Broadband News

Thu, 08th Mar 2012

iiNet launches relief package for NSW flood-affected customers

iiNet has announced a relief package which include cancellation of service without penalty and extended payment options for customers affected by the NSW floods.

Source: ARN

Foxtel Austar merger: ACCC flags Telstra competition concerns

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has flagged concerns over the increased power Telstra would get in fixed broadband and voice markets if cable TV provider Foxtel acquires regional satellite TV provider Austar. Foxtel has offered an undertaking to address the competition issues and the ACCC is calling for submission of views from Telstra's competitors.

Source: iTWire

Wed, 07th Mar 2012

NBN marathon talks end with landmark deal

Twenty-seven months of negotiations between Telstra and NBN Co ended today when the two parties finalised a definitive agreement.

Source: SMH

Freight rail operator brings trains onto Telstra NextG

The government-owned operator of Australia's freight rail network has started replacing the disparate communications systems used in 704 privately owned trains in a bid to remove one of the few remaining obstacles to interstate shipping.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra finalises $11b NBN deal

Telstra has finalised its $11 billion agreement with the federal government over the rollout of the country's high speed internet network.

Source: The Australian

Internode boosts Qld team

National broadband company, Internode, has strengthened its business partner channel in Queensland with a boost to its businesses development team in the state.

Source: iTWire

Govt opens NBN-based legal program

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy opened the first round of the $4 million National Broadband Network (NBN) regional legal assistance program on Tuesday to provide regional communities with access to legal services online.

Source: ZDNet Australia

84Mbps HSPA demonstrated

The world's first successful demonstration of 84Mbps WCDMA downlink and 23Mbps uplink has been performed, showing the mobile broadband speeds that may soon be available.

Source: iTWire

Mobile network satisfaction levels decline, survey says

As smartphones and tablets surge in number, mobile workers are less satisfied with their wireless network services, a new poll from iPass has found.

Source: Computerworld

Tue, 06th Mar 2012

Telstra signs first 3G wholesale customer

Numerous established players have been keen to resell Telstra's 3G service but the first to do so is a relatively unknown startup, iTelecom Wholesale.

Source: iTWire

Govt considers detailing NBN deals

The government will consider revealing details about the costs and delays caused by NBN Co's negotiations with Telstra and Optus, but has not committed to full disclosure.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Ultra fast broadband not justified, yet!

Services that justify the need for ultra-fast broadband services in France have not yet emerged, although a study of the potential benefits of ultra fast broadband services has concluded that there will be increased demand for UFFBB in the future with the likely emergence of enhanced over-the-top services, higher definition video formats or advanced cloud computing.

Source: iTWire

Govt to 'consider' lifting NBN Co info embargo

The Federal Government has delayed its consideration of a parliamentary committee's recommendation to be more transparent on NBN delays until all regulatory hurdles for the network are cleared.

Source: iTnews Australia

More info on NBN needed: committee

More information and action from the government will assist a joint parliamentary review on the National Broadband Network (NBN), the committee's chairman, Rob Oakeshott, says.

Source: ARN

Mon, 05th Mar 2012

NBN Co awards defect-detection contract

A Victorian company has been awarded a new contract with NBN Co that will see it deploy critical defect-management software to monitor the nation's largest infrastructure investment.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Chair of NBN joint committee calls for more public engagement.

The Joint Parliamentary Committee on the NBN has welcomed the Federal Government's public response to its first report but has called for greater effort to engage the community in the issues surrounding the NBN.

Source: iTWire

SingTel, Optus to serve ads to mobile phones

SingTel has revealed plans to serve location-based advertising to users in a bid to "reinvent" itself and drive revenue growth

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra offers IPv6 to business customers

Telstra has made Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) connectivity available to more of its business, enterprise and government customers.

Source: ARN

SingTel restructure sees Optus split

Optus' parent SingTel has announced an organisational restructure that breaks the firm into three different groups servicing different customer segments.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Mobile data flood: Are we ready?

Telecommunication providers and communications vendors face having to deal with soaring mobile data demands.

Source: ARN

Sat, 03rd Mar 2012

The NBN in Sydney: where and when

Here's an overview of what NBN Co's maps tell us about which suburbs in Sydney are getting the NBN.

Source: PC Authority

Fri, 02nd Mar 2012

Property market must consider broadband

If it hasn't arrived already, it looks like it is time to consider the impact of broadband on property markets.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Conroy gets easy out on filter

The Australian Law Reform Commission's (ALRC) suggestion of only filtering sub-categories of content classified as "prohibited" gives Communications Minister Stephen Conroy a nice out for his controversial policy.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Internode announces new 1.2TB ADSL2+ plan

Internode has revised its ADSL2+ pricing and introduced new options, including a 1.2TB data quota plan.

Source: PC Authority

IPSTAR, iiNet heat up satellite price competition

The primary satellite operator behind the National Broadband Network interim satellite service has begun heavily marketing retail plans for rural residents on the network for the first time.

Source: iTnews Australia

Optus, Primus preparing for NBN satellite service launch

Optus and Primus Telecom are both getting ready to launch National Broadband Network (NBN) satellite services but they are staying mum on the timeframe.

Source: ARN

Thu, 01st Mar 2012

Coalition to pay Telstra faster than NBN Co

Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has claimed that Telstra would be paid faster for its copper network under the Coalition's broadband plan than under the current $11 billion agreement with NBN Co.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN boss defends take-up rate

The National Broadband Network boss has defended the take-up rate for the new service, saying telcos elsewhere in the world would be quite envious.

Source: Computerworld

Optus takes some of the sting out of international data roaming

The new data international data roaming options introduced by Optus seem to be aimed more at those taking a short overseas break rather than more traditional tourists.

Source: iTWire

NBN, carbon price to stay: Independents

Two key independent MPs say there's little chance a future coalition government will be able to unwind major policies such as carbon pricing and the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Source: Computerworld