Broadband News
Fri, 24th May 2013
US ISP to rip out Huawei equipment
Huawei's bad luck in the US continues, after wireless ISP Clearwire announced it will reduce the amount of equipment from the Chinese telco vendor it uses in its TDD-LTE network rollout due to national security concerns.
Source: iTnews Australia
Get it while you can – kits to help small businesses benefit from the NBN
The Minister Communications, Senator Stephen Conroy, has announced that the Government will provide $5 million to develop sector-specific ‘Digital Business Kits’ to help small to medium sized enterprises take advantage of the National Broadband Network.
Source: iTWire
Thu, 23rd May 2013
Signs point to NBN construction ramp-up
Figures released last week showed that NBN Co passed 22,100 brownfield premises with fibre in the first three months of 2013, but can the company make up the gap to meet its targets by the end of June?
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN subcontractor rips up pipes
An furious NBN subcontractor has ripped equipment out of the ground over a pay dispute, tearing out pipes laid just six weeks ago in Adelaide.
Source: iTWire
More NBN training hubs launched in Adelaide
Seven new digital hubs which promote the benefits of the National Broadband Network (NBN) have been launched in Adelaide.
Source: Computerworld
Union to meet with Telstra as telecom job cuts pile up
The Communications Workers Union, the communications branch of the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU), plans to meet with Telstra on Tuesday to learn more about the telco's restructuring plans and what they mean for industry jobs, according to CWU national assistant secretary Ken Hardisty.
Source: Computerworld
Vodafone loses 216,000 more customers - this year so far
Vodafone has announced its global annual results. Australia continues to be the worst performing country, with another 216,000 customers lost so far this year.
Source: iTWire
Telstra to 'restructure' landline jobs
A memo from Telstra chief operations officer has told staff to expect job cuts in its fixed line operations, which continue to lose ground to mobile.
Source: iTWire
Wed, 22nd May 2013
iiNet open to Coalition NBN offers
iiNet would be willing to sell more of its infrastructure, including its extensive fibre to the node network to a Coalition government, should the party win the September federal election.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co buys $9 million worth of iiNet fibre
NBN Co today bought iiNet's fibre-to-the-home network in the ACT for $9 million in cash, in a big expansion play for the NBN.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co buys TransACT FTTP network in ACT
NBN Co has bought TransACT/iiNet's fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) network in the ACT for about $9 million.
Source: ARN
ACMA shops 'freephone' charge changes
Australia's communications regulator is shopping a draft variation to its numbering plan that would make 18/1800 numbers free to call from mobile phones by January 2015.
Source: iTnews Australia
Google technology advocate sends NBN safety message
Australian information security professionals need to step up and protect consumers against the many threats that will be enabled by the national broadband network, according to Google chief technology advocate Michael T. Jones.
Source: iTnews Australia
Stop charging for privacy, ACCAN tells Telstra
Consumer body ACCAN is calling on the Government to ban Telstra's $36 a year Silent Line fee, which landline customers have to pay to keep their phone number private.
Source: iTWire
Vodafone still losing Australian customers
Customers continue to desert Vodafone's Australian operation in droves according to the latest set of group financials from the global mobile giant.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tue, 21st May 2013
City Circle mobile coverage a 15-year project
Optus says the project that brought mobile phone coverage into Sydney's train tunnels was 15 years in the making.
Source: ARN
First NBN fibre extension completed
A business in Tasmania was the first to take up NBN Co on its user-pays offer to extend fibre beyond the 93 percent footprint.
Source: ZDNet Australia
ACMA goes public with ISP malware statistics
Although ISPs and network operators have had access to the rough figures of malware infections for some time, the Australian Communications and Media Authority has now begun publishing the statistics for the public.
Source: ZDNet Australia
'New world record' for wireless data
A week after Samsung's supposed 5G breakthrough, German researchers have announced 40 Gbps wireless, comparable to speeds reached by fibre.
Source: iTWire
What's life really like on the NBN? (Part II)
Kiama is perhaps best known for its ocean views and a blowhole that spouts water up to 25m in the air.
Source: Computerworld
Aussie ISPs still seeing users with Zeus infections
Variants of the Zeus banking trojan account for the majority of malware infections in Australia, despite concerted attempts to disable the threat, according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra continues with billion dollar 4G plan
Telstra has reached a milestone in its billion dollar 4G expansion program, switching on its 1500th 4G base station.
Source: Computerworld
Mon, 20th May 2013
Carriers attack NBN Co's 'lack of urgency'
NBN Co is under fire from Optus and the Competitive Carriers Coalition over allegations it is dragging out the finalisation of its special access undertaking.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telcos accuse NBN Co of pushing SAU delays
NBN Co's lengthy response to suggested changes to its special access undertaking has been met with criticism by retail service providers.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Canberra gets first Optus TD-LTE services
Optus has launched TD-LTE mobile services in Canberra for data only: it will offer a TD-LTE dongle and TD-LTE pocket WiFi hotspot, both will operate on HSPA+ or 3G networks outside TD-LTE coverage areas.
Source: iTWire
Freedom Cable yanks Australia from subsea rollout
Freedom Cable is pulling the pin on an extension of its subsea fibre optic cable proposal to Australia, after apparently failing to secure $50 million in financial backing.
Source: iTnews Australia
Optus reveals Australia's first multi-band 4G network
SingTel subsidiary, Optus, has revealed plans to launch the country’s first multi-band TD/FD- LTE 4G network.
Source: ARN
Beware your digital footprint
Australians are becoming increasingly complacent about the digital footprint they leave behind. A major survey reveals that most are unsure how many websites hold their personal information.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 17th May 2013
NBN Co wants block on Telstra disconnection processes
NBN Co is attempting to have the competition watchdog block several disconnection measures that Telstra re-drafted last month.
Source: iTnews Australia
Inside Telstra's super-fast 4G rollout
Telstra's 4G upgrades are occurring in the unlikeliest of places. Even retirement homes.
Source: ZDNet Australia