Broadband News

Thu, 20th Dec 2012

Telstra's Adam Internet buyout in jeopardy

Telstra has hit a snag in its proposed buyout of Adam Internet over concerns the arrangement could promote favouritism, skirt equivalence obligations and reduce price competition in South Australia.

Source: iTnews Australia

Optus 4G now in Adelaide

Optus has switched on its first 4G sites in Adelaide, in fours sites in the Adelaide CBD.

Source: iTWire

ACMA targets privacy gap in location services

Australian users of mobile location services often don't understand how the technology works or its privacy implications, according to research commissioned by communications regulator ACMA.

Source: iTnews Australia

MyNetFone acquires business of competitor GoTalk

MyNetFone has acquired voice carrier GoTalk's network and wholesale business for $1.4 million following nearly a year of negotiations.

Source: Computerworld

ACCC seeks comment on competition issues with Telstra's Adam acquisition

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released a statement of issues paper seeking industry comment on Telstra's proposed acquisition of Adam Internet.

Source: Computerworld

Wed, 19th Dec 2012

Telstra re-ignites hopes for terabyte BigPond plan

Telstra has softened its stance on terabyte broadband plans for the home, providing the clearest indication in more than two years that it could soon offer one.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telco’s oppose Telstra’s Adam Internet acquisition

Vodafone, iiNet and Macquarie Telecom state it's a 'flaw in the law' if ACCC can't see the acquisition would stifle competition.

Source: ARN

ACCC casts eye on NBN Co's 'pull through' fibre drops

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is evaluating NBN Co's "pull through" method of installing fibre, which disconnects a customer's existing connection during installation.

Source: ZDNet Australia

.com is so 20th century – Welcome to ICANN's great domain name auction

ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) has held its lottery draw for 1,930 new sponsored global top level domains (gTLDs).

Source: iTWire

The NBN to make Tasmania a more enticing place to live

A former NBN Tasmania board member believes the National Broadband Network (NBN) will make Tasmania less isolated from the rest of Australia and may even entice mainland residents to relocate to the state.

Source: Computerworld

Tue, 18th Dec 2012

Telstra faces rejig for NBN fibre 'pull through'

Telstra may be forced to rethink the way it deals with requests from NBN Co to use existing copper or HFC cables to pull fibre up from the kerb up to connect a house to the National Broadband Network.

Source: iTnews Australia

Exetel joins IPTV trend with Quickflix services

Exetel will offer unmetered streaming of TV and movie programs provided by Quickflix to its customers next year.

Source: Computerworld

ACCC seeks consultation on new Telstra NBN migration measures

The discussion paper is seeking comment on whether Telstra's proposed processes comply with regulatory requirements.

Source: ARN

Mon, 17th Dec 2012

Mozilla: Almost 1 in 10 Firefox users opt for Do Not Track

The Firefox outfit has published a round-up of its achievements this year, including what it says is proof that 'there is a real user appetite for choice on issues of web privacy'.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Man charged with 29 offences related to Telstra cable damage

A 25-year-old Sydney man has been charged with allegedly causing millions of dollars in damage to Telstra's telephone cables on the Northern Beaches, NSW during September and November 2012.

Source: Computerworld

Sun, 16th Dec 2012

Optus says spectrum pricing "unworkable"

An unattractive slanging match has broken out between the Optus and Communications Minister Senator Stephen Conroy over his decision to take control of the "Digital Dividend" radio spectrum auction. Expect to hear more.

Source: iTWire

Sat, 15th Dec 2012

Sydney man charged with damaging Telstra cables

A 25-year-old man has been charged with allegedly damaging telecommunications cables in up to 20 Telstra pits on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

Source: iTnews Australia

Fri, 14th Dec 2012

Conroy sets 700 MHz spectrum reserve price

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has directed the communications regulator to set a reserve price of $1.36 per megahertz per population for lots of 700 MHz spectrum to be auctioned next year.

Source: iTnews Australia

Australia says 'no' to amended international telecommunications regulations

Australia will not sign a revised international telecommunications treaty, as it has the potential to fundamentally change the way the internet operates, according to the Minister for Broadband, Communications, and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy.

Source: ARN

Exetel will consider acquisition offers

The CEO of internet service provider Exetel, Steve Waddington, says the ISP is open to being acquired if the right offer is made, with the company already receiving expressions of interest from other ISPs.

Source: Computerworld

Thu, 13th Dec 2012

TIO: complaints fall, but global roaming still an issue

Consumer complaints about mobile roaming charges have dropped, but the disputed amounts for complaints are increasing, with one customer lumped with a $147,908 bill after a European holiday, according to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO).

Source: Computerworld

ACMA seeks comment on global roaming standard to prevent bill shock

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is seeking comment on a draft international mobile roaming standard to prevent bill shock when consumers are overseas.

Source: Computerworld

How fast is the Kogan Mobile network?

Australian online store Kogan officially launched its own pre-paid mobile phone service yesterday called Kogan Mobile. It offers extremely competitive and cheap prices on pre-paid plans, but how fast are data speeds?

Source: ARN

Kogan enters mobile-services business through Telstra

The online retailer is offering up plans with up to 6GB of data allowance on a service that will be running on Telstra's 3G network.

Source: ZDNet Australia

What's great about the NBN

Industry professionals and politicians of both persuasions have united to celebrate the positive aspects of the National Broadband Network.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Wed, 12th Dec 2012

Google Fiber US-wide rollout puts NBN in perspective

A report from Goldman Sachs, estimating that a nationwide rollout of Google Fiber will cost US$140 billion to complete in the US, puts Australia's fibre-to-the-premise NBN project in perspective.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Telstra's five year deal with the ABC

Telstra has signed a five year deal with the ABC for the provision of managed data, mobile and voice services, as well as managing the corporation's transition to a digital video platform for the high speed distribution of media.

Source: iTWire

Tue, 11th Dec 2012

Internode launches home tech service

National broadband provider, Internode, has launched a home technical support service, with its so-called techii team available to visit your home to set up broadband connections, install modems, connect Internet-ready devices to broadband and to assist with getting the best performance from your broadband service.

Source: iTWire

Rio Tinto to deploy private 4G network

Rio Tinto has revealed it will build a private Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile network at its West Angelas iron ore mine in Western Australia's Pilbara region.

Source: iTnews Australia

Mandurah and Belmont businesses to receive free NBN training

The federal government has awarded over $500,000 in funding to businesses in Mandurah and Belmont in Western Australia to encourage the take-up of the National Broadband Network (NBN) in the areas.

Source: Computerworld