Broadband News
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
Internode calls for NBN compensation
Internode has put a price tag of up to $200,000 an exchange on the DSLAM investment it will lose in the transition to the National Broadband Network.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mon, 24th Oct 2011
Deadline for Telstra split looms: Quigley
The chief of the company building the federal government's National Broadband Network (NBN) says that he would be concerned if the competition watchdog and Telstra were unable to agree on structural separation undertakings by 20 December.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN hearing descends into design sledging
Malcolm Turnbull has today used a public hearing into the National Broadband Network (NBN) to once again criticise the network's cost and objectives, lambasting the government and NBN Co's chief Mike Quigley.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Optus offers fetchTV - over any broadband network
Optus has launched a limited version of the fetchTV IPTV service - minus streaming content - and in addition to making it available to Optus broadband customers is also offering it to all Optus post-paid mobile customers over any broadband network, for $9.95 per month.
Source: iTWire
Telstra to upgrade 200,000 phone lines to ADSL2+
Telstra has finally confirmed the existence of Project Top Hat, its plan to make ADSL2+ services available on an additional 200,000 phone lines presently limited to ADSL1 services because there is no space in street-side cabinets to add ADSL2+ equipment.
Source: iTWire
Photos: iiNet's third annual open day
iTnews joins about 300 customers and enthusiasts at iiNet's three-storey office in Subiaco, Perth.
Source: iTnews Australia
The connected home isn't as connected as it could be
It seems Australians' home networks are underutilised. Many Internet-enabled devices are not being connected, and therefore do not deliver to their full potential.
Source: iTWire
Voluntary internet filter hits progress snag
The Australian Federal Police has no gauge for the success of a voluntary internet filtering trial in its first months of operation apart from controversial redirect statistics provided by Telstra.
Source: iTnews Australia
ACCC, Telstra deal delay would cause some concern: NBN boss
The chief of NBN Co says he would be concerned if the competition watchdog and Telstra were unable to reach agreement on structural separation.
Source: ARN
Simplification removes NBN price hike clause
The National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co) will no longer ask to be able to increase prices by consumer price index plus 5 per cent as part of a simplification process of its special access undertaking (SAU), CEO Mike Quigley has confirmed.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra price controls under review
The government has initiated a review of the system under which the overall prices Telstra can charge for several 'baskets' of fixed line services are controlled by the Government.
Source: iTWire
NBN boss seeks price cap on phone calls
Wholesale prices for telephone calls should not rise above $24 a month as the National Broadband Network (NBN) is built, NBN Co's CEO Mike Quigley says.
Source: Computerworld
Fri, 21st Oct 2011
Connecting to the NBN: this is the network boundary point
The nuts and bolts of who's responsible for what when connecting your house to the NBN.
Source: PC Authority
Telstra retail price control review discussion paper released
The paper invites public comment on whether pricing restrictions on some of Telstra's fixed-line services should remain.
Source: ARN
ACMA staff ban work on NBN projects
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has made a last-minute pay offer to engineers in a bid to stave off a planned stop work today.
Source: iTnews Australia