Broadband News
Tue, 28th Sep 2021
Optus finds wage underpayments spanning six years to March 2020
In March, Optus was found to have underpaid the superannuation entitlements of 3,600 present and past workers. At the time, the telco committed to undertaking a proactive review of all staff entitlements with the help of Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Years late, Foxtel’s iQ box embraces the internet
Customers can finally get a full Foxtel experience without satellite or cable, but some may have already left the pay TV giant behind.
Source: SMH
NBN meeting its social responsibility to Australians during COVID
That's the title of an open letter sent by CEOs; Phillip Britt of Aussie Broadband, Kelly Bayer Rosmarin of Optus, Andy Penn of Telstra, Iñaki Berroeta of TPG Telecom and Kevin Russell of Vocus to NBN Co CEO Stephen Rue. They wrote to appeal to NBN Co's social responsibility towards all Australians requesting additional broadband capacity during this time of need. The letter was also copied to Paul Fletcher, Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 24th Sep 2021
Apple's secret deal to get $1000 off your iPhone 13
There is more than one way to buy an iPhone, and as it turns out there is one way in particular that can save you a lot of money. Apple has partnered with Vodafone to offer $1000 off a new iPhone 13 if you buy directly from an Apple Store.
Source: WhistleOut
Thu, 23rd Sep 2021
NBN RSPs again ask NBN Co chief, Comms Minister for relief
Australia’s five largest internet providers have appealed to NBN Co’s sense of “social responsibility” in a fresh bid for financial relief from soaring costs due to lockdowns.
Source: iTnews Australia
Queensland court overturns $136k costs ruling in failed NBN tower battle
A Queensland man who lost a court battle over having an NBN tower near his house will no longer have to pay NBN Co $136,000 in costs.
Source: iTnews Australia
Wed, 22nd Sep 2021
Telstra bucks trend to see raising TIO complaints over 2020-21
While the overall trend in the Australian telecommunications industry is falling complaints, Telstra has gone against the tide as its total number of complaints has risen by 11.3% to 74,135 for 2020-21, according to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman annual report.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Small business telco complaints reach three-year high in ‘challenging’ year
The volume of complaints from small businesses to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) reached a three-year high during the 12 months to 30 June, rising 6.6 per cent to 19,689.
Source: ARN
Mon, 20th Sep 2021
Telstra launches two hour delivery service in selected Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne stores
A series of participating Telstra stores in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne are letting customers take advantage of Telstra's new two hour delivery service to coincide "with the latest handset launches" but Canberrans, who are also in lockdown, miss out.
Source: iTWire
Thu, 16th Sep 2021
Telstra to start fresh three-year transformation from mid-2022
Telstra will end one transformation and go straight into another, unveiling a fresh program called T25 that will run for three years from July 2022 and remove another half a billion of net fixed costs.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra slashes $500M costs in T25 plan
Telstra is planning to slash a further $500 million in costs after revealing its new T25 strategy, which focuses on customer experience, shareholder growth and marketing itself as ‘the place to work’.
Source: ARN
Wed, 15th Sep 2021
NBN Co to charge free fibre recipients that don't stick with higher speed plans
NBN Co has indicated that beneficiaries of its free residential fibre upgrades will be charged if they try to drop down from the higher speed service they ordered to qualify for the upgrade within the first 12 months.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mon, 13th Sep 2021
NBN Co asked once more to produce detailed financial data
Retail service providers seeking to build a new model to set NBN pricing and cost recovery have sought a range of data from NBN Co to progress their work.
Source: iTnews Australia
Australia's top RSPs say NBN ARPU is already $15 too high
Australia’s top retail service providers (RSPs) are approaching the renegotiation of NBN pricing with a jointly-held view that NBN Co’s average revenue per user (ARPU) is already $15 above where it should be.
Source: iTnews Australia
TPG Telecom, Ericsson complete TPG 5G core network virtualisation
TPG Telecom and Ericsson have completed the virtualisation of TPG’s core network and a new partnership to deploy its 5G Core for standalone 5G networks.
Source: iTWire
Wed, 08th Sep 2021
Aussie Broadband targets fresh growth after $114M capital raising effort
Aussie Broadband has completed a $114 million share placement in an effort to secure merger and acquisitions (M&A), among other growth opportunities.
Source: ARN
Aussie Broadband to raise $120m
Aussie Broadband is set to raise about $120 million to fund its intention to acquire customer bases and assets that could help propel its growth ambitions, particularly in the business market.
Source: iTnews Australia
Optus Sidekick guarantees safety when users are alone or going out
Telecommunications company Optus unveils Optus Sidekick, a new feature in the My Optus App that lets customers notify their contacts to check in with them whether they’re at home or out alone.
Source: iTWire
Foxtel's new iQ5 set-top box finally cuts the cord for an online only experience
Foxtel today unveiled its new iQ5 set-top box, a new online-only solution for accessing the pay TV's giant content without the need for a cable or satellite connection.
Source: WhistleOut
Mon, 06th Sep 2021
Aussie Broadband, VicTrack strike deal to swap fibre capacity
Aussie Broadband has struck a fibre capacity swap deal with VicTrack for at least the next decade that will help it bring business fibre services to more regional towns.
Source: iTnews Australia
#LetsVaxx: Telstra urges customers to get vaccinated and get rewarded
Telstra called upon its millions of customers to unite in the battle against COVID-19, as the company gets behind Australia’s vaccination push.
Source: iTWire
ACMA requests ISPs block more illegal gambling websites
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested that Australian internet service providers (ISPs) block more illegal offshore gambling websites.
Source: iTWire
ACMA opens applications for low band 5G spectrum auction
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has opened applications for the upcoming 2021 auction of 5G spectrum in the 850/900 MHz band.
Source: iTWire
Thu, 02nd Sep 2021
Vodafone launches 5G home internet as an NBN alternative
Vodafone today announced the commercial launch of its 5G-powered home internet service, which is now available to order online for anyone in a Vodafone 5G coverage area.
Source: WhistleOut
Wed, 01st Sep 2021
Samsung now sells Australia's cheapest 5G smartphone
5G handsets continue to get cheaper with Samsung today announcing local pricing and availability for the Galaxy A22 5G, a $349 phone touting next-generation connectivity. The Galaxy A22 5G narrowly undercuts the Vivo Y52 5G, which retails for $379 (although was available for $349 briefly as a launch promo) and the OPPO A54 5G which sells for $399.
Source: WhistleOut
Telstra renames its telco towers business to Amplitel
Telstra has decided to rebrand the infrastructure business that houses its telecommunications tower assets from ‘InfraCo Towers’ to Amplitel.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tue, 31st Aug 2021
Aussie Broadband expects to make at least one acquisition this year
Aussie Broadband is expecting to make “at least one acquisition” by the end of 2021, with its early search efforts focused on finding a business-oriented company to purchase.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co works to ease partner experience with portal consolidation
NBN Co has moved to consolidate its partner portals onto one platform to reduce the number of touchpoints for RSPs to improve order, trouble ticketing and assurance processes for partners.
Source: ARN
NBN forecasts slightly lower revenue and earnings for FY22
Sticking to its mantra that publishing long term forecasts could hurt the company responsible for the National Broadband Network, the NBN Co Corporate Plan 2022 has restricted itself to stating finances for the current fiscal year.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co drops financial projections from its corporate plan
NBN Co has unveiled a threadbare corporate plan for 2022, with all forward financial projections beyond the next 12 months now removed from view.
Source: iTnews Australia