Broadband News

Tue, 04th Dec 2012

Optus turns to the cloud to boost mobile network performance

Optus is trialling technology from US based startup Connectem that enables it to virtualise, in the cloud, the software needed to operate its LTE network enabling extra capacity to be brought on to handle short term, localised peaks in network demand.

Source: iTWire

Optus reveals 4G plans for 2013

Telecommunications service provider, Optus, recently retraced its 4G 2012 milestones and briefly outlined its 4G plans for 2013 at a press event in Sydney.

Source: ARN

Optus to launch TD-LTE 4G network in Canberra

Optus plans to launch a new LTE network in Canberra, but it's noticeably different to the 4G network across the rest of Australia.

Source: ZDNet Australia

AFACT argues to keep copyright status quo

In a lengthy submission to the review on Australian copyright law, the content industry has argued against changing the Copyright Act to be more flexible in the digital age.

Source: ZDNet Australia

iiNet claws back AU$8 million from Telstra

The competition regulator has ruled that Telstra overcharged iiNet to the tune of AU$8 million in facilities access charges.

Source: ZDNet Australia

AAPT launches fast mid-band ethernet service

The new MBE service delivers up to 80Mbps and doesn't require fibre builds.

Source: ARN

Mon, 03rd Dec 2012

The state of Australian 4G

It has been over a year since 4G services landed in Australia, and less than one in 20 Australians have tried out the new technology.

Source: ZDNet Australia

iiNet: copyright law hampering ISPs

Australia's third-largest ISP iiNet has said that Australia's copyright law is creating uncertainty for ISPs seeking to reduce the costs of operating networks.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Optus makes two key management changes

Telco service provider, Optus, has made two key management changes.

Source: ARN

Security researcher calls for Australian cookie audit

The University of Canberra's Centre for Internet Safety (CIS) has called for greater powers for the Office of the Information Commissioner to assist with a crackdown on the use of digital cookies.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra awards NBN-related contract to Service Stream, worth up to $420m

Telstra has awarded a $180 million National Broadband Network-related (NBN) contract to Service Stream for remediation of the telco’s pit and pipe infrastructure.

Source: Computerworld

Sun, 02nd Dec 2012

Conroy rules out fourth FTA TV network

Communications Minister Senator Stephen Conroy has released the government’s initial response to the media Convergence Review. It confirms that a fourth commercial TV network will not be allowed.

Source: iTWire

Fri, 30th Nov 2012

Inside Telstra's handset testing facility

Telstra this year tested 14 new handsets and 29 software upgrades in its Mobile Innovation Lab in Western Sydney.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra calculations undone by data source error

Telstra has been granted an extension to file mandatory price equivalence reports with the competition watchdog after uncovering a data source error that led to a miscalculation of internal wholesale prices.

Source: iTnews Australia

Vodafone network succumbs to Melbourne heat

Vodafone Australia has blamed an air-conditioning failure at its Melbourne switch for a three hour service outage late Thursday.

Source: iTnews Australia

Thu, 29th Nov 2012

Digging NBN's dirt

With NBN Co now connecting premises as they roll down every street, there's going to be a whole lot of digging required.

Source: ZDNet Australia

4G connected mobile devices set to grow massively by 2016

Almost half of total mobile connections will be 4G by 2016 according to report.

Source: ARN

Conroy launches inquiry into Telstra's Warrnambool fire

An inquiry has been launched into the fire at a Telstra exchange in Warrnambool, Victoria, which cut off the telco's fixed line network to 60,000 residents.

Source: Computerworld

Bondi Beach free wifi switched on

Sydney's Waverley Council has switched on a free wifi network for visitors to Bondi Beach.

Source: iTnews Australia

Do Not Track lands in networking hardware

Router maker adds the controversial technology to its line of hardware for home and small business.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Wed, 28th Nov 2012

NBN Co still in stoush over NSW power poles

NBN Co and the NSW State Government are yet to resolve issues associated with the rollout of overhead cabling for the high speed network.

Source: iTnews Australia

Conroy's spectrum mistake is Telstra's 4G revenge

The very fact that Conroy needed to intervene in the digital-dividend spectrum auctions shows how much things can change in five years. But as Conroy reaps what he sowed, is he making things better or much, much worse?

Source: ZDNet Australia

Base coalition NBN would cost AU$15B

Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said that his NBN policy would cost AU$15 billion, if NBN Co didn't already have contracts in place.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Telstra 're-parents' sub-exchanges to South Melbourne

Telstra has set up its South Melbourne exchange as the temporary "parent" for 11 sub-exchanges located up to 260 kilometres away as part of recovery efforts from last week's Warrnambool exchange fire.

Source: iTnews Australia

Tue, 27th Nov 2012

Remote NBN poses health risks

Delivering telehealth services over the satellite-enabled portion of the National Broadband Network could actually do more harm than good in some situations the CSIRO has warned.

Source: iTWire

Google Fiber: are gigabit speeds the real story, or free Internet access?

Google has been in the news lately regarding their fiber gigabit speeds -- a marvelous prospect that has many of us salivating at the thought of -- but what about the free Internet access they're also offering? That's pretty amazing, too.

Source: ZDNet Australia

AAPT provides direct pipe to Amazon Web Services

AAPT is offering its customers dedicated, private network connectivity to Amazon Web Services infrastructure in Sydney under a new partnership with the cloud giant.

Source: iTnews Australia

iiNet moves into first place for fibre

Telco service provider, iiNet, has connected more than 10,000 customers to Fibre to the Home (FTTH) broadband across Australia, surpassing the total number of FTTH customers connected to the NBN.

Source: ARN

Australians think Abbott will keep the NBN

The Australian opposition still has an election-winning lead over the government, but voters believe it will keep Labor's AU$37.4 billion NBN.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Mon, 26th Nov 2012

Telstra unveils beefy 25 GB mobile broadband option

Telstra has quietly introduced a new 25 GB option at the top end of its range of postpaid Liberty mobile broadband plans.

Source: iTnews Australia