Broadband News Page 316 - Oz Broadband Speed Test

iiNet waives fees for bushfire-affected customers in Tas

iiNet is waiving disconnection and installation fees for Tasmanian customers affected by the recent bushfires.

AFP can't get data on how long it needs data

One of the strongest backers for Australian telecommunications companies to hold customer data for access by government agencies can't itself provide data on how long it usually requires that data for crime investigation to be stored.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Wi-Fi Alliance to absorb WiGig Alliance

The Wi-Fi Alliance - the industry body that oversees standardisation and product certification for Wi-Fi products - is to absorb the WiGig Alliance, a body formed in 2009 to fulfil a similar role for new wireless LAN technologies designed to provide throughput of several gigabits per second.

Source: iTWire

Telstra sends comms-on-wheels to Tas bushfires

A truck intended to demonstrate the capabilities of the National Broadband Network has been repurposed as a communications hub in bushfire-affected Tasmania.

Source: iTnews Australia

Long beta for Australia eVote

Electronic voting isn't likely to replace voting at the ballot box anytime soon, according to identity and security experts, despite progress in NSW and Victoria and renewed interest in Queensland.

Source: iTnews Australia

Property buyers now look for high-speed broadband access

Buyers of homes in new developments are getting a head start on other Sydney residents with access to the national broadband network.

Source: SMH

ACMA all set for mobile spectrum auction

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released documents detailing the final terms and pricing for the auction of the 700MHz and 2.5GHz spectrum bands.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Megaupload claims it was asked by US to keep infringing files

The U.S. government misrepresented facts when it approached a court for search warrants against Megaupload, according to a filing Wednesday by counsels of the file-sharing site.

Source: ARN

Global telco revenues exceed $2 trillion

Total revenue for the world's telecommunications companies exceeded US$2 trillion in 2012. Most of that was for mobile operators.

Source: iTWire

Australia's new mobile spectrum up for grabs

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has published a final set of terms, conditions and prices for the auction of spectrum for future mobile data services, and given mobile carriers until January 24, 2013 to be part of the action.

Source: iTnews Australia

R18+ video game rating now in force

On New Years Day Australia's new R18+ adults-only video game category came into force. Games with the new rating can only be bought or rented by people over 18.

Source: iTWire

How Telstra sees 2013

Analysts and vendors and others love to make "Top Ten" predictions for the coming year. Telstra's are important, because they give us a glimpse of how Australia's biggest technology company sees the year ahead - and what products it might be releasing.

Source: iTWire

Internode provides free New Year wireless at Glenelg

Thousands of visitors to the Moseley Square New Year celebration at Adelaide's beachside suburb of Glenelg will welcome in 2013 with free wireless Internet access provided by Internode.

Source: iTWire

ACMA ready to take names on 700 MHz auction

The Australian Communications and Media Authority will begin taking applications from bidders hoping to nab a slice of 700 MHz and 2.5 GHz spectrum from January 3, 2013.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra repays $30 million after overcharging for global roaming

Telstra has begun issuing refunds of about $30 million after admitting it had been over-charging customers for global roaming services on mobile phones since 2006.

Source: SMH

NBN Co spends $87m on fibre to unit blocks

NBN Co has signed $87 million in contracts with Downer EDI and Universal Communications Group to roll fibre into multi-dwelling units.

Source: iTnews Australia

Court rules only TPG TV ads misleading

The Full Bench of the Federal Court has today overturned most of a ruling that found that TPG broadband ads were misleading.

Source: ZDNet Australia

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

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

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