Broadband News
Wed, 20th Nov 2013
NBN chief puts brakes on FTTN upgrade path
Australian internet users given a fibre-to-the-node connection under a rebooted NBN scheme are unlikely to see the last-mile upgraded to fibre within a decade, according to NBN Co's acting chief Ziggy Switkowski.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra copper network 'robust': NBN chief
Telstra's decades-old copper network continues to "perform robustly", new NBN chairman Ziggy Switkowski says.
Source: Computerworld
Tue, 19th Nov 2013
Former OECD economist welcomes chance to work on NBN review
Former OECD economist Henry Ergas says he would welcome the chance to help conduct a cost benefit analysis of the National Broadband Network.
Source: ABC News
One-in-three Aussies online while watching TV
Australians are getting used to multi-tasking, with new research showing we are increasingly spending time online while watching television at the same time.
Source: iTWire
Malone to take months-long break from iiNet
ISP iiNet's finance chief will temporarily take the reins as CEO of the company after Michael Malone revealed plans to take a "3-6 month break" before returning to oversee a fresh round of growth.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co invites RSPs to take part in fibre-to-the-building pilot
NBN Co has sent out expressions of interest (EOI) to all of its retail service providers (RSPs) today to take part in a three-month fibre-to-the-building (FTTB) pilot which will start in January 2014 across Australia.
Source: Computerworld
Telstra defends copper network, says it's not ageing
Telstra has defended the quality of its copper network saying "it's like a grandfather's axe" that is fixed as needed.
Source: SMH
Australian government mulls NBN satellite options
The Australian government is considering its options as the NBN Co interim satellite service reaches capacity.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Internode to use NBN tower to stream music festival
Internode will be using an NBN tower to live stream the performance of The John Butler Trio in high definition at South Australia’s iconic Gorgeous Festival.
Source: ARN
Mon, 18th Nov 2013
NBN VDSL trials a success: NBN Co CTO
NBN Co's chief technology officer Gary McLaren has said that the speed and product trials of VDSL technology conducted by NBN Co have proven to be a success.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Fibre to the node NBN offers 'optionality': Turnbull
Ahead of the release of NBN Co's strategic review, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said that fibre to the node offers flexibility and optionality on future upgrades for broadband.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Virgin matches Voda, offers double data
Virgin Mobile has matched rival Vodafone in doubling the data of its postpaid plans over the Christmas period; from now to 13 January.
Source: iTWire
iiNet mulls moving NBN satellite users onto 3G, 4G
ISP iiNet is considering whether some of its 8000 customers on interim NBN satellite services would be better served by switching across to Optus mobile broadband.
Source: iTnews Australia
Turnbull slams media over NBN
Communications Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has accused the mainstream media of letting down the Australian public by not being sufficiently interested in the National Broadband Network.
Source: ARN
Turnbull calls for NBN documents release
Federal Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten, is under pressure to authorise the release of confidential cabinet documents on the national broadband network's costings Labor received while in government.
Source: ARN
Hawaiki Cable secures Oregon landing site for Pacific cable
New trans-Pacific cable moves a step closer after inking a deal to land its cable and for backhaul.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Inside Alcatel-Lucent's bid to keep its NBN contracts
Alcatel-Lucent has flown in its fixed networks president to meet with NBN Co officials this week in a bid to preserve as much of the up to $1.5 billion value of equipment contracts it holds for the national broadband network as possible.
Source: iTnews Australia
Fri, 15th Nov 2013
NBN Co to assimilate TransACT's network in nine months
Following the competition regulator's nod of approval, NBN Co will begin incorporating TransACT's Canberra fibre network into its own over the next nine months.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Canberra to get free wifi in July
The ACT government plans to have free wifi available in its public spaces and transport hubs by July next year.
Source: iTnews Australia
Govt to protect domestic subsea cable routes
Domestic submarine fibre optic cables could be afforded the same protections as international links under legislative changes introduced to parliament.
Source: iTnews Australia
Thu, 14th Nov 2013
Senate, Turnbull duel for NBN oversight
Oversight of the re-aligned national broadband network project is being fiercely contested in the first days of the new parliament, with duelling proposals aired for separate committees.
Source: iTnews Australia
ACCC signs off on iiNet FTTH sale to NBN Co
NBN Co's purchase of iiNet’s fibre-to-the-home network in the ACT has been approved by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Source: Computerworld
Optus loses customers amid 4G growth
Despite the continuing exodus of customers from rival Vodafone, Optus too is experiencing a drop in the number of mobile customers on its network.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Turnbull accuses Lundy of 'rolling' Clare on NBN committee
Labor's shadow communications ministers will not be a part of an NBN committee after Labor and the Greens put forward proposal to establish a Senate committee in place of the existing committee.
Source: ZDNet Australia
TPP leak reveals Australian government secrets
Wikileaks has leaked a draft of the IP chapter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, confirming the Australian government is backing a reinforcement of geoblocking and will also be opposing moves to make ISPs not responsible for what their users do.
Source: iTWire
Optus talks to government about NBN backhaul
Optus shares concerns about the high cost of backhaul for mobile services but is not ready to take a position on opening the NBN to mobile operators for that purpose, according to Optus chief country officer Kevin Russell.
Source: Computerworld
Optus revenue dips, but profit increases
Optus has seen its net profit increase 33 per cent to $218 million and earnings before tax growing 11 per cent to $23 million in its second quarter financial results, ending September 30.
Source: ARN
Wed, 13th Nov 2013
NBN Co activated 2554 premises in past week
The NBN Co has passed 6004 additional premises in the week ending Sunday, November 10.
Source: ARN
Penalties for piracy as three strikes off the table in TPP negotiations
Three-strikes or a graduated response to online copyright infringement will no longer be a part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, but could be replaced by civil and criminal enforcement provisions.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Vodafone Australia customer numbers slide by another 600,000
Vodafone Australia's customer base has slid to just over 5 million users, in another tough half year for the mobile company.
Source: ZDNet Australia