Broadband News
Sat, 15th Oct 2011
Broadband bill hits $23m
The Department of Broadband spent about $23 million on advertising and marketing in the past financial year.
Source: Australian IT
Fri, 14th Oct 2011
Transit backhaul key to NBN rollout schedule
NBN Co says the development of its transit backhaul network, which will connect its individual fibre serving areas to its points of interconnect, is the key to determining its FTTH rollout schedule.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co's top executives' FY11 bonuses cut by 20 percent
The value of a short term incentive pool for NBN Co's top executives for FY11 was reduced by 20 percent from its initial figure because the company missed some key performance targets, the company's annual report reveals.
Source: iTWire
Marrickville Council eyes free park wi-fi
Sydney's Marrickville Council has agreed to explore free wi-fi internet services in major recreational parks.
Source: iTnews Australia
Thu, 13th Oct 2011
Telstra wins 4G with its 3G
After comparing Telstra's 4G network to other supposedly "4G" networks in the market, the genius in Telstra's brand new shiny network is in its 3G network.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN committee to hear NZ fibre experience
The joint Parliamentary committee overseeing progress of the National Broadband Network has indicated it may call on New Zealand telco executives to present evidence in future hearings.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN to finish on time: Quigley
The high speed National Broadband Network (NBN) will still be completed on time despite delays in the rollout of the $35.9 billion project across Australia, a parliamentary inquiry has been told.
Source: Computerworld
NBN battery backup may be opt-out
After resoundingly negative feedback, the government may consider letting National Broadband Network (NBN) customers opt-out of the mandatory battery backup for the network termination unit (NTU), a parliamentary committee on the NBN has heard today.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra, NBN Co spar over conduit drawings
Telstra has reignited a stalemate with NBN Co over conduit ownership that is stalling the rollout of NBN fibre in up to 60 new housing estates across Australia.
Source: iTnews Australia
Wed, 12th Oct 2011
Telcos split on mobile 1800 proposal
Mobile carriers have warned that a proposal to kill charges for mobile users to dial 1800 free call numbers would force them to renegotiate up to 400 contracts a day.
Source: iTnews Australia
Anittel to offer NBN services to regional SMEs
Anittel Group (ASX: AYG) - a provider of telco and IT services focussed on SMEs in regional Australia - has become a retail service provider of NBN services.
Source: iTWire
NBN users complain about battery backup
NBN Co CEO Mike Quigley has revealed mandatory back-up batteries as the biggest source of complaints from trial users of the National Broadband Network.
Source: iTnews Australia
Privacy body joins iiNet court case
Privacy advocates fear adverse consequences if Hollywood interests are handed a victory in an upcoming High Court appeal.
Source: Australian IT
Tue, 11th Oct 2011
ACMA to cut cost of calling 1800 and 13/1300 numbers from mobiles
The ACMA is planning to fix one of consumers' biggest complaints about mobile services: the high price of calling 1800 and 13/1300 numbers. It intends to make 1800 calls free and 13/1300 calls the same price as calls from a fixed line.
Source: iTWire
NBN docs reveal the suburbs that lost out
Internal National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co) documentation has revealed the suburbs that narrowly missed out on being amongst the five mainland first release sites for the NBN.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN less competitive than Chinese broadband market: Turnbull
Opposition communications spokesperson Malcolm Turnbull has again slammed the National Broadband Network (NBN) as overpriced with too much government intervention, saying that China has a more competitive broadband market than Australia thanks to the project.
Source: Computerworld
ACMA braces for rise in telco complaints
Complaints about telco services could rise in the short term despite regulatory efforts to curb them, Australian Communications and Media Authority deputy chair Richard Bean has warned.
Source: iTnews Australia
Conroy, Ludlam slam EIU anti-NBN report
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy and Greens communications spokesperson Scott Ludlam have slammed a report that calls the National Broadband Network (NBN) "extreme government intervention", labelling the report as right-wing dogma.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Comms Alliance in iiNet court battle
The Communications Alliance is expected to lodge an application to intervene in Hollywood's landmark court case against iiNet.
Source: Australian IT
Optus Networks MD: 700MHz can turn 4G LTE from racehorse to workhorse
The 700MHz spectrum band will be important for making 4G LTE a workhorse rather than a racehorse, according to Optus Networks managing director, Günther Ottendorfer.
Source: ARN
Mon, 10th Oct 2011
NBN Co eyes pop-up facilities as PoIs
NBN Co has invested over $100 million in ten "multi-purpose" facilities that can act as points-of-interconnect (PoIs) to support the scale out of the broadband network.
Source: iTnews Australia
Emerson seals $100 million NBN deal
Under the deal Emerson will design, supply, install and commission 10 network facility centres across Australia as part of the NBN rollout.
Source: ARN
Fri, 07th Oct 2011
iiNet, AFACT prepare for High Court battle
The High Court showdown this December between iiNet and the league of content owners that is the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) is expected to be a short and sharp battle, but the case will likely shape copyright law in this country for years to come.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra Next G 'glitch' stopped user uploads
Telstra network engineers have worked to fix a "glitch" that was preventing mobile broadband customers across Australia on its Next G network from uploading data and sending emails.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN fibre to eclipse DSL tails in 2016
NBN Co's fibre network will surpass DSL penetration levels after 2015 if the next-generation rollout continues unhindered, according to analyst firm Telsyte.
Source: iTnews Australia
Thu, 06th Oct 2011
NBN Co seeks to drive broadband prices higher than inflation: Fletcher
A submission to the ACCC from NBN Co seeks to increase prices for high end broadband services by inflation plus 5% over the next 30 years, which will result in massive charges without a competing service in coming years, according to former Optus senior executive turned Liberal MP Paul Fletcher.
Source: iTWire
'Authorisation' key to AFACT v iiNet High Court appeal
iiNet says High Court judges hearing the appeal in the copyright case it has been fighting against the movie studios will have to make a decision as to exactly what action, or non-action, by an ISP would constitute authorising its customers to download copyrighted material, and that this decision will bring much needed clarity to the industry.
Source: iTWire
Primus lights up Metro Fibre
Primus has completed the first stage of its project to add Optical Transport Network capability to its fibre rings.
Source: iTWire
Wed, 05th Oct 2011
iTunes price gouging: Apple not to blame
It is ironic in a week when the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) is going into battle yet again with ISP iiNet that the NSW Minister for Fair Trading Anthony Roberts has accused Apple of price gouging through its Australian iTunes online store. Could Mr Roberts be whipping the wrong horse and should instead focus his attention on the members of AFACT?
Source: iTWire
Film company goes after Aussie downloaders
Have you downloaded a copy of mob thriller Kill The Irishman? If so, your ISP could be forced to hand your details over to the film's copyright holder.
Source: ABC News