Broadband News
Tue, 24th May 2011
Don't make the NBN a sideshow
It's understandable that the government would want to show off its achievements for the National Broadband Network (NBN), no matter how minor, but going over the top could risk making people more cynical about the $35.9 billion project.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra turns on first LTE base stations - for trials only
Telstra has turned on the first LTE base stations in its network, in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth ahead of its scheduled launch of LTE services by year end.
Source: iTWire
Laser beam transfers 700 DVDs in one second
Computer users who despair over slow internet connections should take heart - German scientists have broken a speed record, sending data contained on 700 DVDs over a single laser beam, in one second.
Source: SMH
Telstra turns on 4G service in four cities
Telstra has switched on 4G mobile service across four major metropolitan markets as it chases an ambitious deadline.
Source: Australian IT
Mon, 23rd May 2011
Telstra's Elite Mobile Wi-Fi: Review
Telstra's Elite Mobile Wi-Fi device is a slim, svelte and elegant little device which promises to bring the fastest 3G mobile broadband speeds into your locale and then share them wirelessly. But is the cute little device a speedy jaguar -- or in reality, just a fat and slow white elephant?
Source: iTWire
Reviewed: FRITZ!Box FON WLAN 7270
The Fritz!Box is easily one of the best featured modem routers we've seen in quite a while.
Source: PC Authority
How to get your home ready for the NBN
It might be years before the National Broadband Network (NBN) comes to your street, but it’s best to start preparing your home for it now.
Source: APC Magazine
NZ education networks signs to Pacific Fibre
New Zealand's government-owned education fibre network has signed on as anchor tenant to the $US400 million Pacific Fibre submarine cable venture, significantly boosting the service provider's international capacity.
Source: Computerworld
Analyst: Mobile broadband up to 1333 times more expensive than fixed-line broadband
This is not a typo. On a per gigabyte basis, mobile broadband can be up to 1333 times more expensive than fixed-line broadband, according to analyst firm, Market Clarity.
Source: ARN
NBN: ACCC wet dream, security nightmare
The National Broadband Network (NBN) will provide unprecedented opportunities for consumer choice and competition, says network strategist Paul Brooks from Layer 10. But, at the same time, it will create 10 million insecure home networks and unprecedented security challenges.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co cracks down on future critics
NBN Co has warned ISPs not to criticise or blame it for broadband connection issues affecting businesses or consumers connected to the network.
Source: iTnews Australia
We must watch NBN's role
Julia Gillard and Stephen Conroy spruiked the "unprecedented opportunities" that would flow from the multi-billion dollar NBN last week.
Source: Australian IT
Fri, 20th May 2011
NBN sees city pay rural prices: Hackett
The National Broadband Network won't deliver metro prices to regional Australia, Internode managing director Simon Hackett has said, but will bring regional prices to metro Australia.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co sets up panel of recruiters to hire 1000 staff
NBN Co has named a clutch of recruitment companies to help with its hirings - an estimated 1000 in the next 12 months. They were chosen from over 300 hopefuls following what it says was a comprehensive tender process.
Source: iTWire
Conroy has "stuffed up" NBN pricing, says Hackett
In the latest salvo in an ongoing war of words with Stephen Conroy and NBN Co, Internode managing director Simon Hackett has accused the Communications Minister of having "stuffed up" the National Broadband Network pricing model in a way that will slow the growth of broadband in Australia.
Source: iTWire
Copyright treaty talks roll on at APEC
Australia's trade minister Craig Emerson on Thursday met with regional and North American trade officials as pressure mounted on the United States to strengthen intellectual property (IP) provisions in the secretive Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) copyright treaty.
Source: iTnews Australia
Thu, 19th May 2011
One of PM's magnificent NBN seven
Switching to the NBN is like switching on a brand new PC, at least according to one of the seven people in mainland Australia connected to the network.
Source: Australian IT
Internode expands DSLAM network thanks to Blackspot backhaul
Internode has taken advantage of new competitive fibre backhaul capacity installed under the Regional Backbone Blackspots Program to offer ADSL services via it own DSLAM in Victor Harbor, and has similar plans for several other towns.
Source: iTWire
More staff than customers on NBN books
The government company rolling out the National Broadband Network has more staff than it does customers.
Source: Australian IT
Abbott just doesn't get the NBN, says Gillard
Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday morning accused Opposition Leader Tony Abbott of not understanding the technology behind the National Broadband Network, as the fibre-based project was formally launched on the mainland in the Northern NSW city of Armidale.
Source: iTWire
Net addicts may not notice the difference
If you're a regular or even moderately heavy internet user, you may not notice a great deal of difference with the NBN.
Source: Australian IT
Telstra, NBN close to $9bn agreement
Telstra is expected to finalise its $9 billion agreement with NBN Co as early as next week.
Source: Australian IT
Wed, 18th May 2011
Armidale NBN users armed with big broadband quotas
SPs Telstra, Internode and iiNet have furnished small numbers of existing customers in the NSW regional town of Armidale with the first NBN fibre connections on the mainland - and at least 200 GB of quota to play with.
Source: iTnews Australia
Optus pays $178k penalties to ACCC for misleading advertising
Rather than having to take Optus to court the ACCC has used the new consumer protection laws to hit Optus with 27 penalties totalling $178,200 for making false and misleading representations in its advertisements for its 'Max Cap' plans.
Source: iTWire
NBN Armidale launch: photos
The National Broadband Network (NBN) was officially launched at Armidale today by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy and Independent MP Tony Windsor.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Gillard praises home work options at NBN launch
The NBN will enable more people to "work where they live", according to Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who attended the opening of the NBN Co network on the mainland in Armidale today where the home work possibilities were showcased at length.
Source: Computerworld
Conroy dismisses NBN cost claims
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has rubbished opposition claims there are cheaper ways than the NBN to deliver fast internet.
Source: Australian IT
Windsor convinced of NBN 18 months ago
Federal independent MP, Tony Windsor, this week said his support for the National Broadband Network (NBN) extended back some 18 months, instead of making a choice during the two-week stalemate following last year's federal election.
Source: Computerworld
PM switches on Armidale NBN, announces digital education funding
Prime Minister Julia Gillard officially launched the first National Broadband Network (NBN) mainland test site in Armidale and has flagged more funding for an education project as part of the Digital Regions Initiative.
Source: ARN
Vodafone wireless broadband reviewed
Vodafone's plan pricing is competitive, but as our review reveals, network speeds and availability lag badly.
Source: PC Authority