Broadband News

Tue, 25th Sep 2012

Coalition's NBN to achieve 25Mbps to 80Mbps?

Malcolm Turnbull has revealed speeds the Coalition’s NBN could achieve, with speeds of 25Mbps to 80Mbps expected on its version of the NBN based on the broadband experience in the UK.

Source: Computerworld

Mon, 24th Sep 2012

Turnbull attacks Quigley over NBN management

Shadow communications minister Malcolm Turnbull has suggested an executive shake-up at NBN Co would likely be one of the first courses of action under a future coalition government, despite previous indications he would be willing to work with chief executive Mike Quigley.

Source: iTnews Australia

Screenshots: The coalition's broadband survey

What to expect if you don't want to click.

Source: iTnews Australia

Turnbull won't deliver NBN, Conroy says

Communications minister Senator Stephen Conroy has lambasted Malcolm Turnbull for launching a broadband survey without detailing the Coalition's National Broadband Network (NBN) policy.

Source: Computerworld

Optus joins Telstra, Vodafone on emergency alerts upgrade

All three mobile carriers have signed on to provide emergency alerts over their mobile networks when customers are in an area experiencing an emergency, such as a bushfire or terrorist attack.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Turnbull launches broadband survey, but still no costed NBN plan

Malcolm Turnbull, shadow minister for communications and broadband, has launched a broadband survey to determine where the worst performing areas are in Australia to prioritise where the NBN needs to be rolled out.

Source: Computerworld

Eftel buys Engin for $9.1m

Eftel has bought VoIP provider Engin from parent company Seven Group for $9.1 million, adding to a growing arsenal of service providers and broadband companies owned by the ISP.

Source: iTnews Australia

20% of Australians still not online in 2011: UN Broadband Commission

A report issued by the UN's Broadband Commission for Digital Development, established by the International Telecommunications Union and UNESCO, has pegged Australia at 21st in the world when it comes to internet access, with 21 per cent of Australians not using the Internet in 2011.

Source: Computerworld

No need for consumers to pay for dispute resolution - Ombusdman

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) is supporting recommendations made by NSW's Energy and Water Ombudsman to raise awareness of free Ombudsman services to consumers who are thinking about using a Credit Repair Agency.

Source: iTWire

Turnbull launches survey to inform NBN priorities

The Federal Opposition is launching a survey to help a future Coalition government decide which areas to prioritise for faster broadband services.

Source: ABC

Fri, 21st Sep 2012

ASIO, Roxon defend data-retention proposal

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and Attorney-General Nicola Roxon have released public submissions explaining why they believe retaining telecommunications customer metadata is vital.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Internode releases $60 mobile plan

iiNet subsidiary Internode has extended its NodeMobile voice service range by launching a $60 a month plan that removes the limits from its included standard calls, texts and calls to NodeMobile.

Source: iTWire

ACMA to crack down on illegal repeaters

The Australian Communications and Media Authority will spend the next year targeting devices like illegal mobile repeaters and jammers that interfere with radiofrequency spectrum.

Source: iTnews Australia

Vocus quadruples Australia-US subsea capacity

Internet wholesaler Vocus has increased its capacity on the Southern Cross Cable linking Australia and New Zealand to the US by four times, in a move to consolidate its agreements and meet future requirements.

Source: iTnews Australia

Wed, 19th Sep 2012

NBN Co opens Gold Coast call centre

NBN Co has officially opened its new NBN contact centre on the Gold Coast.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN offers slim pickings for smaller ISPs

Michael Blake, co-founder of Adelaide ISP Nuskope, says it will cost up to $2.42 million for an RSP to provide Australia-wide services for the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Source: Computerworld

NBN committee schedules Kiwi hearings

The joint Parliamentary committee overseeing progress of the National Broadband Network has called on New Zealand politicians and telcos to provide evidence on the country's equivalent fibre rollout next week.

Source: iTnews Australia

Tue, 18th Sep 2012

Australians among world's worst for illegal music downloads

Australians download music illegally more frequently, by head of population, than any other country. At the same time we also happily pay for downloads and still buy physical albums at a rate which surprises the industry worldwide.

Source: SMH

Townsville on track for NBN fibre

Three areas in north Queensland have been confirmed for the fibre rollout for the National Broadband Network (NBN). Townsville, Cairns and Mackay are to be switched on to the network in the next 12 months.

Source: Computerworld

Privacy reforms pass through lower House

Reforms to Australia's Privacy Act recommended years ago have finally made their way past the House of Representatives, bringing with them more powers for the Privacy Commissioner.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Telstra's disconnect with mum and dad investors

Telstra's mum and dad investors of the last decade and a half don't recognise the company they first invested in.

Source: ZDNet Australia

TPG unveils unlimited NBN plan

TPG has confirmed plans to offer unlimited quotas over the National Broadband Network in coming weeks, closing months of speculation on the low-cost service provider's intentions for fibre-connected premises.

Source: iTnews Australia

TPG ups the ante with unlimited NBN data plan

TPG is the first ISP to offer unlimited data plans on the National Broadband Network (NBN), with a $69.99 per month plan on the base level NBN speed of 12/1Mbps.

Source: Computerworld

NBN rolling out to 16,600 premises in northern Queensland

More than 16,000 homes and businesses in Northern Queensland will be able to connect to the National Broadband Network in about 12 months time.

Source: ARN

Mon, 17th Sep 2012

iiNet 4G customers miss out on Freezone

iiNet will become the fourth Australian service provider to launch 4G mobile broadband services in a "couple of weeks" but the company says its initial service will be slightly hobbled.

Source: iTnews Australia

iiNet plans 4G launch

iiNet has unveiled plans to launch 4G services in the coming months on the back of Optus' recently launched Long Term Evolution network.

Source: iTnews Australia

Optus 4G now live in Melbourne

Optus has now gone live in Melbourne with its 4G network, six months after its initial 4G switch on in the Greater Newcastle region and two weeks after launching 4G in Sydney and Perth.

Source: iTWire

Europe runs out of IPv4 addresses

The European regional internet registry has moved to ration IPv4 address allocation to internet service providers as it faces depleting stocks.

Source: iTnews Australia

Fri, 14th Sep 2012

Scams, petrol price rorts are why we need data retention: ACCC

The ACCC has welcomed government proposals to retain customer telecommunications data, stating that it will assist in investigating scams.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Huawei fears further blocks

Huawei has warned against proposed legislation that could preclude companies from participating in public and private networking projects throughout Australia.

Source: iTnews Australia