Broadband News

Tue, 24th Jan 2012

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

Telstra skirts SEA-ME-WE3 cable limits

Telstra has bought one of four fibre pairs on a new subsea cable system connecting Perth and Singapore, partly to gain some control over transmission technology upgrades on the route.

Source: iTnews Australia

Sun, 22nd Jan 2012

$20.6m to pilot NBN based telehealth

The Federal Government has launched a telehealth pilot program that will use the National Broadband Network to provide services to older Australians, people living with cancer and those requiring palliative care.

Source: iTWire

Fri, 20th Jan 2012

Telstra 3G wholesale sign of a maturing market

Mobile wholesale and customer segmentation have been key planks of telco strategies in mature markets throughout Asia Pacific.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN constructs towers for April LTE trial

Ahead of an April customer trial, NBN Co has begun construction on 12 towers for the fixed-wireless network, but has warned residents that they may be forced to use satellite if tower plans are not approved.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN Co urges 16-year regulatory break

NBN Co has urged the competition watchdog not to subject it to a major regulatory review until after it commences privatisation sometime in 2028.

Source: iTnews Australia

Optus invites the consumer voice

Optus has launched a new online forum, My Optus Community, designed to encourage customer interactivity and feedback.

Source: ARN

Police shut down Megaupload sites

New Zealand Police this morning arrested four executives in a major international operation that shut down file-sharing service Megaupload and its affiliate Megavideo.com.

Source: iTnews Australia

Optus signs NBN Co wholesale agreement

Optus today announced it had signed the NBN Co wholesale broadband agreement (WBA) -- a 12-month contract ISPs enter into to sell commercial services over the National Broadband Network (NBN) - following months of negotiations.

Source: Computerworld

Thu, 19th Jan 2012

Understanding the NBN: You only get so much beer from the tap

Are you really going to be able to download at 100Mbps? Nathan Taylor looks at a common criticism of the NBN.

Source: PC Authority

NBN fixed-wireless trial to begin in April

The National Broadband Network (NBN) fixed-wireless network trial will commence in April, according to NBN Co.

Source: ARN

Govt's NBN accountability correct: economist

An Australian Parliamentary Library background note has smacked down claims by the Coalition that equity injections to NBN Co should be counted in the budget.

Source: ZDNet Australia

The $4bn digital dividend

Later this year the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will auction off some of the spectrum facilitated by the digital TV switchover. On Twisted Wire we look at how it will be sold, who will bid and how much they can expect to pay.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Businesses lack expertise to exploit NBN

Forty five percent CEOs of a wide range of businesses have responded to a survey by saying they lack the skills and capabilities to take advantage of the NBN. Three years ago the figure was only 20 percent.

Source: iTWire

Wed, 18th Jan 2012

Internode to make IPv6 mainstream

Internode is spearheading an initiative to make Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) take off in Australia, announcing today that all new customers will have IPv6 enabled by default.

Source: ZDNet Australia

ISPs prepare second crack at IPv6

The global Internet Society and individual country chapters have begun preparing to permanently switch on Internet Protocol version 6 across major websites in hopes of enabling the capability for five million users from June this year.

Source: iTnews Australia

Anti-SOPA internet blackout today said to number 7,000 sites going dark

A reported 7,000 websites including Wikipedia will take part today in a voluntary internet blackout worldwide to raise awareness of the controversial SOPA & PIPA anti-piracy bills.

Source: APC Magazine

Chinese telcos advance trans-Tasman link

Huawei and Axin are set to start surveying on their planned 3000km trans-Tasman cable, but the launch date has been pushed back to the end of 2013.

Source: ZDNet Australia

.au domains on the up-and-up

The number of domains registered in the .au space continues to rise exponentially, according to a new report.

Source: iTWire

Internode first to take IPv6 plunge

All new customers of the South Australia-based ISP, Internode, will be automatically assigned IPv6 addresses.

Source: ARN

NBN Co targets the dead in Sydney fibre rollout

Part of Sydney's largest cemetery is set to be included in the National Broadband Network fibre footprint as part of the first cable rollout to Lidcombe in coming months.

Source: iTnews Australia

Plea for NBN in remote areas

The National Congress of Australia's First Peoples has demanded the National Broadband Network be rolled out to remote communities as a priority.

Source: The Australian

Expert to IT pros: Adopt IPv6 soon or be sorry later

A dozen of the world's largest Internet companies - including Facebook, Google and Comcast - have committed to June 6, 2012, as the start date for their production deployments of IPv6, an upgrade to the Internet's main communications protocol.

Source: ARN