Broadband News

Thu, 18th Jul 2013

Turnbull probes NBN Co board on lobbying

NBN Co's chairwoman Siobhan McKenna has confirmed to Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull that the board hired a lobbyist to represent it to the Coalition.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Back off, NBN Co warns Turnbull

The relationship between NBN Co and Malcolm Turnbull has deteriorated further, with the company criticising the Opposition spokesman for politicising the debate.

Source: iTWire

NBN to enable online applications for construction of buildings in South Perth

Communications minister Anthony Albanese has announced an upcoming online application system for the construction of buildings in South Perth that the National Broadband Network will enable.

Source: Computerworld

Wed, 17th Jul 2013

Direct fibre could make NBN cheaper: Hackett

Removing the so-called NBN connection boxes are one of the many ways Internode founder Simon Hackett believes the NBN could be rolled out cheaper.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN powers robotic farms in rural Tasmania

The NBN is helping electrical contractors in rural Tasmania better support robotic dairies and remote-controlled farm irrigation systems, according to Andrew Dare Electrical Services managing director, John Dare.

Source: Computerworld

Telstra readies for an IPTV future

Telstra is restructuring its digital media division to meet the threat from OTT players. Foxtel penetration is stuck at 30% - the big growth will come from IPTV.

Source: iTWire

NBN Co to reserve data port for government

NBN Co plans to reserve one of four data ports on its customer equipment exclusively for government agencies to deliver unmetered online services into homes.

Source: iTnews Australia

Tue, 16th Jul 2013

Online shopping set to soar

The online shopping market in Australia continues to grow strongly and in 2013 is expected to account for 7% of total retail sales, according to fresh research.

Source: iTWire

NBN to improve school lesson delivery: Tecala Group

The NBN will potentially impact the independent schools sector by improving the delivery of school teaching, according to Australian ICT consulting and solutions provider, Tecala Group.

Source: ARN

Telco metadata 'loss' mooted under Greens' warrant plan

Victoria's anti-corruption commissioner believes authorities may not have enough time to get a warrant to access metadata before it is deleted by telcos, if proposed laws are passed.

Source: iTnews Australia

Internode launches 4G NodeMobile plans

Internet service provider and subsidiary of iiNet, Internode, has launched its first 4G NodeMobile phone plans, which offers large data quotas and no lock-in contracts.

Source: ARN

Mon, 15th Jul 2013

NBN Co appoints new contractor in SA

NBN Co has awarded a new three-year contract for the rollout of fibre to 300,000 premises in South Australia.

Source: iTnews Australia

Turnbull hints at NBN Co board change

The federal opposition's communications spokesman has criticised the NBN Co board over its lack of experience in telecommunications.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Turnbull says Quigley was sacked - then attacks McKenna

Opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull says Mike Quigley was sacked and Chairman Siobhan McKenna was responsible.

Source: iTWire

Vodafone class action delayed further

A class action lawsuit legal firm Piper Alderman is attempting to get up against Vodafone has been further delayed, according to an update sent out by the lawsuit's financer.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra gave FBI access to cables

Telstra and Hong Kong partner PCCW provided the FBI and US Department of Justice with access to its undersea cables to allow it to spy on data entering and leaving the United States, documents reveal.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN Co boosts construction in South Australia

NBN Co has awarded SA Power Networks a three-year contract to roll out fibre optic broadband in an area covering approximately 300,000 premises in Adelaide and regional South Australia.

Source: ARN

Fri, 12th Jul 2013

Quigley says decision to split with NBN Co was mutual

Departing NBN Co CEO Mike Quigley said he has no hard feelings about the political vitriol surrounding the high-speed network he was tasked.

Source: Computerworld

NBN Co CEO to retire

NBN Co CEO Mike Quigley has announced he will step down from leading the government-owned company and return to retirement.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Thu, 11th Jul 2013

ACCC announces inquiries on telco backhaul regulation

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will review whether current backhaul regulations are adequate.

Source: Computerworld

iiNet's Fetch gets a facelift

iiNet today announced what it describes as the 'latest evolution' of its popular television service, iiNet TV.

Source: iTWire

Customs, ACMA crack down on illegal jammers

A joint effort to crack down on mobile and GPS jammers has resulted in the seizure of almost 100 of the devices over seven months, according to Australia's communications regulator.

Source: iTnews Australia

First NT premises connected to the NBN this week

Premises in Darwin will be able to sign up for fibre National Broadband Network (NBN) connections for the first time this week.

Source: Computerworld

Telstra, Optus, VHA back renewal of mobile fee oversight

Australia's telco sector has unanimously backed a proposal to renew regulations governing mobile termination fees.

Source: iTnews Australia

Optus rebuffed in SMS fee renegotiation

Optus is pushing for regulation of SMS termination fees after a commercial attempt to overturn the current decade-old rates fell through.

Source: iTnews Australia

VHA claims Telstra absorbed $1.4bn in mobile fee cuts

Vodafone Hutchison Australia has accused Telstra of pocketing $1.4 billion over the past nine years by not passing on reductions in mobile termination fees.

Source: iTnews Australia

Wed, 10th Jul 2013

IPv6 helps Internode win auDA server hosting

Internode has said that its push for IPv6 in Australia helped it win a lucrative hosting deal with Australian top-level domain manager auDA.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Optus opens 4G in Wollongong

The Optus 4G network has been extended to Wollongong, with additional coverage coming to the area later this year.

Source: iTWire

Vodafone Australia opens 4G up to new customers

Close to a month after switching on 4G for existing customers, Vodafone is opening the network up to new customers based in metropolitan areas.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Tue, 09th Jul 2013

NBN's build-it-first approach for wireless wrong: Vertel

NBN Co building a fixed-wireless network without knowing where exactly the fixed-wireless customers are located is one reason for the delay in the rollout, according to fixed-wireless provider Vertel.

Source: ZDNet Australia