Broadband News
Mon, 24th Sep 2012
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
Telcos call for clarity on data retention scheme
Internet service providers have called for more meaningful discussions with Federal Government agencies on the data to be captured and hold under a proposed data retention regime.
Source: iTnews Australia
Thu, 13th Sep 2012
Short-term pricing could be key to NBN Co's ROI, ACCC says
Rod Sims, chairman at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), has said the right regulatory environment is key to prevent high prices and poor service quality on monopoly-run infrastructure such as the National Broadband Network (NBN).
Source: Computerworld
Vodafone Hutchison Australia switches on '3G+' upgrades
Vodafone has launched its DC-HSPA+ "3G+" upgrades in eight locations across Australia.
Source: ZDNet Australia
iPhone 5 signals further competition in the 4G arena
4G competition is heating up following today's release of the iPhone 5 with 4G connectivity, with Optus and Telstra offering 4G services.
Source: Computerworld
iPhone 5 works on Telstra, Optus 4G networks
As the iPhone 5 works on both Telstra's and Optus' 4G LTE networks, Apple looks like it has avoided another costly court battle with the ACCC.
Source: ZDNet Australia