Broadband News
Mon, 08th Apr 2013
Conroy denies AU$90 billion NBN price tag
Claims that the NBN will cost AU$90 billion and run four years late have been dismissed by the communications minister as having 'no analysis or facts' behind them.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Coalition to keep NBN wireless and satellite
An Abbott-led Coalition government would keep the fixed-wireless and satellite components of Australia's National Broadband Network project.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Coalition leaks NBN costings
The Federal Opposition says it will soon announce its new NBN policy. But in the meantime it has leaked many of the details to sympathetic media.
Source: iTWire
MD resigns from NBN Co construction partner
Service Stream's managing director, Graeme Sumner, will step down from the company by the end of this month.
Source: Computerworld
Ai Group says commitment to NBN essential
A business organisation says both sides of politics need to show how they will ensure the rollout of the national broadband network.
Source: ARN
Coalition 'fact-free zone' on NBN: Conroy
The Gillard government has rejected claims the cost of the national broadband network will more than double to $90 billion, saying the Coalition was a ''fact-free zone''.
Source: SMH
Fri, 05th Apr 2013
iiNet's Budii home gateway now shipping
The Budii home router with smartphone and optional tablet is now available from iiNet.
Source: iTWire
Kogan offers compensation to dumped telco customers
Kogan Mobile has begun offering compensation to customers kicked off its network for ‘high-usage’, iTnews can reveal.
Source: iTnews Australia
ACCC directs Telstra to improve NBN processes again
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has again directed Telstra to improve two aspects of its customer migration plan for the National Broadband Network (NBN).
Source: Computerworld
The NBN has cost nearly $4 billion so far
A Government report shows that NBN Co received $946 million in Government funding in the second half of 2012, bringing total funding to $3,778 million.
Source: iTWire
Thu, 04th Apr 2013
TPG's fine cut from $2m to $50,000
TPG has received a $50,000 fine from the Federal Court for alleged misleading ads, a reduction from the $2 million it was initially ordered to pay.
Source: Computerworld
Telstra preps stronger 3G signal for ski season
Telstra is planning to build a new, bigger mobile communications tower in the NSW ski village of Perisher to improve 3G signals to the area and avoid National Park employees getting hit by falling ice shards.
Source: iTnews Australia
ACCC rejects NBN Co special access terms
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is "not satisfied" with NBN Co's revised special access undertaking (SAU) and has proposed a number of changes in its draft SAU decision.
Source: iTnews Australia
ACCC seeks greater role in NBN oversight
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has proposed changes to the Special Access Undertaking (SAU) NBN Co lodged with the watchdog last year.
Source: Computerworld
iPrimus connects first NBN fixed wireless customer in NT
iPrimus, part of M2 Telecommunications Group (ASX: MTU), has connected its first NBN fixed wireless broadband customer in Lambells Lagoon, Northern Territory.
Source: ARN
ACCC 'not satisfied' with NBN Co's Special Access Undertaking
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is proposing a number of changes to be made on the NBN Co’s Special Access Undertaking (SAU).
Source: ARN
NBN to pull rank on Ausgrid
NBN Co has confirmed it will use the special powers of the Telecommunications Act to enable it to access Ausgrid's electricity distribution infrastructure for the NBN roll out, even though it and Ausgrid have failed to come to terms. Ausgrid is not happy.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co chalks up $400 million loss
NBN Co ended 2012 with a $406.5 million net loss and 72,329 premises passed with fibre, according to the latest ministerial performance report.
Source: iTnews Australia
Wed, 03rd Apr 2013
Optus launches BYO 4G mobile plans
Don't want to tie yourself into yet another two-year mobile contract? Optus is finally letting BYO customers connect to its 4G network.
Source: PC Authority
NBN Co invokes federal powers to get Ausgrid pole access
NBN Co will invoke federal telecommunications powers to access Ausgrid's power poles after the companies failed to come to an agreement over access for the purpose of rolling out the fibre network.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Service Stream taps TOA to manage NBN FTTH installers
Service Stream (ASX: SSM), one of the contractors rolling out NBN Co's FTTH network, has deployed cloud-based mobile workforce management systems from US based TOA Technologies to help it manage its workers in the field.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co walks away from NSW power pole talks
Ausgrid has lost its opportunity to profit from NBN Co's need to string cables on NSW electricity poles after the latter walked away from 18 months of commercial talks late last month.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tue, 02nd Apr 2013
Day of reckoning for the NBN
Things are about to get a lot worse for NBN Co. This week the ACCC rules on its access arrangements and pricing, and explosive documents leaked over the Easter weekend show it was aware back in February that its contractors were way behind schedule.
Source: iTWire
Thu, 28th Mar 2013
Socio-economic benefits of FTTH 'significant': study
A research paper has quantified some of the socio-economic impacts that fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband deployments bring to society, connecting them with improved well-being and increased incomes for citizens along with many benefits for network operators themselves.
Source: iTnews Australia
Internet slowed by attack on spam blocker
One of the largest ever cyber attacks is slowing global internet services after an organisation blocking "spam" content became a target, with some experts saying the disruption could get worse.
Source: iTnews Australia
Wed, 27th Mar 2013
Telcos slow to comply with new ACMA code
Telcos have been slow to comply with the ACMA's requirement for Critical Information Summaries, according to the communications watchdog, with smaller players the worst offenders.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN construction nears completion in South Perth
The National Broadband Network (NBN) is reaching the final stages of construction in South Perth.
Source: Computerworld
Telstra releases report on Warrnambool Exchange fire
Telstra has released a report relating to the Warrnambool Exchange fire revealing it was caused by a non-suspicious electrical fault.
Source: ARN
Heavy internet users still find time for old media
According to Roy Morgan Research, being a heavy internet user doesn't mean you've forsaken traditional media.
Source: iTWire