Broadband News
Wed, 13th Jul 2011
Optus satellite facility tour: photos
Zdnet Australia goes behind the scenes at Optus' satellite facility in Belrose just north of Sydney to see how the telco manages its five satellites currently in orbit.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co and Telstra win big in ACMA 2.3GHz spectrum auction
Nbn Co has secured 24 licences and Telstra has nabbed 12 in the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) 2.3GHz spectrum auction.
Source: ARN
AFACT strong-arming ISPs: Pirate Party
The Australian arm of the Pirate Party yesterday opened fire on the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT), accusing the group of "strong-arm tactics" and "extortion" in its renewed advances to local internet service providers (ISPs) over the past few weeks on the issue of online copyright infringement through file-sharing services such as BitTorrent.
Source: ZDNet Australia
ISPs should pay copyright costs: AFACT
The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) has said that New Zealand's decision to impose a NZ$25 charge on rights holders who want internet service providers to process user copyright infringement notices is not the ideal answer to tackling the copyright problems.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co forks out $1.3m for spectrum
NBN Co has shelled out $1.3 million for 24 radio spectrum licences across the country, bidding alongside Telstra and Unwired subsidiary, BKAL, in an auction run by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
Source: Computerworld
ICT employers face tough times, NBN poorly planned staff-wise: ITCRA
The number of suitable candidates per ICT role remained at a low in the second quarter of 2011 in comparison with 2010, according to the Information Technology Contract and Recruitment Association (ITCRA).
Source: ARN
Telstra price squeeze ignored: Internode
Telstra has been squeezing prices to its wholesale customers for almost a year now, and the national competition regulator has taken zero action in response, according to Internode managing director Simon Hackett.
Source: ZDNet Australia
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