Broadband News
Wed, 20th Jun 2012
NBN Co wants to retain discretion over pricing
NBN Co will lodge a revised Special Access Undertaking (SAU) with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), following feedback from customers and the ACCC.
Source: Computerworld
Amazon launches Sydney edge node
Amazon Web Services has officially launched its first caching service in Australia, reigniting years-old rumours that the cloud giant intends to set up shop locally.
Source: iTnews Australia
More NBN fixed wireless locations announced
Up to 5000 homes and businesses will be switched onto the National Broadband Network (NBN) around Cairns from mid next year.
Source: Computerworld
NBN halts own rulebook approval for telcos
NBN Co has halted its existing application for competition rules on the fibre network and will resubmit a new application in coming months.
Source: SMH
TPG fined $2m for misleading ads
Internet service provider TPG has been fined $2 million for running "seriously misleading" ads for its unlimited ADSL products over more than a year.
Source: iTnews Australia
Co-location datacentre facilities top priority for new NextDC CEO
Datacentre provider, NextDC has set a clear strategy for delivering a national network at co-location datacentres and will be focusing on building those facilities over the course of the next 12 months, its new CEO, Craig Scroggie, said.
Source: ARN
Google finds 9500 malicious sites daily
Google has detailed the amount of malware its Safe Browsing keeps away from users, and hints at scanning Chrome extensions.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co ditches Fujitsu for greenfield work
NBN Co has cut ties with Fujitsu for future fibre rollouts to greenfield premises amid concerns over continued delays to connection of new homes to the National Broadband Network.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co accelerates fibre deployment in new estates
NBN Co is accelerating the deployment of fibre to new housing developments, signing two contracts worth $183 million over 19 months.
Source: Computerworld
Tue, 19th Jun 2012
Govt delays 4G spectrum auction to 2013
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has flagged a delay in the "digital dividend" spectrum auction to April 2013, allowing more time to prepare waterfront 4G spectrum for auction.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Optus to build 4G testing base
Optus has unveiled plans to build two new Sydney facilities aimed at testing compatibility between varying mobile broadband technologies and its existing network.
Source: iTnews Australia
R18+ rating finally hits Australia, but states/territories will need to follow suit
The Australian video games industry has welcomed the R18+ classification for video games following a 10-year push from video game industry organisations, specialist press outlets, retailers, and consumers.
Source: ARN
Ex-ACCC GM tipped to be telco adjudicator
Telstra has nominated former ACCC general manager Dr Rob Nicholls as the inaugural Independent Telecommunications Adjudicator (ITA) to oversee disputes between Telstra and its fixed-line wholesale customers.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra plugs $35m into Ooyala for IPTV
Telstra has invested $35 million in US-based IPTV video company Ooyala, in a move that will see Telstra integrate Ooyala's technology into its IPTV platform.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Mon, 18th Jun 2012
ACMA registers new mobile tower code
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has formally registered a new telecommunications industry code of conduct aimed at improving community consultation for the deployment of mobile base stations.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Aus asks Google to take down more content
The number of items that Australian law enforcement and government agencies have requested Google to take down in the last six months have skyrocketed, but their success rate is at an all time low, according to the internet giant's latest statistics.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Former ACCC boss nominated for Telstra judge
Former communications watchdog Rob Nicholls has been nominated to become the first Independent Telecommunications Adjudicator.
Source: iTnews Australia
Which NBN plan is best?
The roll out of the National Broadband Network has a long way to go, but already there are areas that have been hooked up with NBN Co's fibre and that have ended their testing phase. As a result RSPs - retail service providers, the NBN equivalent of ISPs - have begun offering fibre services using the new network.
Source: Computerworld
Fri, 15th Jun 2012
Govt to pay ISPs for NBN voice migration
The Federal Government has announced plans to compensate retail service providers (RSPs) for the cost of moving voice-only customers from Telstra's copper network, onto the National Broadband Network (NBN).
Source: ZDNet Australia
The future is wireless...with lots of fibre
Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey's careless comments about the supposed 'superiority' of LTE wireless over FTTH have put a blowtorch to the ever-smouldering debate about fibre v wireless. So let's get this straight: every wireless service is a bit of wireless on the end of fixed network that will increasingly be fibre.
Source: iTWire
ICANN screws up (again)
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers' program to expand the number of domains on the internet has suffered another embarrassing setback.
Source: Computerworld
Vodafone deploys internal social network
Vodafone has deployed salesforce.com's enterprise collaboration tool Chatter to 4500 of its business and retail sales staff to avoid unsanctioned use of Facebook and Yammer.
Source: iTnews Australia
How to shun the NBN but keep your phone service
The Government has released an information paper detailing how telephone customers who do not want to take up any NBN services will be transitioned from Telstra copper to the equivalent service on NBN Co fibre.
Source: iTWire
Thu, 14th Jun 2012
Telstra exchange damaged by house fire
A house fire caused major damage yesterday to a Telstra exchange located next door, temporarily impacting about 270 fixed phone and broadband services.
Source: iTnews Australia
Fixed NBN wireless coming to Victoria's SW and Wimmera regions
The NBN fixed wireless wheel of fortune has turned again, with communities in Victoria's south west and Wimmera regions set to receive the service.
Source: PC Authority
Aussies buy into new domain era
The film industry, universities and banks were among the Australian organisations that applied for the most generic top-level domain names (gTLDs).
Source: ZDNet Australia
Vocus Harbour Fibre Crossing
Telecommunications company, Vocus, installed fibre cables across Sydney Harbour, from Dawes Point to Milsons Point, and Dawes Point to Blues Point.
Source: iTnews Australia
Kogan slaps 6.8 per cent tax on IE7 users
Kogan is slapping a 6.8 per cent tax on customers accessing the company's website on the Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) browser.
Source: Computerworld
Mine workers in line for NBN connections
Mine workers at a massive new accommodation village in Queensland are likely to join their counterparts in Western Australia's Pilbara region in gaining early access to the National Broadband Network.
Source: iTnews Australia
Wed, 13th Jun 2012
NBN Co forewarns councils on wireless tower plans
NBN Co has published a list of the local councils in Victoria's southwest where it plans to submit planning applications for the installation of towers for its wireless broadband network.
Source: iTWire