Broadband News

Mon, 20th Jun 2011

NBN to link those it misses, if they pay

The NBN Co has started inviting Tasmanians living outside the fibre footprint of the National Broadband Network to connect their homes.

Source: Australian IT

Turnbull pushes alternative to NBN

The federal opposition has flagged a campaign for a voucher-style approach to the rollout of fibre cable in greenfield developments, in an attempt to reduce uncertainty and delay facing developers in the initial phase of the $36 billion National Broadband Network.

Source: The Australian

Sun, 19th Jun 2011

Foxtel comes to T-Box

Telstra will launch, next Sunday June 26, a range of Foxtel content to users of its T-Box connected to Telstra's cable broadband services, with the same offering to be available over Telstra ADSL a couple of months later, all quota free.

Source: iTWire

Fri, 17th Jun 2011

NBN Estimates stalls on Alcatel row

Labor Senator Doug Cameron was last night forced to adjourn a heated estimates hearing with NBN Co chief Mike Quigley after proceedings descended into a slanging match between participants.

Source: iTnews Australia

Cost of NBN high for first home builders: Housing Industry Association

Greater clarity on the costs of developing the National Broadband Network (NBN) for housing developers is needed, according to the Housing Industry Association's (HIA) chief executive.

Source: Computerworld

NBN may be subjected to a partial cost-benefit analysis

The Productivity Commission may be ordered to conduct a cost-benefit analysis on whether fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) is the best way to go for the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Source: ARN

Telstra deal goes to NBN Co board today

The board of the National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co) is set to vote on the $11 billion deal with Telstra today, almost a year since the two companies first signed a financial heads of agreement.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN chief talks up Tassie take-up

NBN Co chief Mike Quigley has revealed data on Tasmanian take-up rates in the state's three stage-one sites, with 600 premises holding an active connection to the network and over 740 services ordered by the end of May.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN chief admits mistakes on Alcatel

Michael Quigley admits his incorrect statements about the Alcatel corruption scandal gave the impression he "didn't give all of the facts".

Source: Australian IT

NBN Co approval of $9b Telstra deal goes down to the wire

The board of the government company seeking a $9 billion deal with Telstra may approve the finalised document today, opening the way for Telstra to start the irreversible process of separating its copper network.

Source: SMH

Thu, 16th Jun 2011

Mobile call costs under ACCC spotlight

The underlying cost for connecting mobile phone calls between Australian telcos is in the spotlight as part of a new discussion paper released by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Source: ZDNet Australia

You'll get the NBN: Conroy promises Tassie schools

The Office of Communciations Minister Stephen Conroy has reaffirmed the Government's commitment to bringing the National Broadband Network to Tasmanian schools, in the wake of news yesterday that schools in early stage rollout zones in Tasmania had not had the NBN fibre switched on a year after it was connected.

Source: iTWire

Platform Networks makes NBN connections

Platform Networks has brought five service providers onto a wholesale aggregation service that now includes connections to the National Broadband Network.

Source: iTnews Australia

Rats! Queensland Telstra network chewed up

A rat plague is chewing up parts of Telstra's network in outback Queensland, causing intermittent phone problems at Birdsville.

Source: ARN

Optus urges tougher rules on Telstra split

Optus is urging the Federal Government to tighten proposed regulatory standards that the competition regulator will use to deal with Telstra's structural separation into retail and wholesale arms.

Source: ARN

Tasmanian public schools locked out of NBN

Tasmania's Department of Education has neutered criticism from the state's opposition over public school takeup of the NBN, revealing all schools in trial areas were serving out existing telecommunications contracts.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra broadband plan unrealistic: ACCC

The outgoing boss of the national competition watchdog says Telstra's original broadband proposal was an "illusion" in terms of its cost and speed targets.

Source: ARN

Wed, 15th Jun 2011

NextGen NBN offer not a total fix: Hackett

A service launched yesterday, which will aggregate National Broadband Network (NBN) capacity across Australia, is "no magic bullet" that could completely resolve perceived issues with the NBN's pricing model, according to Internode managing director Simon Hackett.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Southern Cross eyes 6 Tbps capacity

Southern Cross Cable has revised upwards the expected capacity gains from a transmission upgrade to its submarine cable network, expecting it to boost the network to "at least" 6 terabits per second (Tbps).

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra lashes out at rival telcos

Telstra has lashed out against its rivals' demands for greater transparency of its operations during the telco giant's migration to the NBN.

Source: Australian IT

Telstra's broadband plan an illusion: ACCC

The outgoing boss of the national competition watchdog said Telstra's original broadband proposal was an "illusion" in terms of its cost and speed targets.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Conroy adds finer details to greenfield NBN rollout arrangements

Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, has fleshed out the arrangements affecting the National Broadband Network (NBN) rollout to greenfield estates.

Source: ARN

Sites continue IPv6 after successful test

Reassured by a relatively smooth test of IPv6 last week, some websites are choosing to keep servers available over the next-generation internet technology.

Source: ZDNet Australia

OECD jump not NBN-reliant: Fletcher

The National Digital Economy Strategy goal of moving Australia up the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) rankings for broadband penetration does not have to be met by the roll-out of the National Broadband Network (NBN), according to Liberal MP Paul Fletcher.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Southern Cross cable plans upgrade to 40Ggbps technology

Southern Cross Cable has announced plans to upgrade its network from 10Gbps per wavelength to 40Gbps in 2012 and says it has successfully trialled prototype 100Gbps transmission equipment.

Source: iTWire

Telstra on track for landmark NBN deal

Telstra and NBN Ltd are on track to finalise negotiations on their landmark agreement in time for Friday's NBN board meeting.

Source: Australian IT

Tassie schools still not on NBN

Almost a year after the National Broadband Network (NBN) was officially switched on in Tasmania, the State Government has been forced to concede that no public school in the early stage release towns of Scottsdale, Midway Point and Smithton have been connected to the high-speed fibre internet service that the project offers.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Tue, 14th Jun 2011

$100m schools fibre program quietly axed

The Gillard government has quietly scrapped the $100 million Fibre Connection to Schools initiative.

Source: Australian IT

Nextgen first with NBN wholesale

Fibre backhaul provider Nextgen networks has trumped the likes of Optus and Telstra in becoming first to announce sub-wholesale products under the National Broadband Network.

Source: iTnews Australia

Nextgen launches wholesale NBN product suite

Aussie fibre provider Nextgen Networks has unveiled a wholesale product suite for ISPs "of all types" to access the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Source: Computerworld