Broadband News
Fri, 16th Sep 2011
NBN switches on in Willunga school
Willunga High School, in the rural town of Willunga, about 47 kilometres south of Adelaide, is set to experience broadband through the National Broadband Network (NBN), as the first fibre-based site in South Australia is launched today.
Source: iTWire
NBN planner critiques 121-point design
A key designer of the National Broadband Network has publicly criticised the regulator-mandated requirement to build 121 points of interconnect, claiming it reduces the network's resiliency.
Source: iTnews Australia
Aging population could benefit most from NBN
The opportunity to help Australia's aging population with relevant technology must be taken account for in the rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN), a KPMG digital business national managing partner has argued.
Source: Computerworld
Get ready for the 4G hype machine
It promises wireless download speeds fast enough to make ADSL2+ users jealous. Now Optus, Telstra and Vodafone are all readying 4G LTE networks.
Source: PC Authority
The NBN debate: Where smart people say dumb things
As the ACCC consults on Telstra's Structural Separation Undertaking and the Definitive Agreement reached with NBN Co, the NBN's fixed line monopoly has been called into question. David Havyatt responds to the critics, with a fine serve for Bob Brown as well.
Source: iTnews Australia
Thu, 15th Sep 2011
Mobile network upgrades of $840 billion required over next five years
According to a new mobile research report, Mobile network operators need to spend almost $840 billion globally over the next five years in order to address serious bottlenecks in their backhaul networks. The report claims that the massive investment needs to be made if operators are to meet the increasing demands of mobile broadband users.
Source: iTWire
Optus calls for NBN content sharing standards
Optus chief executive, Paul O'Sullivan, has urged the federal government to create sharing provisions for digital content services provided over the National Broadband Network (NBN).
Source: Computerworld
Optus to rollout 4G LTE, plans 3G upgrade
Optus has committed to rolling out a 4G LTE network with services expected to be available from April 2012.
Source: ARN
Telstra reveals flat-rate wholesale charges
Telstra Wholesale has raised the ire of some of its internet service provider customers with a new ADSL2+ port price proposal that some fear could "cement" the incumbent's price squeeze on retail competition.
Source: iTnews Australia
Optus forges ahead with LTE
Optus has revealed plans to launch its own Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile network in April next year.
Source: iTnews Australia
Wed, 14th Sep 2011
Telstra risks bill shock with LTE plans
Telstra customers on its new long-term evolution (LTE) network will have to watch how much data they use, since the telco plans to reintroduce excess data usage charges, according to internal documentation leaked to ZDNet Australia.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co defends against claims of anti-competitive behaviour
NBN Co has mounted a spirited defence against claims from two internationally recognised telecommunications market experts that the forced shutdown of existing HFC broadband services from Telstra and Optus and restrictions against offering wireless broadband in competition with the NBN amounts to anti-competitive behaviour.
Source: iTWire
Greens tower Bill will impact NBN: AMTA
Proposed Greens legislation to restrict the construction of mobile towers would impact the deployment of the fixed-wireless long-term evolution (LTE) network deployment as part of the National Broadband Network (NBN), according to the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA).
Source: ZDNet Australia
Leading experts slam "anti-competitive" NBN forced HFC shutdown
Two internationally recognised experts in telecommunications economics have savaged the forced shutdown of the HFC broadband networks of both Telstra and Optus so that they will not able to compete with NBN Co for the provision of broadband services. The leading academics have slammed the plan, which is part of Telstra's Structural Separation Undertaking (SSU), as anti-competitive and will lead to higher prices and less investment in the Australian broadband.
Source: iTWire
Kiwi ISPs bridging broadband gap with Australia
New Zealand, a place where broadband prices have been even more costly than in Australia, is fast catching up to its larger neighbour in terms of data value for money and now threatens to push ahead, according to a new study.
Source: iTWire
Tue, 13th Sep 2011
Telstra hits back at CCC demands, cites business confidentiality
Dominant carrier Telstra, has hit back at demands from its competitors to make public financial information relating to its proposed structural separation in the wake of the National Broadband Network, citing commercial sensitivity of some of the data.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co eyes Telstra South Brisbane fibre
Telstra's controversial South Brisbane fibre network may potentially be sold to the National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co) as part of the $11 billion definitive agreement between the incumbent telco and the government wholesaler.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN will 'destroy' private firms
The federal government has been accused of destroying private businesses installing broadband networks.
Source: Australian IT
Mon, 12th Sep 2011
NBN bridging China customer support services
A software company in the NBN first release town of Willunga in South Australia is using the national broadband network during its current trial phase to provide support services for customers doing business as far away as China, and achieving much faster downloads than it did without the NBN.
Source: iTWire
Harvey Norman pushes copyright bypass
It's just a bit hypocritical for Harvey Norman to sell devices that set up a virtual private network (VPN) to bypass geolocation blocking.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Internode may go public if Coalition wins
The possibility of Internode listing on the ASX would only happen following a Coalition victory and scrapping of the National Broadband Network (NBN), according to its chief executive officer, Patrick Tapper.
Source: Computerworld
Fri, 09th Sep 2011
iiNet signs to South Brisbane
iiNet has signed an agreement with Telstra that will see its customers migrated from copper to fibre-serving areas in the suburbs south of Brisbane over the next 18 months.
Source: iTnews Australia
ACMA backs down on threat of more regulation to protect telco consumers
The ACMA has released the final report of its 'Reconnecting the Customer' Enquiry but has backed down from its earlier threat of more regulation, instead giving the industry one more chance to get its house in order in the form of a new Telecommunications Consumer Protection Code.
Source: iTWire
Which business broadband plan is more bang for your buck? Telstra vs Optus
Searching for the best internet for your dollar for your enterprise? Computerworld Australia compared the unlimited broadband packages from Telstra and Optus.
Source: Computerworld
End bill shock or face fine
Phone and internet providers will be forced to send text alerts before customers breach their credit limits.
Source: Australian IT
Thu, 08th Sep 2011
What an NBN connection looks like
A closeup view of how the NBN connects to your home, and some of the networking issues it will pose.
Source: PC Authority
Abbott rejects claim he endorsed NBN
Opposition leader Tony Abbott has rejected Labor claims that he supports the National Broadband Network (NBN) as a way of improving mobile services in the bush.
Source: Computerworld
Low-income users denied NBN benefits
Low-income households will miss out on the full healthcare benefits of the National Broadband Network.
Source: Australian IT
Conroy confident on Telstra separation
Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, is confident Telstra and the competition watchdog will resolve fears over the telco's structural separation plans.
Source: Computerworld
Optus warns of unit pricing complexity
Optus has spoken out against proposals to introduce unit pricing across telcos, warning common mobile and broadband products could not be priced the same way as "boiled rice".
Source: iTnews Australia