Broadband News

Mon, 18th Jun 2012

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

NBN Co announces more wireless locations

NBN Co has announced 14 local government areas in south west Victoria where the National Broadband Network (NBN) will be supplied by wireless networks.

Source: Computerworld

ACTA, TPP limit scope of copyright review

Two international trade agreements on the cards for Australia will limit the copyright reform that the government can undertake as part of its upcoming copyright review, according to a New York Law School professor.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN to stop the rural brain drain

While the National Broadband Network (NBN) has been touted as a boon for education and healthcare, one of the biggest benefits to Australia could be in its ability to stimulate regional economic activity.

Source: Computerworld

Pacific Fibre risks further funding slippages

Shareholders in submarine cable venture Pacific Fibre have injected more money into the company to keep it in operation, as it nears a final deadline to finalise funding for the $US400 million project.

Source: iTnews Australia

Tue, 12th Jun 2012

NBN will drive SME use of Cloud, Avaya

SMEs could reap considerable benefits from the National Broadband Network (NBN) by utilising Cloud-hosted services, according to Avaya.

Source: Computerworld

802.11ac addresses current household Wi-Fi demands: Netgear

There is a new Wi-Fi standard in town and its name is 802.11ac, and networking vendor, Netgear, has already dipped its foot into it by announcing plans to release a compatible router this month.

Source: ARN

ACMA sets June deadline for consumer code

The communications watchdog has committed to deciding on whether to accept or reject a revised telco industry code on customer service and advertising by the end of the month.

Source: iTnews Australia

Fri, 08th Jun 2012

Vodafone unveils 100GB shared data 'bucket'

Vodafone Australia has introduced a small business plan that enables up to five users to consume mobile broadband data from a pool of up to 100GB.

Source: iTnews Australia

Vodafone dumps cricket, V8 for network

Vodafone will cut its long-held sponsorship of the cricket and V8 Supercars, and will invest the money back in its network and customer services, the company announced yesterday.

Source: ZDNet Australia

ISOC: IPv6 is the new normal for the Internet

IPv6 is the new normal for the Internet. So claims the Internet Society (ISOC) as it sums up the early results of its World IPv6 Launch Day held on Wednesday.

Source: Computerworld

Thu, 07th Jun 2012

NBN Co corrects national address database

The National Broadband Network rollout will improve the centralised address database that has so far forced NBN Co to double check for inaccuracies, according to the Government's key spatial information agency.

Source: iTnews Australia

Quigley outlines NBN's wireless challenges

Spectrum constraints, inaccurate address data and complaints about towers are the biggest concerns facing NBN Co in rolling out wireless and satellite broadband, CEO Mike Quigley has said.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Piracy talks 'wasted breath': iiNet

Today's discussions with rights holders, which is being held in the hopes of finding a solution to online copyright infringement, will be "wasted breath", according to iiNet.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Telstra overhauls 365-day prepaid mobile broadband

Telstra will change its 365-day prepaid mobile broadband offering next week, adding up to 2GB in data allowance but charging an extra $30 for the recharge.

Source: iTnews Australia

IPv6 is a go for Kogan.com

Kogan.com has switched on IPv6, saying it's first Australian retailer to be configured and compliant with the new IP addressing system.

Source: Computerworld

Wed, 06th Jun 2012

NBN's long-term satellite service boosted by Ka-band satellites

NBN Co's long-term satellite service is moving ahead with the development of two next-generation Space Systems/Loral satellites which will double the National Broadband Network (NBN) speed of existing interim satellite services.

Source: Computerworld