Broadband News

Fri, 06th Jul 2012

Telstra price hikes a premium play

Recent increases in pricing for Telstra's mobile bundle and broadband plans indicate a move back to the telco's premium price position in the market, according to analysts.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra replaces rusting Cocos Islands antenna

Telstra has replaced a 30-year-old satellite dish on the Cocos Islands that provides connectivity to its 600 residents.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN vs. the world: The New Zealand experience

Australia has had a longstanding rivalry with New Zealand, and now the two countries are competing on a new front, with the rollout of high speed broadband networks occurring in both.

Source: Computerworld

Thu, 05th Jul 2012

Coalition policy leaked

The Coalition's policy points have been leaked. Are there any surprises in broadband policy?

Source: ZDNet Australia

Telstra accused of Next G web 'stalking'

Telstra has been criticised by the chief scientist of one of the web's most prominent organisations for "stalking" millions of Next G mobile phone users by sending a third party in Canada the websites they visited.

Source: SMH

Telstra to acknowledge traditional owners at over 400 sites

Telstra is to acknowledge traditional land owners with a sign on every branded Telstra Store and Business Centre across Australia.

Source: iTWire

Wed, 04th Jul 2012

US Govt awards ICANN new domain names contract

Key internet body ICANN has re-signed its contract with the US Government to run the worldwide assignment of internet protocol addresses and top-level domains.

Source: iTnews Australia

Trial shows educational power of high def NBN-delivered video

A trial of high definition video to bring graphic design students and professionals together has demonstrated the educational potential of the NBN, according to AARNet.

Source: iTWire

Tue, 03rd Jul 2012

NBN Co: Huawei FOI could harm national security

NBN Co has blocked an attempt to gain access to several documents relating to security concerns about Huawei and its tenders for the NBN, stating that it could undermine the government.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Cowra and Young councils added to NBN fixed wireless list

Two areas in central west New South Wales will be connected to the National Broadband Network (NBN) via fixed wireless.

Source: Computerworld

Telstra only removed some URL info

Telstra has confirmed that it might have sent personally-identifiable information to Netsweeper, as part of its filter database project.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Mon, 02nd Jul 2012

Virgin Mobile confirms 4G services this year

Virgin Mobile has revealed plans to offer LTE services in select capital cities this year, piggybacking on Optus' plans to launch the 4G network within months.

Source: iTnews Australia

Finally - a new CEO for the Internet Industry Association

The Internet Industry Association (IIA) has a new CEO, Peter Lee, after a nine month hiatus following the decision of newly appointed CEO, Steve Burrell, not to take up the post.

Source: iTWire

The great data roaming rip-off: prices from $0.25 to $50 per MB

Opera Software has produced a report that highlights the enormous variation in the prices charged for international mobile data roaming.

Source: iTWire

Fri, 29th Jun 2012

Local landline calls to stay at 22 cents

Local calls on landline phones will stay at 22 cents for two more years, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has announced.

Source: ZDNet Australia

We will not cancel the NBN: Turnbull

Nearly two years after Tony Abbott vowed to tear down the beginnings of the national broadband network and to "demolish" it, the Coalition now says it will not roll back or cancel it, if it comes to power at the next election.

Source: SMH

No customer info in tracked URLs: Telstra

Telstra has moved to quell fears over its passing of customer browsing history to a third party overseas, stating that only the base URL of a website was disclosed.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Telstra account gaffe breached Privacy Act

The Australian Privacy Commissioner has found Telstra breached the Privacy Act when it exposed thousands of customer records to the public over the internet last year.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN confirms third satellite station

NBN Co has confirmed plans to build a third satellite station in Tasmania ahead of an initiative to launch two Ka-band satellites by 2015.

Source: iTnews Australia

Thu, 28th Jun 2012

Telstra price controls extended for two more years

The Government has decided to extend retail price controls imposed on Telstra for a further two years, to June 2014, ensuring that local calls will cost no more than 22 cents and that local calls from payphones will not rise above their current 50 cents.

Source: iTWire

TPG lumped with $23m in extra tax

Telecommunications giant TPG has been lumped with a $23 million tax bill following backdated changes to tax law impacting the company's 2010 acquisition of Pipe Networks.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Google Maps goes offline for Android users

It's now possible to store Google Maps for particular localities on your Android device, removing the need for a live connection to find your way around.

Source: iTWire

Wed, 27th Jun 2012

Govt in a corner over NBN construction

NBN Co is now reaping the rewards of the uncertainty around the National Broadband Network's (NBN) roll-out timetable.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Australian online business booms to tune of $189 billion

While bricks and mortar retailers continue to crumble, Australian online businesses are booming like never before, according to a new report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Business on the net jumped a massive 32% the 2010/2011 financial year and has made the online market one of the major drivers of the economy.

Source: iTWire

PSTN replacement delays holding back NBN schedule

Market research firm Telsyte has revised downwards is forecasts for take-up of the NBN fibre network on the basis of expected delays in decommissioning of Telstra copper.

Source: iTWire

Telstra halts mobile tracking

Telstra has stopped tracking web traffic from its mobile subscribers after admitting to hosting the stored data overseas.

Source: iTnews Australia

Skills shortage could delay NBN rollout: Union

The Communications Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) has warned that the speed of the rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN) could be affected due to a lack of skilled workers and despite some $100 million in Government funds being spent on training up Telstra employees.

Source: Computerworld

Tue, 26th Jun 2012

Telstra logs customer history for new filter

Telstra has admitted to tracking the websites visited by Next G mobile customers, as part of the development of a voluntary internet filtering system.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Vodafone plans 4G rollout next year

Vodafone Australia has confirmed plans to begin rolling out its fourth-generation LTE network from next year in a bid to improve its mobile network and catch up to rivals Telstra and Optus.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN to impact on job roles

The National Broadband Network (NBN) could prove to be an unprecedented driver of ICT jobs change, according to the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Source: Computerworld