Broadband News
Sun, 06th Nov 2011
Faster than ADSL2+ - how Telstra is configuring its superfast 4G network
Telstra's new LTE network blows away fixed-line broadband in designated 4G areas in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. We look at how Telstra is configuring it for Australian needs.
Source: APC Magazine
Fri, 04th Nov 2011
Has Telstra made 84,000 reasons to filter?
The heated debate about internet filtering has calmed down this year, with voluntary filtering at several ISPs drawing little of the chanting, marching and petitioning that we saw two years ago. Does this fact, paired with recent statistics showing that Telstra's filter is keeping at least a few sickos from casual child porn access, legitimise the case for moderate internet filtering?
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN may get mining sector's 457 skills program
The Federal Government is considering a plan to extend a special 457 visa program designed for the resources sector to the telecommunications industry, to allow it to expedite the import of large numbers of skilled workers.
Source: iTWire
AARNet eyes e-health NBN projects
AARNet has unveiled plans to connect hundreds of homes for the first time over the National Broadband Network as part of several research trials it has lined up across the country.
Source: iTnews Australia
Thu, 03rd Nov 2011
Broadband-enabled program for elderly
The Victorian Government continues to push its credentials as a technology-savvy government and to ramp up its efforts to promote Victoria as a 'globally sophisticated ICT market', to attract new investment in the tech sector and to deliver e-services to the community utilising high-speed broadband and the NBN.
Source: iTWire
AARNet to Kinect the elderly over the NBN
The Australian Academic Research Network (AARNet) has jumped onboard a collaborative broadband project to develop enabling technology for the elderly to exercise at home over the National Broadband Network (NBN).
Source: Computerworld
Does Telstra really have a plan?
New revenue streams and better customer service doesn't sound like a plan; it sounds like common sense. So, what is the future direction for Australia's biggest telco?
Source: ZDNet Australia
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