Broadband News

Thu, 01st Nov 2012

Conroy: Abbott calls the shots when it comes to Coalition and NBN

Minister for Broadband, Communications, and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has changed tack slightly and is now advising punters to ignore Malcolm Turnbull and instead look to Tony Abbott to understand the Coalition’s plans for broadband.

Source: ARN

Megaupload to make a Mega comeback

The infamous Kim Dotcom, New Zealand resident and founder of the banned Megaupload filesharing site, has announced a new version of the defunct behemoth, with a twist.

Source: iTWire

Geo-block escapes putting pinch on content owners

Internet users who circumvent blocking mechanisms on overseas content via legal and illegal means are pressuring vendors and rights holders to change their practices, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Source: iTnews Australia

Wed, 31st Oct 2012

Telstra 4G sales rise to 820,000

Telstra CEO David Thodey has revealed that the company sold 820,000 LTE 4G devices in the first 12 months of the network's operation.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Telstra trials small cells at Flemington

Telstra will trial the emerging Alcatel-Lucent small cell technology at the Birdcage at Flemington for the Spring Racing Carnival.

Source: iTWire

Telstra looks to data for mobile growth

Telstra is looking to data traffic growth - and increased data prices - as a means of arresting revenue decline in a contracting mobile market.

Source: iTnews Australia

Turnbull and Quigley: No love lost at NBN review

Tuesday night saw another six monthly review of the NBN’s progress in Parliament House: Malcolm Turnbull was there, and Mike Quigley had a score to settle.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Adelaide Fringe Festival patrons to get free Wi-Fi access

Art patrons keen to share content and tweets from the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2013 will be able to do so at free Wi-Fi hotspots scattered around the festival areas.

Source: Computerworld

Half the emergency spectrum meets double the demand: ACMA

Responding to claims that lives will be put at risk over the decision to provide only half the requested emergency spectrum, ACMA has revealed that it actually provides more than double the projected capacity.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN Co still working out how to connect apartments to the NBN

NBN Co has told a parliamentary hearing that it does not have a uniform strategy of connecting apartment buildings to the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Source: Computerworld

Optus adds 4G sites In Surfers Paradise and Brisbane CBD

Optus has activated its first 4G sites for customers in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast and in the Brisbane CBD.

Source: ARN

NBN Co turns to Telco Act in NSW pole dispute

NBN Co will attempt to "fall back" on its powers under Schedule 3 of the Telecommunications Act to work around an impasse with the NSW Government over access to power pole infrastructure.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN Co close to finalising MDU cabling contractor

NBN Co is negotiating with one of its existing network construction contractors to begin rolling fibre cabling to multi-dwelling units (MDUs).

Source: iTnews Australia

Tue, 30th Oct 2012

Will your business maximise the potential of the NBN?

Take part in our survey on how the NBN will change your business, and go in the draw to win an iPad.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Optus terminates agreement with TeleChoice

Optus has cancelled its retail distribution agreement with TeleChoice, which includes Virgin Mobile and Pre-Paid Services.

Source: Computerworld

How telcos use big data to keep customers loyal: Veda

Telecommunication customers aren't known for their loyalty, but telcos are looking to change that by making good use of their customer data, according to Veda.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Optus overhauls retail distribution strategy

Telco service provider, Optus, is refocusing its retail and distribution strategy to reflect the maturing mobile market and the changing needs of Australian consumers.

Source: ARN

Vodafone's slash and burn "restructuring"

Australia's number three telco Vodafone, which has been bleeding money for years, has announced that it will fire staff, cut costs, and restructure its operations.

Source: iTWire

Mon, 29th Oct 2012

NBN Co prepared to use Commonwealth power for the NBN: Conroy

NBN Co has hit back at claims consumers in NSW would be forced to pay $400 million for the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Source: Computerworld

O'Farrell misleading NSW about NBN and power prices: Conroy

Minister for broadband, communications and the digital economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has called on the O'Farrell government to stop misleading the NSW public about the rollout of the NBN and power prices.

Source: ARN

NSW govt digs in heels over NBN roll-out

Negotiations between the Australian government and the New South Wales government over the use of power poles for the NBN roll-out have broken down.

Source: ZDNet Australia

ACMA shortchanges emergency services on LTE spectrum

Australian public safety agencies are to be given 5 MHz of dedicated paired spectrum to operate a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, half the amount they had sought.

Source: iTnews Australia

Ombudsman reports fewer iiNet, Telstra, TPG complaints

iiNet, Telstra and TPG saw the biggest year-on-year falls in new customer complaints filed against them, according to statistics released by the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.

Source: iTnews Australia

Vodafone axes 500 jobs in restructure

Vodafone Hutchison Australia has announced it will axe ten percent of its workforce in a wide-ranging business restructure.

Source: iTnews Australia

Mobile phone complaints up, telco complaints down

Complaints about mobile phones increased by nine per cent to 122,834 from 112,376 in 2010-11, according to the 2012 Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman Annual Report. New telco complaints fell in 2011 - 2012 to 193,702, down 2 per cent, according to the report.

Source: ARN

NSW digs heels in over NBN rollout

Consumers in New South Wales will be left to pick up a 400 million dollar bill following the breakdown of negotiations over the National Broadband Network.

Source: SMH

Sun, 28th Oct 2012

The new Telstra shows its true colours

Telstra is changing. Australia's largest telco has a long history of evolution, and from necessity reinvents itself every decade or so. It is currently undergoing yet another reinvention.

Source: iTWire

Fri, 26th Oct 2012

iiNet lays path to reverse TransACT customer animosity

iiNet is still grappling with the best way to address long-simmering system and price issues inherited from TransACT, placing them in a completely "different ballpark" to those it experienced with AAPT.

Source: iTnews Australia

Optus, MacTel, AAPT slam Telstra's congestion price plan

Optus and Macquarie Telecom have joined other ISPs in slamming Telstra's suggestion that network congestion be priced into regulated wholesale ADSL charges.

Source: iTnews Australia

Thu, 25th Oct 2012

NBN backlog in greenfields to take eight months to clear

NBN Co has admitted that its roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) is not keeping pace with demand in new housing estates, with 3800 premises waiting to be connected.

Source: Computerworld