Broadband News
Thu, 03rd Nov 2011
Aussie kids youngest, prolific internet users: Study
Australian children are among the earliest and prolific users of the internet globally, according to a new study.
Source: Computerworld
Wed, 02nd Nov 2011
Telstra fights to keep exempted exchanges
Contrary to the views of its competitors, Telstra has argued that exchanges exempt from regulation have "demonstrably exceeded expectations" in promoting competition between telcos.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NZ pirates put on notice with first warnings
The first infringement notices for internet piracy have been issued in New Zealand under its controversial new
Source: ZDNet Australia
Collaborative learning schools hook-up on NBN
The Australian Academic and Research Network (AARNet) has partnered with the NSW Department of Education and Training and the Australian Museum to deliver interactive video content via the Clickfest program which connect regional schools throughout Australia with specialists in various fields of study using high definition videoconferencing.
Source: iTWire
Tue, 01st Nov 2011
iiNet plans revamped mobile offering
iiNet has unveiled plans to move "beyond" the mobile virtual network operator model, consolidating existing carrier arrangements and deploying infrastructure to lower costs and differentiate its mobile voice services.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra considers giving ACCC more power in SSU
Telstra is considering giving the Australian Competition and Consumers Commission (ACCC) more power in its revised structural separation undertaking (SSU), putting the watchdog on equal footing with an Independent Telecommunications Adjudicator (ITA).
Source: ARN
Optus makes first LTE data connection at 700MHz
Optus says it has successfully completed the first data connection using LTE technology operating in the 700MHz .
Source: iTWire
Mon, 31st Oct 2011
Telstra suggests bypassing own adjudicator
Telstra will allow wholesale customers to side step the newly created Independent Telecommunications Adjudicator and complain directly to the competition watchdog under proposed changes to its structural separation undertaking (SSU).
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra offers an olive branch to the ACCC on structural separation
Telstra is seeking to allay the ACCC's concerns and the widespread industry opposition to its structural separation undertaking with plans to hold an industry forum, ahead of which it has released an issues paper.
Source: iTWire
We're not to blame for high wiring costs: NBN Co
Nbn Co has sought to distance itself from claims by builders that making a home NBN-ready requires sophisticated and potentially expensive internal wiring. The comments follow reports that some families have been charged up to $1000 to have their residences wired up.
Source: Computerworld
Home owners hit for NBN connection
Builders are charging almost $1000 in wiring so new homes can connect to the National Broadband Network.
Source: Australian IT
Fri, 28th Oct 2011
NBN Co cuts broadband agreement to one year
NBN Co has agreed to change the length of its wholesale broadband agreement with retail service providers to last 12 months rather than five years in a last-ditch bid to sign up support for the fibre network.
Source: iTnews Australia
iiNet 'Easter egg' ad banned
The Perth-ISP said it was just a bit of fun and had no intention of breaking any advertising rules.
Source: ARN
Telco term 'cap' could be banned
The term "cap" could soon start to vanish from ads and marketing material for mobile phone and other telecommunications services.
Source: Australian IT
Broadband boom for the bush possible: Expert
There will be a broadband boom for the bush if local councils play a driving role, according to UK Community Regeneration expert, Dr Tim Williams.
Source: ARN
Thu, 27th Oct 2011
Past is past in 10-year ADSL planning
Assuming that the NBN progresses as planned, ISPs need to plan their copper-loop investment strategies as they wind down their ADSL2+ services and shift to the NBN over the next decade. Yet, as a group of providers buys more DSLAMs and then clamours to be reimbursed for benefiting from the competitive market of the past 14 years, it's clear that the reign and importance of ADSL2+ is still not over.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Marriott v NBN in the social stakes
If ever there was a stark demonstration of the gulf that exists in the way organisations embrace or ignore social media it's the contrasting social media approaches of international hotel group Marriott, and local start up NBN Co.
Source: iTWire
Opposition scraping the barrel for NBN opposition avenues
Is the Coalition getting desperate to find ways to attack the NBN? The latest assaults from its chief protagonists Malcolm Turnbull and Paul Fletcher certainly suggest this to be the case.
Source: iTWire
Wed, 26th Oct 2011
Lib Fletcher blunders, gets NBN Co salary figures wrong
In an embarrassing blunder, Liberal MP and National Broadband Network critic Paul Fletcher has egg all over his face after publishing incorrect and dramatically inflated average salary figures for the staff of NBN Co, the company responsible for administering the NBN.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co is "Millionaires' Factory" of overpaid staff: Fletcher
Paul Fletcher, the Federal Opposition's NBN head kicker in residence is at it again, this time lambasting NBN Co, the company administering the National Broadband Network, for paying its employees the sort of excessive salaries enjoyed by staff at top investment banks.
Source: iTWire
Lengthy NBN-ISP contract concerns ACCC
The competition watchdog has raised concerns about the National Broadband Network Company's (NBN Co's) five-year contract term with retail service providers (RSPs), as telcos delay in signing on the dotted line.
Source: ZDNet Australia
FTTN NBN may cost more: ACCC
The competition watchdog says building a cable broadband network to the kerb could be a waste of funds if the system is later upgraded to homes and businesses.
Source: ZDNet Australia
ACCC mulls interim determination on NBN access
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has warned NBN Co that it could be subjected to the terms of an interim access determination if its proposed special access undertaking doesn't make the grade.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tue, 25th Oct 2011
Discounts needed for low income earners to access NBN: ACCAN
The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has proposed a broadband low income measures scheme, including discount wholesale prices, to enable Australians earning $26,000 a year or less to access to the National Broadband Network (NBN).
Source: Computerworld
VHA wary of NBN customer lock-in
While offering neither fixed line calls or fixed broadband services, Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) believes the National Broadband Network (NBN) will still deliver the telco an increase in business.
Source: Computerworld
Optus comfortable with provisions
Optus says anti-disparagement provisions included in its agreement with NBN Co will not restrict the telco's ability to market wireless products and services.
Source: ARN
NBN may diminish regional broadband services: Internode
Internode has warned that access to broadband services in regional areas may actually decrease under the National Broadband Network (NBN) due to the costs NBN Co charges retail service providers (RSPs) to supply services.
Source: Computerworld
Optus to delay NBN pricing
Optus says it is waiting on more clarity before publishing retail prices for services it will offer on the National Broadband Network.
Source: ARN
iCloud, iView cause iiNet unmetered issues
iiNet is starting to face challenges with its unmetered Freeview offering, with content from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation moving offshore and customers jumping onto Apple's iCloud causing headaches for chief technology officer Greg Bader.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Optus opens FetchTV to third-party ISP users
Optus has launched FetchTV for mobile and fixed-line customers, marking the first time that the internet protocol television product has been available to internet users on any ISP network.
Source: iTnews Australia