Broadband News
Mon, 24th Jun 2013
Union wants Telstra copper truth
The Australian Communications Workers Union has called on Telstra to reveal the exact state of its copper access network.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Data retention needs oversight: Inquiry
A parliamentary inquiry has recommended that any data retention laws should include provisions to protect privacy and provide oversight.
Source: Computerworld
Data breach notifications necessary: ACCAN
Telecommunications consumer body, Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), is urging the Senate Committee to back the introduction of mandatory data breach notification laws in the Privacy Amendment (Privacy Alerts) Bill 2013.
Source: ARN
Unions raise doubts over Telstra's copper network; workers using plastic bags to waterproof cables
Unions have told the ABC that Telstra's copper network is in a state of disrepair, with workers at the coalface of the infrastructure using plastic bags to protect cables from water.
Source: ABC News
AARNet upgrades submarine link to 40Gbps
Australia's Academic and Research Network (AARNet) and Southern Cross Cable Network (SCCN) have completed a 40Gbps upgrade to a fibre link connecting Sydney and North America.
Source: Computerworld
NBN partner Service Stream extends trading halt again
NBN Co construction partner Service Stream has again extended its trading halt on the Australian Stock Exchange pending an announcement about Syntheo.
Source: Computerworld
An Exabyte a month by 2016 - Australia's Internet future
Australian internet traffic will increase by more than five times to hit one Exabyte of data a month by 2016.
Source: iTWire
Fair Work examines Telstra's five-day interview trial
Fair Work Australia is examining whether a trial recruitment method at Telstra involving a five-day interview process meets Australian workplace laws.
Source: iTnews Australia
Fri, 21st Jun 2013
ACCC issues damning report on Telstra structural separation breaches
The ACCC has issued a damning report about Telstra’s non-compliance with its Structural Separation Undertaking (SSU) obligations under the NBN program. The report outlines seven areas in which Telstra allowed commercially sensitive information to pass between its wholesale and retail arms, putting its rival broadband providers at a disadvantage.
Source: iTWire
Telstra retail staff caught cancelling ISP orders
Telstra's retail staff have been discovered withdrawing new service orders lodged by some of Australia's internet service providers.
Source: iTnews Australia
Australian internet traffic to grow fivefold by 2016
Australian internet traffic has been doubling every 465 days since 2004 and will likely hit one exabyte of data a month by 2016, according to research from the University of Adelaide.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra breached competition rules: ACCC
The ACCC has said that Telstra breached competition rules in seven areas by sharing information between its wholesale and retail companies.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra investigated over NBN competition breaches
Telstra breached a number of measures to protect it from gaining a commercial advantage over its wholesale customers, according to an ACCC report.
Source: Computerworld
Thu, 20th Jun 2013
No date to resume NBN work: Thodey
Telstra chief executive David Thodey says he does not know when work will resume on remediation of asbestos-affected telecommunications pits.
Source: Computerworld
NBN Co launches 25/5 Mbps fixed wireless services
NBN Co has introduced a 25/5 Mbps speed tier to the fixed wireless network, with several ISPs already unveiling retail plans.
Source: iTnews Australia
iiNet cops AU$102K fine for very fine fine print
iiNet has been handed an AU$102,000 fine for a bus ad for naked DSL services with too small fine print.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra announces NBN asbestos requirements
Telstra has announced a number of requirements for its three key NBN rollout contractors about handling asbestos in pit remediation.
Source: iTWire
Vodafone has no plans for 4G modems
Vodafone Australia is unlikely to launch 4G modems for its new Long Term Evolution (LTE) network this year, focusing instead on smartphone users.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN contractors required to take asbestos training
Telstra has reviewed a number of requirements for its NBN contractors and subcontractors to improve asbestos handling in its cement pits.
Source: ARN
Wed, 19th Jun 2013
Transfield wins new NBN contracts
Transfield Services has been awarded one new and one extended contract with NBN Co for network builds in Victoria, the company announced today.
Source: iTnews Australia
Transfield wins $366m in new NBN work
Engineering firm Transfield Services has won $366 million in new work on the national broadband network.
Source: ARN
Telstra opposes 700 MHz for emergency 4G network
Telstra will oppose a last-ditch bid by emergency services to secure unsold 700 MHz spectrum for a national 4G network, arguing the spectrum should be kept for commercial mobile broadband growth.
Source: iTnews Australia
Vodafone unveils new pricing for data add-ons
Telecommunications company, Vodafone, has unveiled new pricing for data add-ons, which it claims will give customers choice when tailoring post-paid plans for smartphones.
Source: ARN
NBN Co could miss revised June fibre targets
NBN Co is facing the very real possibility of missing its revised June fibre rollout targets for built-up areas by as little as a couple of thousand premises, the latest rollout analysis by iTnews reveals.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tue, 18th Jun 2013
Bass Strait limits NBN options
Tasmania may have been the first state in Australia to receive NBN services but customers there have a limited choice of service providers, thanks to the cost of getting data traffic across Bass Strait.
Source: SMH
Mon, 17th Jun 2013
Committee urges NBN Co to prepare for new govt
NBN Co needs to prepare for potential policy changes as a result of the September federal election, according to the NBN joint oversight committee, which recommended an update to the company's corporate plan.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co put rejected apartment alternative in corporate plan
Exclusive: NBN Co originally put an alternative fibre-to-the-basement proposal for apartment blocks in the revised corporate plan in 2012, but it was rejected by the Australian government.
Source: ZDNet Australia
4G shootout: Vodafone vs Optus vs Telstra
How does Vodafone's new 4G network stack up against the competition? PC & Tech Authority took to the streets of Sydney to find out.
Source: PC Authority
NBN Co sinks Telstra's NBN info-sharing plan
Telstra is winning few friends with its attempts to limit restrictions on how it handles NBN information, failing to gain the confidence of even the information source, NBN Co.
Source: iTnews Australia
Armidale hosts fastest wireless NBN in Australia: Fusion Broadband
Armidale, NSW is now the location of the fastest wireless NBN in Australia - four times faster than what the NBN is currently promising - according to broadband service provider, Fusion Broadband.
Source: ARN