Broadband News

Tue, 13th Nov 2012

First NBN fibre laid in Goodna, QLD

The first fibre for the National Broadband Network (NBN) in Goodna, Queensland, has been hauled, with residents to be switched on to the network from early next year.

Source: Computerworld

Vodafone Australia's customer and revenue decline continues

Amid a tough half year for the global brand, Vodafone Australia has continued to see a decline in its revenue and customer base.

Source: ZDNet Australia

How to blow your Optus 4G prepaid recharge in 10 seconds flat

Optus has introduced its first prepaid 4G offerings with bundles of voice and data, and a nasty tariff structure that could see users blow their credit in a matter of seconds.

Source: iTWire

Telstra makes it a 4G Xmas

Telstra has released a number of new LTE devices in anticipation of Christmas demand, including its first prepaid LTE phone.

Source: iTWire

Mon, 12th Nov 2012

Optus launches prepaid 4G

Previously only available through post-paid plans, Optus has now opened up its 4G network to prepaid customers.

Source: ZDNet Australia

ACCC seeks comment on NBN Co's SAU

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released a consultation paper on NBN Co's Special Access Undertaking (SAU).

Source: Computerworld

NBN is key to Australian productivity growth: IBM ANZ chief

The National Broadband Network will be the defining factor underpinning Australia’s future economic growth, according to the boss of IBM in Australia and New Zealand.

Source: iTWire

AusBBS drops NBN prices due to negative feedback

Australian Broadband Services (AusBBS) has dropped its prices on its pay-as-you-go plans (PAYG) for the National Broadband Network (NBN) due to negative crowdsourcing feedback.

Source: Computerworld

Aust govt sets 12% teleworking target

The Australian government has set a goal to get 12 percent of public servants working from home at least one day per week by 2020.

Source: ZDNet Australia

SAGE-AU applauds decision to scrap the ISP filter plan

Australia's peak technology experts group, the System Administrators Guild of Australia (SAGE-AU) - a long-time opponent of the Federal Government’s ISP filter plan - has welcomed the government’s decision to abandon its plan to legislate for mandatory ISP filtering.

Source: iTWire

Fri, 09th Nov 2012

Ill-fated internet filter sacrificed for political expediency

The dumping of the Australian internet filter policy should not be a great surprise from this minority government.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Industry backs 'workable' filter solution

The Australian Government’s move to drop the Rudd-era mandatory internet filtering proposal has been met with wide approval from industry groups and political parties.

Source: iTnews Australia

TPG faces court over Triple Zero access

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is set to haul TPG Internet before the Federal Court, alleging the provider failed to give certain customers access to the Triple Zero or 000 emergency call service.

Source: iTnews Australia

Industry, activists welcome Internet filter back down

Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA) and the Internet Industry Association (IIA) have welcomed the federal government's back down on Internet filtering, now limiting blocked websites to child abuse sites.

Source: Computerworld

Victorian and WA regions announced for NBN's fixed wireless

Several regions in Victoria and WA have been earmarked to receive the NBN via fixed wireless.

Source: Computerworld

Telcos declare SMS 'unsafe' for bank transactions

The lobby group for Australian telcos has declared that SMS technology should no longer be considered a safe means of verifying the identity of an individual during a banking transaction.

Source: iTnews Australia

Conroy backs away from internet filter

The federal government has abandoned its long-standing commitment to introduce a national internet filter and will instead ban websites related only to child abuse.

Source: SMH

Thu, 08th Nov 2012

NBN clears hurdle in Scottsdale tower dispute

NBN Co has received planning approval for a fixed wireless tower in Scottsdale, Tasmania, following the initial rejection of the tower by Dorset council.

Source: Computerworld

Home buyer funds targeted in phone porting scam

Australia’s banks and telcos have failed to prevent fraudsters from using phone porting to siphon funds from compromised bank accounts.

Source: iTnews Australia

VoIP and instant messaging problem looming: Skype doesn't support IPv6

Microsoft may be closing down Windows Live Messenger in favor of Skype, but Skype has a connectivity problem: It doesn't support the Internet's next generation protocol: IPv6.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Dotcom's new me.ga site taken down

File-sharing tycoon Kim Dotcom's plans to resurrect his business have received a setback after Gabon's Government suspended the me.ga domain used for his new website.

Source: iTnews Australia

Wed, 07th Nov 2012

Go watch Foxtel Go - on your iPad

If you're an existing Foxtel customer through satellite or cable, you can now watch up to 21 live Foxtel channels on your iPad, but only if you already subscribe to them - with Foxtel on Xbox 360, Internet TV or T-Box subscribers sadly excluded from Foxtel's iDelivered fun.

Source: iTWire

AARNet peers with Amazon Web Services

Australia's Academic Research Network has signed a deal to peer with Amazon Web Services in the United States.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN business products fill the gap: AAPT

AAPT will use the NBN to offer business products in parts of Australia where it had otherwise been very expensive, the company said today.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Cup causes dip in Telstra's mobile data traffic

Telstra recorded a significant drop in data and email traffic running across its Next G mobile network yesterday during the screening of the Melbourne Cup.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN targets Australia's small businesses

Many small businesses may not understand the benefits of NBN, despite many plans on the way targeting 2 million such companies in Australia, according to Flying Solo founder, Robert Gerrish.

Source: Computerworld

Optus customers get cheaper Hoyts cinema tickets

Telecommunications provider, Optus, has partnered with cinema chain, Hoyts, to offer the telco’s customers $10 movie tickets (with a catch) through a renewed Movie Rewards program that kicks off next Monday, November 12.

Source: ARN

Tue, 06th Nov 2012

FTTN makes sense for NBN, AAPT says

It makes more sense to roll out fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) for the National Broadband Network (NBN) than the government's current fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) approach, according to the CEO of internet service provider AAPT.

Source: Computerworld

Telstra talks down role of small mobile cells

Telstra announced last week that it had deployed new very small cellular base stations to boost mobile coverage at Flemington Racecourse during the spring racing carnival, but gave no indication that such technology will become a key part of its mobile network.

Source: iTWire

Dotcom proposes free internet, extra cable for NZ

Infamous internet mogul Kim Dotcom is proposing to reignite his abandoned Pacific Fibre cable project, which would provide a trans-Pacific cable and free internet to all New Zealand citizens.

Source: iTWire