Broadband News

Tue, 27th Aug 2013

The world laughs at 'Abbott's Internet'

Labor's attack on Tony Abbott's 'fraudband' policy has heated up, with a new advertisement showing some unimpressed reactions to the alternative NBN plan around the world.

Source: iTWire

Vodafone customers to get 'priority' support service

Vodafone will tomorrow unveil its first mobile plans that include priority service from support staff in its Hobart call centre.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra won't get one cent extra from Coalition's NBN: Turnbull

Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has reiterated his claim that Telstra will not get any more money under the Coalition's broadband policy.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Vodafone aims to get real with Red plans

Vodafone Australia's new Red plans are aimed at simplifying mobile phone plans, but data is tight.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Telstra business partner arrested in China blogging crackdown

A billionaire investor linked to Telstra has been arrested in China as part of a crackdown on bloggers and liberal opinion.

Source: iTnews Australia

Mon, 26th Aug 2013

ACMA warns on mobile phone repeaters

ACMA has warned that the use of unlicensed mobile phone repeaters can result in a jail sentence. Such devices are openly sold on eBay for around $100.

Source: iTWire

No Coalition policy on data retention, copyright infringement

The Coalition will join Labor in not going to this Australian federal election with any policy on mandatory data retention or copyright infringement, Shadow Attorney-General George Brandis has told ZDNet.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Labor promises free NBN training for small businesses

Australian businesses will have little excuse on how to leverage the NBN, with the Australian government continuing to hand out grants for free training.

Source: ZDNet Australia

VHA, Telstra clash over $1.4bn 'windfall' claim

Vodafone is digging its heels in over claims Telstra is pocketing regulated mobile termination fee cuts, angry at having its assertions branded "misleading".

Source: iTnews Australia

M2 expands NBN reach

M2 Telecommunications revenue has jumped 73 per cent to $681 million, while net profit rose 33 per cent to $44.1 million for the full year ending 30 June, 2013.

Source: Computerworld

Companies told to look to Asia for copper switch-off lessons

Australian businesses should start planning now for the switch off of copper networks and subsequent legacy systems that will come post-NBN, says Informa analyst Tony Brown.

Source: iTnews Australia

Coalition's mobile coverage policy will ignite investment: Vodafone

Vodafone Australia's CEO Bill Morrow has said that the Coalition's policy to address mobile coverage blackspots is a small start but will encourage investment from industry.

Source: ZDNet Australia

AFL looks to offer NBN services at football matches

If the Australian Labor government is re-election, the Australian Football League will look to provide Wi-Fi to fans at matches using the National Broadband Network (NBN)

Source: ZDNet Australia

Fri, 23rd Aug 2013

Australia Post's push to become a telco stalls

Australia Post wanted all three mobile operators to compete for its business, but the plans stalled when Vodafone pulled out.

Source: ZDNet Australia

AAPT cuts costs as revenue falls again

AAPT has blamed intense price competition for its latest set of weak results, with the number of employees and contractors continuing to be reduced as the telco seeks to cut costs.

Source: iTnews Australia

Kogan Mobile strikes a deal with Yatango for free 6GB offer

Kogan Mobile and new mobile player Yatango have signed a deal to allow former Kogan Mobile customers a free 30-day trial on Yatango.

Source: Computerworld

Thu, 22nd Aug 2013

Kogan Mobile woes a sign of MVNO consolidation

Kogan Mobile's recent troubles herald the beginning of a wave of consolidation in the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) market, according to Amaysim's CEO.

Source: Computerworld

Kogan Mobile attacks Telstra as lifelines dwindle

Kogan Mobile has launched a withering attack on one of its last remaining lifelines for service continuity for its 120,000 customers.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra taken to court for alleged patent violations

Telstra is facing a patent infringement lawsuit from British company Upaid. Upaid, which holds patents for "certain foundational technologies underlying the majority of modern mobile commerce systems’ implementations" according to the company, has issued proceedings in the Australian Federal Court for alleged infringements of two patents.

Source: Computerworld

US court rules masking IP address to access blocked Website violates law

But the verdict is probably far narrower in its implications that some believe. Still, it's a troubling decision about a controversial law.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Wed, 21st Aug 2013

ACCC pushes back NBN Co notice again

NBN Co will not receive a formal notice to alter the text of its special access undertaking before next month's federal election.

Source: iTnews Australia

Kogan Mobile's demise was 'the best news': iiNet

iiNet CEO Michael Malone has said that the end of Kogan Mobile is good news for the sustainability of the mobile virtual network operator market.

Source: ZDNet Australia

iiNet to examine Adam WiMAX backhaul constraints

ISP iiNet will attempt to resolve ongoing speed problems on Adam Internet's WiMAX network once it takes ownership of the asset.

Source: iTnews Australia

iiNet hits 20k NBN customers

iiNet now has 20,000 customers on the National Broadband Network (NBN), with 60 per cent on fibre, 35 per cent on satellite and 5 per cent on wireless.

Source: Computerworld

Optus cuts global roaming prices, introduces flat-price travel pack

Optus has today announced that it will cut the price of global roaming on its mobile plans from mid-next month, in a bid to target frequent international travellers.

Source: ARN

Kogan Mobile exodus to strain mobile transfer system

Telco representatives will convene daily over the next month under "extraordinary measures" put in place to cope with the high number of users that must now port away from Kogan Mobile.

Source: iTnews Australia

iiNet sees earnings grow faster than revenue in FY13

Internet service provider, iiNet (ASX:IIN) witnessed its earnings growing faster than its revenue as its margins had significantly improved for the 2013 financial year ending June 30.

Source: ARN

Optus simplifies international roaming charges

Optus has responded to the growing number of third party international roaming offerings by simplifying and reducing its own roaming charges.

Source: iTWire

Tue, 20th Aug 2013

Kogan "devastated" by mobile closure

Kogan Mobile says it is "devastated" and "extremely upset" at being forced to close its business, following the collapse of wholesale provider ispONE.

Source: ARN

Kogan Mobile: what sounds too good to be true generally is

When Telstra first decided to wholesale its 3G network, it was met with confusion by the industry. The confusion was compounded when Kogan announced high data mobile plans on the Telstra network.

Source: ZDNet Australia