Broadband News

Thu, 02nd Feb 2012

Exclusive: NBN Co withholds fibre upgrade price

NBN Co has refused to reveal the price paid by a Tasmanian resident to receive a fibre connection outside of the planned footprint because the figure could unleash a chain of events that brings the network to a grinding halt.

Source: iTnews Australia

Wed, 01st Feb 2012

NBN to deliver disability support services to regional Australia

Children with hearing or vision impairments who live in regional and remote areas of Australia will soon receive specialist services and therapies via the National Broadband Network.

Source: Computerworld

Optus wins TV-recording case

Optus has emerged victorious in its battle against the Australian Football League (AFL) and the National Rugby League (NRL) sporting codes over its TV Now digital TV-recording app.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Yep, Telstra’s 4G in 4G zones is definitely worthwhile

If you’re in a 4G coverage area and you’re sporting a 4G LTE capable device, it should come as no surprise to discover that 4G devices deliver vastly better ping and download speeds than 3G devices.

Source: iTWire

Optus tops political donations list

Optus has topped the list of IT and telecommunications companies making political donations for the first time, providing $86,252 to state and federal Labor and coalition branches.

Source: iTnews Australia

Tue, 31st Jan 2012

Libs would wind back NBN to fund roads

Funding for the National Broadband Network (NBN) and a number of other tech projects would be redirected to building roads and tax cuts under a Tony Abbott Coalition government, the opposition leader has revealed.

Source: ZDNet Australia

iiNet concludes Internode acquistion

iiNet has confirmed the completion of its acquisition of Internode, some five weeks after it first announced its intention to acquire the South Australia-based internet service provider.

Source: Computerworld

Optus nabs Telstra exec for business

Optus has confirmed the appointment of former Telstra executive John Paitaridis as managing director of the number two telco's business division.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra wins bid to expand WA mobile coverage

Telstra has won the contract to expand mobile coverage in regional Western Australia.

Source: ARN

Mon, 30th Jan 2012

Tony Abbott touts Coalition cyber safety push

Coalition leader Tony Abbott has announced plans to set up an Online Safety Working GroupĀ  to develop the Coalition's online safety policy.

Source: iTWire

Telcos seek ACCC veto on NBN contracts

Internet service providers (ISPs) have used the competition regulator's review of NBN Co's special-access undertaking (SAU) to call for more oversight of the company's one-year contracts.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Greenfields lobby group escalates NBN complaint

A consortium of greenfield fibre operators will escalate allegations of anti-competitive behaviour levelled against NBN Co, after a Productivity Commission investigation resulted in no action.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra plans repair to North Bundaberg

Telstra has sped up plans to reconnect some 900 premises in North Bundaberg to fixed-line services by Wednesday this week.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telcos demand more power for ACCC in NBN Co SAU

Telcos are worried about the insufficient powers the Australian Competition and Consumers Commission (ACCC) can wield over the National Broadband Network (NBN) under NBN Co’s special access undertaking (SAU).

Source: ARN

Fri, 27th Jan 2012

Telstra's competitors call for wholesale ADSL to be regulated

Telstra's major competitors, from Optus downwards have been unanimous in calling on the ACCC to regulate Telstra's wholesale ADSL service.

Source: iTWire

Israel plans to rollout its own NBN

Israel's state-owned electric company hopes roll out its own high-speed national broadband network.

Source: Australian IT

Internode adjusts fibre plans to match NBN services

South Australia-based ISP, Internode, has released new fibre broadband service prices for more than 20 real estate development locations to match the speed and pricing of its National Broadband Network plans.

Source: ARN

Thu, 26th Jan 2012

Wireless bandwidth: Are we running out of room?

Wireless bandwidth is like land in Manhattan -- it's extremely valuable because they're not making more of it.

Source: Computerworld

Wed, 25th Jan 2012

Greenfields residents gain terabyte quotas

Internode has begun offering terabyte data quotas to residents in supported new housing estates for the first time in the latest of several changes bringing its greenfield prices in line with National Broadband Network offerings.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra opens 4G era for smartphones, but Bondi's off line

Smartphones have just become a whole lot faster potentially. Advantages can run from loading web pages five times more quickly than with the fastest 3G phones to using Facebook and email simultaneously and having video chats with less disruption.

Source: SMH

Vodafone plans Australian restructure

Vodafone Australia has confirmed it will embark on a restructure of the organisation in the "coming weeks" to reduce costs.

Source: iTnews Australia

Tue, 24th Jan 2012

Dodo core routers downed

A fault in Cisco switching equipment on Dodo's core network overnight has been blamed for intermittent and downed connections for thousands of users overnight.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telco industry group attacks Telstra fibre network exemptions

Communications Minister granted Telstra's application to exempt some of its fibre networks from NBN laws does not sit well with the telco industry group.

Source: ARN

Telstra upgrades to boost fixed over mobile

Telstra's upgrades to street cabinets will drive some frustrated customers back from mobile broadband to fixed-line internet services, according to the Commonwealth Bank.

Source: ZDNet Australia

TPG wades in on Telstra SSU discussion

TPG has issued a scathing review of Telstra's revised structural separation undertaking (SSU).

Source: ARN

Telstra opens Velocity estates to third parties

Telstra has cut a deal with the Federal Government that will see 118 of its Velocity fibre-to-the-premise communities opened to retail competition for the first time.

Source: iTnews Australia

Mon, 23rd Jan 2012

The Megaupload takedown

Megaupload, rated by some as the 13th most visited site on the Internet was taken down late last week by the FBI under accusation of copyright infringement, however many other rights have been infringed by their actions.

Source: iTWire

iiNet offers free wi-fi to Perth subscribers

iiNet has rolled out wireless hotspots across Perth's central business district in a bid to extend its reach beyond existing customers' fixed lines.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra fibre networks to offer regulated and fair wholesale services

The telco will have to offer open access wholesale services on its South Brisbane fibre network and some of its Greenfield fibre rollouts subject to ACCC scrutiny.

Source: ARN

Internode NBN FOI request rejected

The Freedom of Information Commissioner has upheld a decision by NBN Co not to release the full details of its $11 billion deal with Telstra to rival internet service provider Internode under Freedom of Information laws.

Source: ZDNet Australia