Broadband News

Thu, 23rd Feb 2012

Dodo takes blame for internet outage affecting millions

ISP Dodo played a role in causing the outage that affected millions of fixed-line and mobile internet connections across the country this afternoon, Dodo's CEO has confirmed.

Source: SMH

3G, 4G networks unable to cope with tablet boom: Quickflix deputy chairman

3G and 4G networks in Australia will not cope with the growth of traffic generated by tablets, according to Justin Milne, deputy chairman of online DVD rental company Quickflix.

Source: Computerworld

Telstra and Bigpond outage happening now

You'd think the biggest news for today would be the death match between Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, but an apparent Telstra outage may well eclipse the two politicians as a story of much greater significance to the everyday Australian.

Source: iTWire

Wed, 22nd Feb 2012

iiNet half year result "bad" says analyst

iiNet bragged this week about "record half year earnings with growth across key financial and operating metrics." However one market analyst sees the results in a very different light.

Source: iTWire

Vividwireless 4G a backup: Telstra

High-end spectrum, such as that obtained by Optus in its Vividwireless buy, will be useful to support long-term evolution (LTE) services in lower-end spectrum bands, according to Telstra's chief technology officer Dr Hugh Bradlow.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Wi-Fi Passpoint standard could end hotspot sign-on hassles

The Wi-Fi Alliance will launch a program to simplify the use of Wi-Fi hotspots in July, making it easier for both users and mobile operators to get off strained cellular networks.

Source: ARN

Review: HTC Velocity on Telstra 4G

Much has been said about 4G/LTE in Australia, with Telstra being the first to offer the much lauded data speeds, firstly via USB dongle and now with the first 4G-enabled smartphone available locally, the HTC Velocity.

Source: iTnews Australia

Tue, 21st Feb 2012

iiNet expects to wholesale Optus 4G soon

iiNet expects to be able to offer long-term evolution (LTE) or "4G" services wholesale through Optus when Optus launches its new network in April.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Internode prepares off-net migration to iiNet

Internode has pushed ahead with plans to move 15,000 customers off Telstra or Optus infrastructure onto DSL equipment operated by iiNet "within weeks".

Source: iTnews Australia

iiNet mobile business needs more work: CEO

iiNet chief executive, Michael Malone, admitted the internet service provider's mobile business required more work during the announcement of its first half year 2012 result.

Source: Computerworld

NZ NBN to add NZ$33bn to economy

New Zealand's Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) and Rural Broadband Initiatives (RBI) look set to deliver a NZ$33 billion boost to the New Zealand economy, says an Alcatel-Lucent study released today.

Source: ZDNet Australia

iiNet searches for one geek to rule them all

TopGeek 2.0 now with its own fortnightly series hosted by comedian, Lawrence Leung.

Source: ARN

Support for NBN not improving

Various media outlets are today carrying an AAP report of a survey that purports to show increased support for the NBN. Had these outlets dug a bit deeper they might have found that the story was somewhat different.

Source: iTWire

iiNet grows profit by 17 per cent in six months

Perth-based ISP, iiNet, has reported positive results for the first half of its 2012 financial year with a net profit after tax (NPA) growth of 17 per cent.

Source: ARN

56 per cent of Australians support NBN: poll

Australians supporting the high speed national broadband network (NBN) exceed opponents by more than two to one, a new survey shows.

Source: SMH

Telstra's finance division tackles bad data

Telstra has embarked on a fresh data quality initiative in a bid to cut the number of erroneous site visits and returned bills caused by bad data.

Source: iTnews Australia

Mon, 20th Feb 2012

OptiComm wholesale HFC shows up Optus

Greenfields fibre broadband provider OptiComm has opened up its hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) network in Butler, Western Australia to wholesale access, something Optus has claimed could not be done.

Source: ZDNet Australia

ACCC chairman talks tough on enforcement

ACCC chairman, Rod Sims, has released a new version of the Commission's compliance and enforcement policy warning that he will make full use of the greater powers conferred on it by the Competition and Consumer Act to impose penalties on companies that fail to do the right thing by consumers.

Source: iTWire

Optus acquires Vividwireless for 4G spectrum

Optus has agreed to acquire Vividwireless, and with it comes a chunk of spectrum suitable for 4G services.

Source: iTWire

Optus buys Perth-based vividwireless

Optus has bought Perth-based wireless provider vividwireless in a $230 million deal that is expected to provide a foundation for the number two telco's forthcoming Long Term Evolution mobile network.

Source: iTnews Australia

Sat, 18th Feb 2012

Police spy on web, phone usage with no warrants

Law enforcement and government departments are accessing vast quantities of phone and internet usage data without warrants, prompting warnings from the Greens of a growing "surveillance state" and calls by privacy groups for tighter controls.

Source: SMH

Fri, 17th Feb 2012

Microsoft is still testing IE for 56K modems

The software giant acknowledges that dial-up users still exist.

Source: PC Authority

iiNet eyes internet slice in domain stakes

Internet service provider iiNet has confirmed it is investigating applying for a generic top-level domain space with the international registry before the cut-off date in April this year.

Source: iTnews Australia

Thu, 16th Feb 2012

Adam Internet on board with the NBN

Adam Internet signs WBA after long period of consultation.

Source: ARN

Is your home getting the NBN this year? More towns added to rollout plan...

Eight more towns and cities will be connected to the national broadband network over the next 12 months. See if you're one of the lucky ones...

Source: PC Authority

NBN Co revises greenfields rollout process

NBN Co has revised its fibre installation process in new housing estates in a bid to address delays in connecting homes to the National Broadband Network.

Source: iTnews Australia

More areas join NBN Co's list for 2012 fibre construction

NBN Co has announced fibre rollout plans for additional areas in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria.

Source: iTWire

Wed, 15th Feb 2012

Telstra, NBN showdown over Tassie devices

Telstra will not offer commercial services on the National Broadband Network (NBN) in Tasmania until NBN Co upgrades the network-terminating devices (NTDs) in all premises to be the same as those available on the mainland, but NBN Co is not too worried.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Internet giants oppose new regulator

Internet giants and Australian telecommunications providers have opposed the Australian Government's proposal to instate a digital economy regulator, stating that increased regulation is unnecessary and possibly harmful.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN to cover 758,100 premises by year's end

The National Broadband Network will touch around 758,100 premises by the end of the year according to NBN Co's yearly rollout schedule.

Source: ARN