Broadband News
Fri, 13th Apr 2012
Optus calls for 4G spectrum auction clarity
Optus has called on the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to provide definite dates for the auction of the 700MHz spectrum band and the availability of that spectrum for use in long-term evolution (LTE) networks.
Source: ZDNet Australia
TransACT secures Canberra upgrade path
iiNet subsidiary TransACT has agreed to complete the long-running upgrade of its fibre-to-the-node network in Canberra thanks to an exemption to NBN cherry-picking legislation granted by the Federal Government.
Source: iTnews Australia
Thu, 12th Apr 2012
Telstra upgrades to address Next G stress
Telstra is addressing the strain on its Next G network, caused by signing up 2.5 million new mobile customers in the last 18 months, with a number of upgrades - but the company believes that the network is still performing well.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra attacks Qld for telco discrimination
Telstra is taking the Queensland Government to court for allegedly overcharging the telco on leases of land for its equipment.
Source: ZDNet Australia
People 'can't stop' phone towers
Communities are powerless to stop telcos building phone towers close to homes, a federal parliamentary inquiry has been told.
Source: The Australian
ACMA addresses 4G concerns
The communications watchdog has moved to address mobile phone operator concerns about when it will clear television broadcast spectrum for 4G services.
Source: The Australian
Wed, 11th Apr 2012
NBN Co quiet on AAPT spectrum buy
NBN Co has quietly picked up 850MHz of spectrum from AAPT in the 28GHz spectrum band for its satellite service, but the company has refused to reveal how much it paid.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Foxtel concessions to protect internet TV
The competition watchdog has given the green light to Foxtel's $2 billion takeover of Austar, but slapped strict controls on the suitor to help protect emerging internet TV services.
Source: Computerworld
NBN Co rakes in $356K in 2011
NBN Co brought in $356,000 in revenue in its first few months of charging for active services on the National Broadband Network (NBN), a new report has revealed.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co to build customer contact centre in Gold Coast
NBN Co will be setting up a new customer contact centre in Queensland's Gold Coast.
Source: ARN
Telcoinabox brokers ISP consolidation
Telecommunications wholesaler Telcoinabox has claimed success in brokering the sale or merger of about ten small Australian internet service providers over the past year as the market consolidates.
Source: iTnews Australia
Only 110 new pads are on NBN
The Coalition has slammed the National Broadband Network as a "dismal failure" due to the poor take-up rate.
Source: The Australian
Tue, 10th Apr 2012
ACCC failed on Foxtel-Austar: iiNet
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has failed in its duty to foster competition by allowing the $2.5 billion Foxtel-Austar merger to proceed in its current form, according to iiNet.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Foxtel gains Austar, but under tightened conditions
The ACCC has given the go-ahead to Foxtel's planned acquisition of Austar, but has imposed restrictions tighter than those proposed by Foxtel in the undertaking it submitted in March in a bid to get the deal over the line.
Source: iTWire
Blowing the digital dividend on wireless NBN
With the next federal election still over a year away, Malcolm Turnbull has found great joy in leading the telecoms community in a prolonged game of Twenty Questions when it comes to the Coalition's alternative NBN policy. That has left speculation rife about what the plan will entail - for example, that the Coalition would actually buy Telstra's copper network outright - but a cursory look at the calendar suggests that something else may also be on offer.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co's access undertaking facing huge hurdles
NBN Co's special access undertaking is facing huge hurdles in gaining ACCC acceptance with major industry players united in warning that it would give the ACCC insufficient power to regulate the NBN as monopoly provider.
Source: iTWire
Sat, 07th Apr 2012
Eftel rights issue to raise $9.27m
ISP and telecom service provider Eftel (ASX: EFT) has launched a rights issue to raise $9.27m to pay off high interest rate debt and boost its working capital to enable it to invest in customer acquisitions.
Source: iTWire
'Rage' at NBN rollout timetable
Coalition frontbencher Peter Dutton says there is "white hot rage" among the constituents of his Brisbane electorate over the NBN rollout.
Source: Australian IT
Thu, 05th Apr 2012
DBCDE flags job cuts to get budget surplus
The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy has warned that staff cuts may result from the government's across-the-board efficiency dividend increase, which seeks to bring the budget back into surplus.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra seeks reprieve for NBN greenfields
Telstra has asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to be released from its obligation to provide wholesale voice services to competitors in National Broadband Network (NBN) greenfield sites.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telcos seek shorter NBN framework
Internet service providers have come out swinging against NBN Co's proposal to establish a 30-year regulatory framework on the National Broadband Network.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN labelled a waste to set Labor back years
It may be popular now, but Labor's $36 billion national broadband network is shaping up to be a financial disaster that will set Labor's image back decades, rebranding it the party of waste and extravagance.
Source: SMH
Broadband plan has telcos up in arms
Some of the nation's biggest telcos have called on the competition watchdog to reject the NBN Co's long-term pricing plan.
Source: The Australian
Wed, 04th Apr 2012
Rogue NBN pricing risks economy: Optus
NBN Co's pricing scheme may be a "detriment to the Australian economy", unless the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission gets stronger powers to set pricing, according to Australia's second largest telco Optus.
Source: ZDNet Australia
First apartments to get NBN by June
NBN Co has revealed plans to finish rolling out fibre to the first apartment buildings by June, months after commercial services in surrounding areas were switched on.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co appoints CFO
NBN Co has promoted Robin Payne to the role of chief financial officer (CFO).
Source: ARN
NBN Co ditches ads after announcers lash out
NBN Co pulled advertising from radio station 2GB after Ray Hadley and another presenter prefaced paid "live reads" with negative comments about the government's broadband project.
Source: SMH
Tue, 03rd Apr 2012
AAPT flicks on 100G Syd-Melbourne link
AAPT has claimed it has the first Australian commercially available 100-gigabit-per-second (100G) inter-capital network link, operating between Melbourne and Sydney.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Two years until NBN hits peak roll-out
It may still be two years before NBN Co begins rolling out fibre to 6000 premises a day, according to chief operating officer Ralph Steffens.
Source: ZDNet Australia
iiNet trims fetchtv terms, upsizes free content
iiNet has reduced the minimum contract for its fetchtv IPTV service and added a new range of free content.
Source: iTWire