2012, and is now re-allocating its existing 850MHz spectrum to compete with Telstra and Optus, both of which launched their respective 700MHz networks to limited locations earlier this month.
Source: ARN
Mon, 28th Jul 2014
NBN Co sets September FTTP service date for TPG areas
NBN Co's fibre-to-the-premise product will be ready for service in areas where internet service provider TPG is seen as posing a competitive threat from late September this year.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co examines 'connected home' opportunities for RSPs
NBN Co, in conjunction with Ovum, has released a report highlighting opportunities for service providers to innovate and profit from the rise of the 'connected home'.
Source: ARN
Beware the spin behind Australia's copyright law discussion paper
Another week, another propaganda-driven proposal from the mind of Australian Attorney-General Brandis. This one assumes that ISPs need to fix other people's broken product distribution models.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Fri, 25th Jul 2014
Govt proposes crackdown on ISPs over piracy
The Australian government has proposed amending the country's Copyright Act to make internet service providers legally responsible when their users infringe on copyrighted material, and to allow the copyright industry to force ISPs through the courts to censor specific websites.
Source: iTnews Australia
Brandis proposes website blocking and piracy crackdown
A leaked discussion paper from the Australian Attorney-General's Department reveals proposals to implement new legislation to undo the High Court's judgement in the 2012 iiNet copyright infringement case against Hollywood film studios, and force ISPs to block websites containing copyright infringing material.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Thu, 24th Jul 2014
Turnbull urges ACCC to avoid NBN migration 'price shock'
Federal communication minister, Malcolm Turnbull, is urging the Australian competition watchdog to avoid making any decisions that could result in an NBN migration "price shock".
Source: ZDNet Australia
Turnbull warns ACCC against undermining Telstra NBN agreement
Communications minister Malcolm Turnbull and finance minister Mathias Cormann have warned the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission that cutting wholesale pricing for services over Telstra's copper network could negatively affect the National Broadband Network rollout.
Source: Computerworld
Telstra sends more jobs to Asia
When Telstra boss David Thodey said the company's future is in Asia, he was right. That’s where many of the company's jobs are headed.
Source: iTWire
Australia a wireless leader and wired laggard
Australia has the second highest rate of broadband mobile in the world but ranks a lowly 21st place in fixed broadband. Australia has 114.4 wireless broadband subscriptions per 100 population but just 26.1 fixed connections per 100, according to the latest figures from the OECD.
Source: iTWire