Broadband News
Wed, 20th Jun 2012
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
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