Broadband News
Mon, 02nd Sep 2013
The Complete NBN Guide
Alex Kidman weighs up the pros and cons of both the Labor Party solution and the proposed LNP alternative. If getting the right broadband network for the country is what you'll be voting for this election, this is what you need to know.
Source: PC Authority
NBN ISP warns of $4000 connection fee after election
An NBN internet service provider is warning customers they could be hit with a $4000 fee for Fibre-to-the-Home if they don’t connect before Saturday’s federal election.
Source: ARN
NBN Co deputy chair departs to contractor
NBN Co deputy chair Diane Smith-Gander has stepped down from her role to take up the position of chairman at NBN contractor Transfield Services.
Source: iTnews Australia
Optus cuts 157 jobs
Optus Singtel has confirmed it will slash 157 jobs following a strategic review of its operations announced in February.
Source: ARN
Albanese, Lundy slam coalition's 'no plan' ICT plan
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy Anthony Albanese and Minister Assisting for the Digital Economy Kate Lundy have taken aim at the Coalition's newly-announced ICT policy, saying the Coalition "still have no plan for our digital future."
Source: iTWire
Fri, 30th Aug 2013
iiNet completes Adam acquisition
iiNet has completed the $60 million acquisition of Adam Internet.
Source: Computerworld
EFA says vote Pirate Party or Greens
Digital rights lobby group Electronic Frontiers Australia today released an election scorecard rating a number of national political parties on a range of policies relating to digital rights.
Source: iTWire
More Optus jobs up in the air after closure, outsourcing
Another 157 jobs at Optus hang in the balance after the telco closed a service centre and outsourced some IT functions to third-party vendors.
Source: Computerworld
Thu, 29th Aug 2013
Cable cut causes outage for Telstra customers
Telstra services for hundreds of customers in a Sydney suburb have been out for almost a week after a cable was cut on Saturday.
Source: iTnews Australia
Australian spies in global deal to tap undersea cables
The nation's electronic espionage agency, the Australian Signals Directorate, is in a partnership with British, American and Singaporean intelligence agencies to tap undersea fibre optic telecommunications cables that link Asia, the Middle East and Europe and carry much of Australia's international phone and internet traffic.
Source: SMH
ACMA issues warning to pre-paid calling card providers
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has today announced it has "taken action" against two pre-paid, international calling card providers, claiming they failed to make required critical information summaries available to Australian consumers.
Source: ARN
Wed, 28th Aug 2013
Turnbull's NBN claim over Telstra copper is not supported by logic
Malcolm Turnbull still believes Telstra will gift its supposedly worthless copper network to the Coalition for its FttN plan - but his reasons why, make no sense at all. With the election looming, has Turnbull simply abrogated any responsibility for NBN accuracy?
Source: ZDNet Australia
iiNet withdraws 20GB NBN satellite plan
iiNet has now withdrawn its 20GB NBN satellite plan from market, as ZDNet first had reported the company was planning to do.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Schools to receive NBN technology cash
Australian schools will be offered grants to buy video conferencing equipment to create virtual classrooms if Labor wins the election.
Source: ARN
iiNet removes 20GB NBN Satellite 2 plan
Internet service provider (ISP), iiNet, has taken its 20GB NBN Satellite 2 plan off the market, effective immediately.
Source: ARN
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