Broadband News
Fri, 25th Nov 2011
ISPs can't be forced to monitor traffic for copyright infringement, ECJ rules
In what some consider to be a landmark decision, the European Court of Justice ruled Thursday that forcing Internet service providers (ISPs) to monitor consumer traffic in order to block copyright infringement is incompatible with European Union laws.
Source: ARN
Thu, 24th Nov 2011
iiNet to beat AFACT in High Court but ISPs on borrowed time
The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) is almost certain to lose its appeal against ISP iiNet in the High Court of Australia, according to a legal source close to the case. However, AFACT, now armed with the knowledge of how to correctly prosecute ISPs in future, is already getting ready to pounce on TPG, Dodo and others.
Source: iTWire
Form NBN fibre-expansion policy: Oakeshott
A parliamentary committee has demanded that the National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co) announce its policy on extending the 93 per cent fibre footprint of the NBN.
Source: ZDNet Australia
BigPond Cable upgrade - don't mention the speed
Telstra has just announced plans to upgrade its HFC network in Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney and Perth to support download speeds of up to 100Mbps, but oddly it does not seem to be too keen to tell customers about it.
Source: iTWire
Towers Bill could cost Telstra $2bn per year
Proposed legislation by the Greens and Independent MP Andrew Wilkie to increase the levels of community consultation around the maintenance of mobile phone towers could cost Telstra $2 billion a year in extra costs, according to the telco.
Source: ZDNet Australia
ACCC finalises rules for services non-NBN high speed networks
The ACCC has, almost, finalised the rules that will govern the provision of NBN-type services over non-NBN high speed broadband access networks.
Source: iTWire
Wed, 23rd Nov 2011
Primus offers unlimited calls to fixed lines in 50 countries
Primus Australia has launched two new calling plans - 'Passport Easy' for its own fixed line customers and 'Lingo 50 Countries' a VoIP service for any fixed broadband user - that offer unlimited international calls to standard fixed numbers in 50 countries including China, India, Israel, UK and the USA.
Source: iTWire
Telstra gives HFC network 100Mbps boost
Although the death knell has tolled for Telstra's hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) network with the signing of the $11 billion deal with the National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co), Telstra has committed to upgrading the network to provide speeds of 100 megabits per second by next month.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Vocus opens Singapore PoP
Vocus Communications has established a point of presence in Singapore and taken capacity on the SeaMeWe-3 Perth to Singapore cable, enabling it to offer ethernet and IP connectivity services into South East Asia.
Source: iTWire
Unis stump up cash for AARnet 4
When the University of Sydney this week revealed it would axe over 300 jobs and slice $28 million spending in 2012, it brought into sharp focus the budgetary challenges that the tertiary education sector is facing as enrolment revenues fall even as student numbers surge on the back of the Bradley Review. So who will pay for AARNet 4 - the backbone communications network that will now be rolled out from 2013 connecting the education and research sector at speeds of up to 100 Gbps?
Source: iTWire
APNIC to pre-approve IPv4 transfers
Asia Pacific internet registry APNIC will require members to justify their eligibility for transfers of remaining IPv4 addresses, in a bid to encourage direct trading between address holders.
Source: iTnews Australia
LTE rapid uptake by enterprises, consumers to follow
Uptake by enterprises of LTE mobile broadband technology is expected to increase rapidly in the next five years, but with consumers signing up in large numbers during 2013, and overtaking enterprise subscribers by 2015.
Source: iTWire
Tue, 22nd Nov 2011
Vodafone to be preferred carrier for 3G Playstation Vita
Vodafone Group and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe have forged a global agreement that will make Vodafone the preferred provider of 3G connectivity for the Sony PlayStation Vita in multiple countries, including Australia and New Zealand, when it launches in February 2012.
Source: iTWire
Telstra plans national cable upgrade
Telstra will forge ahead with plans to roll out speed upgrades for its hybrid-fibre coaxial network nationally from next month, despite impending finalisation of the company's deal with NBN Co.
Source: iTnews Australia
TransACT to help iiNet take on Govt, business markets
Iinet’s acquisition of TransACT will provide inroads into the business and government sectors for the largely consumer-focused ISP, according to managing director Michael Malone.
Source: Computerworld
Smart TransACTion puts Optus in iiNet's sights
It is ironic that Optus celebrated the 20th anniversary of its establishment - the putative beginning of Australia's telecoms competition - in the same way that it began: by attacking a monopolist in a hail of vitriol and dire warnings of imminent systemic collapse.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Boost in IPv6 use is only one step to solution
Support for IPv6 has grown by almost 20 times in the past year by one measure, but most websites still can't be reached without IPv4, the current Internet Protocol, which is near running out of unclaimed addresses.
Source: ARN
Broken Hill backhaul link completed
An additional 137,000 people have been connected via Nextgen Network's backhaul network, with a 1150km cross-country link opening yesterday.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co releases almost final wholesale agreement
NBN Co has released a short term (12 months) wholesale broadband agreement (WBA) designed to address a number of issues raised by its customers and potential customers in response to its earlier draft WBA, which required commitment for a minimum of 60 months.
Source: iTWire
iiNet paints unclear future for TransACT fibre, cable
ISP iiNet has painted an uncertain future for the $280 million of hybrid-fibre coaxial cable and fibre infrastructure it acquired from TransACT yesterday for $60 million.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telcoinabox to launch NBN services by 2012
Telcoinabox will launch wholesale services on the National Broadband Network (NBN) after signing an NBN wholesale agreement with NBN Co.
Source: ARN
Mon, 21st Nov 2011
NBN no factor in TransACT buy: iiNet
iiNet's TransACT acquisition wasn't part of a grand National Broadband Network (NBN) preparation plan, according to CEO Michael Malone, but it was something he would have done even if the NBN had never existed.
Source: ZDNet Australia
DDoS attacks, mapped
Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks have quadrupled in recent months and peretrators have targeted network defence equipment, Prolexic says.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra mobile customers get voice and SMS/MMS usage alerts
Telstra has upgraded the provision of usage information to its mobile customers with the launch of a free service that notifies customers on its Freedom Connect mobile plans of their voice call, SMS and MMS usage against their mobile plan allowance.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co names first chief operating officer
NBN Co has appointed Ralph Steffens as its first chief operating officer (COO).
Source: ARN
iiNet spends $60m on TransACT
ISP iiNet has confirmed the acquisition of Canberra-based service provider TransACT for $60 million, five days after rumours first surfaced of the deal.
Source: iTnews Australia
Sat, 19th Nov 2011
Tech deals: Internode slashes FetchTV prices by a third
Internet-based television subscription services are now cheaper than ever, with Internode FetchTV the latest cut-priced example.
Source: PC Authority
Broadband adoration not selling
Not long after James Frost was connected to the NBN in the Brunswick trial site he jumped on to the Whirlpool internet.
Source: Australian IT
Fri, 18th Nov 2011
Telstra hopeful on NBN deal
Telstra could reach agreement with regulators over its participation in the National Broadband Network (NBN) before the end of the year, the telco says.
Source: Computerworld
iiNet poised to announce acquisition
Internet service provider iiNet has been granted a voluntary suspension of its shares pending news of a potential acquisition.
Source: Computerworld