Broadband News

Tue, 13th Aug 2013

NBN Co doubles Telstra liability to $1.8bn

NBN Co has upgraded its financial liability to Telstra under the definitive agreements to $1.8 billion, the majority of it incurred in the past year.

Source: iTnews Australia

Cairns goes live with NBN

Cairns in Queensland is now switched on to the National Broadband Network (NBN), with the fibre network covering 2700 premises in Bungalow, Cairns North, Manunda, Parramatta Park, Portsmith and Westcourt.

Source: Computerworld

Government sitting on NBN report: Turnbull

The government is withholding a report on the NBN so its progress can't be scrutinised by the public ahead of the election, the opposition says.

Source: ARN

One third of NBN premises passed can't connect

NBN Co has revealed to ZDNet that 55,700 of the 163,500 brownfields premises passed by the NBN's fibre network could not order a service.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN Co funds enterprise test lab

NBN Co has awarded a contract to Enex TestLab to build a dedicated testing facility, which will allow vendors and service providers to test copper-based applications and equipment on an NBN Co fibre network.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN Co plan may not be released before the election

Communications Minister Anthony Albanese has signaled that the long-awaited NBN business plan will not be released before the election.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Mon, 12th Aug 2013

All aboard the Pirate Bay web broswer

The ongoing NSA privacy scandal and resulting outrage has at least resulted in some cool apps and tools, and The Pirate Bay is the latest group to join the fray with a new private broswer.

Source: iTWire

Abbott's fake Twitter following culled

Tony Abbott's Twitter account has returned to more normal levels but he continues to be bombarded by fake, paid-for followers.

Source: ARN

NBN interim satellite service a victim of its own success

iiNet is preparing to withdraw its 20GB plans on the NBN interim satellite service, citing capacity constraints.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Fri, 09th Aug 2013

Telstra not sold on Optus and Vodafone's bill shock killers

Telstra CEO David Thodey has downplayed moves by Optus and Vodafone to combat mobile bill shock, stating that Telstra deserves to charge a premium because of its network.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN subcontractors bullied: Turnbull

Subcontractors rolling out the National Broadband Network (NBN) are being subject to "classic bully boy tactics", the federal opposition claimed.

Source: Computerworld

Virgin Mobile tweaks billing system for new TCP code

Virgin Mobile used the commencement of a revised industry code to launch a new self service portal for customers while making changes to its internal billing system to warn customers about voice and data usage.

Source: iTnews Australia

The facts behind News Corp vs the NBN

No-one would describe News Corp Australia's view on the National Broadband Network (NBN) as rosy. But if it's true the company has engaged in repeated attacks on the government because it "hates" its network, as Fairfax columnist Paul Sheehan claimed at the weekend, the big question seems fairly obvious. Why?

Source: iTnews Australia

Thu, 08th Aug 2013

Telstra jumps to 15.1 million mobile customers

Telstra has continued its customer acquisition streak, adding 1.3 million customers in the last financial year.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Telstra sees first $7m in copper disconnection fees

Telstra has received its first $7 million in government payments to disconnect customers from the copper network as part of the transition to the NBN.

Source: iTnews Australia

Tony Abbott hoses down Kevin Rudd's suggestions he discussed NBN with Rupert Murdoch

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has rubbished suggestions he has discussed the National Broadband Network with media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

Source: ABC News

Kevin Rudd accuses Tony Abbott of holding talks with Rupert Murdoch over NBN

The Prime Minister has dragged Opposition Leader Tony Abbott into his row with Rupert Murdoch, saying he must come clean over any talks he has had with the media mogul over the future of the NBN.

Source: ABC News

Wed, 07th Aug 2013

Internode to deploy free outdoor wi-fi in Adelaide

Internode will deploy a new $1.5 million free outdoor wi-fi network covering the Adelaide CBD.

Source: iTnews Australia

Silcar snags NBN rollout renewal

NBN Co has renewed an east coast construction contract with Silcar for a further year in a deal that is expected to be worth up to $300 million.

Source: iTnews Australia

Copyright owners group tears apart law review process

Australia’s home entertainment industry lobby has slammed the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) over its handling of a review of the country’s copyright regime.

Source: iTnews Australia

Optus fibre cable break disrupts services

A fibre cable break between Optus' exchange in Belrose and Epping Road has disrupted residential services in the areas.

Source: Computerworld

Tue, 06th Aug 2013

Vodafone Australia adds 1,200 sites to regional network

The embattled telco has announced an expansion to its 3G network across regional Australia.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN rates too low for Syntheo: Turnbull

Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said that Syntheo was forced to walk from the NBN project because its pay rates were too low.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Albo defends NBN despite contract walkout

Labor insists the rollout of the National Broadband Network in Western Australia and South Australia will still be on time and on budget, despite construction partner Syntheo walking away from the project.

Source: Computerworld

Labor telling NBN lies: Turnbull

Kevin Rudd has told "shocking lies" about the coalition's National Broadband Network (NBN) plans after construction partner Syntheo quit, Malcolm Turnbull says.

Source: Computerworld

'Strange coincidence of interests' between Coalition and Murdoch on NBN

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd claims there's a "strange coincidence of interests" between the coalition and media mogul Rupert Murdoch on the national broadband network.

Source: ARN

Syntheo disaster could lose Rudd's NBN election

Mike Quigley was quick to claim that Syntheo's collapse would not dely the NBN rollout in Western Australia and South Australia - but with just a month until the election, this was the last news NBN Co needed. Will it be a free kick for the Coalition?

Source: ZDNet Australia

Why does Rupert Murdoch hate the NBN, asks Kevin Rudd

Rupert Murdoch is entitled to his views, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Tuesday, shrugging off attacks from Murdoch on Twitter and the magnate's Australian newspapers.

Source: SMH

Downer EDI scores another NBN contract

Downer EDI has picked up another two-year contract for the National Broadband Network (NBN) rollout in Brisbane and Melbourne.

Source: Computerworld

Syntheo pulls out of NBN construction

NBN Co contractor, Syntheo, will cease its construction contract ties with NBN Co.

Source: ARN