Broadband News
Thu, 04th Sep 2014
Clean up job stops NBN rollout stats showing the full picture
NBN Co's weekly rollout statistics do not reflect the number of premises that are verging on being ready to connect to the network, with NBN Co withholding some areas from being added to the list while additional construction work is being completed.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Crime Commission floats fines for ISPs that won't block sites
The Australian Crime Commission has suggested the Government consider penalties for internet service providers who fail to comply with requests from law enforcement to block websites.
Source: iTnews Australia
Australian Crime Commission rejects limits on website blocking
The Australian Crime Commission has rejected calls for limits on the government agencies that can issue notices under Section 313 of the Telecommunications Act 1997.
Source: Computerworld
Foxtel gunning for Netflix customers with pricing revamp
Pay TV operator Foxtel has announced a massive price restructure, adding new plans that are as low as $25 as well as a new 'box set' channel in a bid to woo customers who would otherwise use Netflix.
Source: iTWire
Australian journalists' union endorses internet filtering
The union representing media, artists, and journalists has backed an Australian government proposal to block websites containing copyright-infringing material.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Wed, 03rd Sep 2014
NBN: Government seeks to smooth transition from copper
The government has launched a public consultation to seek ways in which it can smooth the transition from the legacy copper network to the National Broadband Network for end users.
Source: Computerworld
Tue, 02nd Sep 2014
Telstra wants film studios to sue downloaders
Telstra has backed a proposal that would allow film studios to take its customers to court after those customers have ignored a number of warning notices about downloading copyright-infringing TV shows or films.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Turnbull asks industry for advice on better NBN migrations
The federal government has asked the telecommunications industry how it can improve the migration of users from copper services to the national broadband network after it struggled through a number of challenges with the first batch of transfers.
Source: iTnews Australia
Lack of transparency in Transparency Report
Amidst controversy over data retention, Telstra has published its latest transparency report on the number of requests it has received from government for information.
Source: iTWire
ISPs offer ways to combat online copyright infringement
The ISP industry has proposed constructive strategies to combat online copyright infringement, but warned that elements of the Federal Government’s current proposals would damage industry and consumers alike.
Source: ARN
Cloud storage facilities in the spotlight over leaked photos
Explicit photos of dozens of female celebrities have surfaced on the internet triggering many to question the security of online storage facilities.
Source: ABC News
Mon, 01st Sep 2014
ISPs willing to walk the plank with Abbott, Brandis
In a surprise move Australia's biggests ISPs have come out in support of a piracy crackdown, announcing they're willing to negotiate with the Abbott government about its controversial proposals.
Source: iTWire
ISPs willing to negotiate on 'three strikes' piracy regime
Australia’s telecommunications industry body has signalled its willingness to negotiate on a three strikes approach to copyright infringement despite being ‘unconvinced’ it will work, while outlining an alternative model and calling on rights holders to play their part to reduce piracy.
Source: iTnews Australia
Bill shock measures extended to all Australian telcos
Customers of smaller Australian telcos are set to begin receiving the same usage alerts provided to customers of Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra takes 85k requests for user data in 12 months
Telstra received just under 85,000 requests for customer information from government agencies in its 2014 financial year, the telco revealed in its first full year transparency report released today.
Source: iTnews Australia
Vodafone quietly tests NBN Co fibre for tower backhaul
Vodafone and NBN Co have been quietly testing out using NBN Co's fibre as backhaul for Vodafone's mobile network.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Optus automates credit risk; makes 70 redundant
Optus has announced plans to make 70 Australian positions redundant through the telco's efforts to automate its credit risk management systems.
Source: iTnews Australia
Fri, 29th Aug 2014
NBN CBA proves Turnbull's MTM is fraudband
Sometimes in politics, it is the actions of your opponents that best crystallise the virtues of your own policies.
Source: iTnews Australia
Time for a reality check on Labor's CBA-less NBN strategy
Labor-hating has become so popular that few bother remembering the real reason FttP was introduced without a CBA in the first place. But as the Coalition crows about a cost-benefit analysis justifying an FttN NBN 10 times costlier than Labor's own FttN policy, it's worth taking time out for a reality check.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Mobile lobby blames federal laws for dodgy airport reception
The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association has pushed the federal government to adopt more lenient planning laws to allow carriers to improve mobile coverage in the nation's airports.
Source: iTnews Australia
Film companies want US-style system to penalise downloaders
The copyright industry's response to the government's proposal to curb the unauthorised downloading of online content remains the same as it was years and years ago: it wants everyone else to take responsibility, and wants to reap the rewards.
Source: iTWire
Thu, 28th Aug 2014
Leaked paper reveals Australia's obsessive metadata secrecy
The Australian government has been discussing a detailed data-retention wish list with internet service providers for more than four years - with citizens kept in the dark.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Coalition must push on with 'a slower NBN sooner', but hurdles remain for Malcolm Turnbull
The long-awaited cost-benefit analysis of the NBN predictably backs the Coalition's option, but Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull still has to deliver.
Source: SMH
NBN likely to share HFC with Foxtel
National Broadband Network services and pay TV service Foxtel are likely to co-exist on the hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) network currently owned by Telstra, according to NBN Co CEO Bill Morrow.
Source: Computerworld
Morrow says NBN Co to get detail on Telstra's copper quality
NBN Co will have access to reports on the quality of Telstra's copper network and where pits have been flooded in the past, as part of the revised NBN deal, CEO Bill Morrow has said.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Section 313: iiNet, industry orgs seek limits on website blocking
Internet service provider iiNet, the Internet Society of Australia (ISOC-AU) and industry bodies the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) and the Communications Alliance have all called for restrictions on the government agencies that can issue requests for ISPs to block websites.
Source: Computerworld
Vocus posts record year as statutory profit more than doubles
Vocus Communications has cited organic growth as the driver of another banner year for the network and datacentre company.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co aims to double users, revenue in one year
NBN Co plans to double the 210,628 active users currently on the national broadband network and the $61 million in revenue it reported for fiscal 2014 in the 12 months to June next year.
Source: iTnews Australia
Federal government injects $8.4 billion to NBN
NBN Co expects to double the number of users connected to the NBN over the next year - setting a target of 480,000 users with the release of its annual results.
Source: ARN
FTTP needed for teleHealth, say Labor MPs in open letter
Two Labor members of Parliament have written an open letter to Malcolm Turnbull asking him to reconsider his scrapping of the Coalition's FTTP NBN plans.
Source: iTWire