Broadband News

Wed, 13th Jul 2011

Pirate Party slams AFACT's ISP "extortion"

The Australian arm of the Pirate Party late yesterday opened fire on the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft, accusing the group of "strong-arm tactics" and "extortion" in its renewed approaches to local ISPs over the past few weeks on the issue of online copyright infringement through file sharing services such as BitTorrent.

Source: iTWire

Tue, 12th Jul 2011

Internode aligns plans for simplicity

National broadband provider Internode has revamped its monthly plan structure, with the aim of unifying its disparate product offerings under one simplified structure.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Internode simplifies broadband plans

National broadband provider Internode has revamped its monthly plan structure, with the aim of unifying its disparate product offerings under one simplified structure, and giving customers small bonuses in terms of extra quota and bundled services.

Source: iTWire

Interpol filter: Does it breach user agreements?

Does the mandatory implementation of a limited Internet filtering scheme by Telstra and Optus constitute a breach of the ISPs' existing agreements with their users? So far the situation is unclear, according to Australia's Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.

Source: iTWire

NBN Co deploys fibre to more NSW housing estates

Three new housing estates across western Sydney have been slated as the next greenfields to receive fibre connections under the National Broadband Network.

Source: iTnews Australia

Mon, 11th Jul 2011

ACCC to spell out non-discrimination rules that will apply to NBN Co

The ACCC is preparing a set of documents that will spell out how NBN Co must not discriminate, except in limited circumstances, between organisations seeking access to NBN Co's network services.

Source: iTWire

Telstra Ultimate Wi-Fi

Telstra's Ultimate Wi-Fi hotspot delivers solid mobile data to up to five devices and comes highly recommended - as long as you can afford it.

Source: ZDNet Australia

ISP Netbay to launch advertising funded free-access metro WiFi

Broadband ISP Netbay Internet is planning a network of free-access, advertising-funded WiFi hotspots in metropolitan areas of Australia and has teamed up with GoConnect to sell the advertising for the network.

Source: iTWire

FTTH and FTTB set to overtake wireless connections in APAC by 2014: Ovum

Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and Fiber-to-the-Building (FTTB) are set to overtake the number of wireless internet connections in the Asia-Pacific region from 2014, Ovum has claimed.

Source: Computerworld

Sat, 09th Jul 2011

Rivals fume over Telstra prices

The imminent migration of broadband customers to a new Telstra fibre network in South Brisbane has the telco's rivals fuming.

Source: Australian IT

Fri, 08th Jul 2011

iiNet's Malone calls for end to NBN politics

iiNet chief executive Michael Malone has called for those commenting on the National Broadband Network to return to judging ideas on their "technical merit", instead of letting politics cloud the national debate.

Source: iTWire

Telstra, vividwireless and NBN Co set to do battle for rural 2.3GHz spectrum

Next Wednesday, July 13, Telstra, NBN Co and vividwireless will battle each other for 2.3GHz spectrum covering vast swathes of rural and remote Australia, and home to some 700,000 people.

Source: iTWire

AFACT pressures ISPs to fulfil 'obligations' against content piracy

The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) has been issuing letters to ISPs imploring them to work with the anti-piracy organisation to "fulfill their obligations".

Source: ARN

Samuel says Optus was warned

In July 2009, ACCC chief Graeme Samuel warned telco chiefs about the standard of broadband and mobile advertising.

Source: Australian IT

Vint Cerf calls for clarity in NBN cost data

Google chief internet evangelist Vint Cerf, credited in some quarters as the "founder of the internet", has called on the Australian Government to provide a full and frank breakdown of the costs of building the National Broadband Network.

Source: iTnews Australia

Thu, 07th Jul 2011

AFACT 'courts' internet service providers

AFACT has launched a last ditch effort to avoid a copyright showdown in court by inviting ISPs to the negotiating table.

Source: Australian IT

Exetel shuns 'pointless' Interpol filter

Exetel has joined ranks with Internode and TPG with respect to the limited filtering scheme being rolled out by Telstra and Optus.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Netgear provides on-site warranty

Netgear is beefing up warranty coverage on certain products with the addition of an on-site hardware replacement service.

Source: iTWire

AARNet deploys telepresence system for Aussie universities

Australia’s Academic and Research Network (AARNet) has jumped on the video conferencing bandwagon, doing a deal with Cisco for the implementation of its Telepresence Exchange System.

Source: Computerworld

Optus fined $5 million for misleading ads

Optus has been ordered to pay a fine of $5.26 million after losing a case about misleading advertising.

Source: ARN

Wed, 06th Jul 2011

Analysis: Small ISPs jump ship in face of NBN

ASX-listed internet service provider Eftel joined the exclusive 100K club last week when shareholders approved the company's merger with ClubTelco.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra forges NBN wholesale 'proof of concept'

Telstra has begun on-selling National Broadband Network services to access seekers under a "proof of concept" it hopes will guide the creation of a sub-wholesale product.

Source: iTnews Australia

6000-strong telco army to get NBN training

The National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co) is looking for trainers to train up to 6000 telco workers and 12,000 construction workers who will toil on the roll-out of the $37.5 billion project.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Filter technically impossible for us: NBN Co

The National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co) confirmed late yesterday that it wouldn't be implementing the limited filtering scheme being put into place by other Australian telcos, noting that the national network it is constructing is incompatible with the type of technology being used in the filter.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN Co seeks training providers

The company charged with the rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN) has called for applications of interest from registered training providers to build the skills of those constructing the network.

Source: Computerworld

NBN Co defends controversial supplier decisions

NBN Co chief Mike Quigley has declined to reveal the extent of risk it absorbed to entice Silcar back to the table mere months after accusing the construction industry of attempting to fleece taxpayers.

Source: iTnews Australia

Optus faces $100m in payouts

Optus could pay as much as $100 million in termination payments as it works to unstring its cable network.

Source: Australian IT

NBN probes Telstra's pits

Nbn Co has begun a 12-week review of the state of Telstra's infrastructure assets to allow it to finalise its rollout schedule.

Source: Australian IT

Tue, 05th Jul 2011

TPG repeats: We won't implement voluntary filter

Well, we already knew that national broadband provider TPG wasn't too keen on the idea of voluntarily filtering its customers' Internet, courtesy of comments made by Communications Minister Stephen Conroy in late May this year. But now the company has come out in a bit more of a concrete way against the voluntary filter.

Source: iTWire

We'll filter when the law says: Internode

Internode has clarified its position with respect to the limited filtering scheme being implemented by other internet service providers (ISPs), saying it will implement the scheme when it's forced to by law, but not otherwise.

Source: ZDNet Australia