Broadband News
Thu, 02nd Jun 2011
NBN Co eyes faster wireless speeds over LTE
NBN Co has flagged future plans to upgrade fixed wireless broadband services to peak speeds in excess of the minimum 12 Mbps to be served up by the National Broadband Network.
Source: iTnews Australia
Aussie Net traffic growth to surpass global average
Increased adoption of smartphones and tablets such as the iPad are set to drive Australia's Internet Protocol (IP) traffic up 41 per cent year on year, eventually surpassing the average global growth in IP traffic, according to a Cisco report.
Source: Computerworld
Wed, 01st Jun 2011
Ericsson scores NBN Co wireless contract, with $1.1b potential
NBN Co has awarded Ericsson a contract to roll out a TD-LTE network to serve the four percent of premises scheduled for wireless coverage in NBN Co's business plan. The initial contract is for 12 months only but could be worth up to $1.1b over 10 years.
Source: iTWire
Crackdown on telcos will ban misleading ads and 'bill shock'
Telcos will be forbidden from using advertising terms such as "cap" and be forced to implement supermarket-style unit pricing and new measures to prevent bill shock under strict new regulations recommended by the communications regulator.
Source: SMH
Silcar scores $1.1b NBN construction tender
The National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co) has signed a two-year agreement with Silcar to construct the network in Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT in a deal worth up to $1.1 billion, following months of controversy due to the suspension of its original construction tender in April.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Tender shifts NBN risks to taxpayers
Taxpayers face greater liabilities for construction delays or cost blowouts during the building of the NBN under a revamped tender process.
Source: Australian IT
NBN 'champions' take up failed sell
Media magnate Harold Mitchell and activist Jon Dee are among 20 "NBN champions" picked to spruik the benefits of the wholesale fibre network.
Source: Australian IT
Tue, 31st May 2011
Bartlett: Get hands dirty on NBN strategy
Former Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett has urged Australia's "patchwork" of state governments to "get politics out of the NBN", focusing instead the network's role in economic and community renewal in regional centres.
Source: iTnews Australia
CeBIT 2011: iiNet - NBN should not be viewed as just a product
The $36 billion National Broadband Network (NBN) should be viewed as an essential part of the economy rather than just as a product, according to iiNet chief regulatory officer, Steve Dalby.
Source: ARN
Councils win free NBN terminals
The Australian Government has agreed to fund community internet hubs in first and second release National Broadband Network (NBN) sites to allow residents to trial services.
Source: iTnews Australia
CeBIT: Optus wants ACCC controls on Austar buy
Optus chief executive Paul O'Sullivan has requested the nation's competition regular intervene in the proposed $1.9 billion merger of pay TV giants Austar and Foxtel, repeating earlier warnings that the next battlefield for Australia's telecommunications sector in a National Broadband Network world would be "open access" to content and applications.
Source: iTWire
Conroy launches Digital Economy Strategy
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has today unveiled the government's Digital Economy Strategy, which is aimed at improving Australia's broadband penetration ahead of the completion of the $35.9 billion National Broadband Network roll-out in 2020.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NICTA, CSIRO sign MOU with NBN Co for access to NBN test sites
National ICT Australia has confirmed it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and NBN Co, granting NICTA and the CSIRO access to National Broadband Network test sites to conduct research and testing of high-speed broadband applications.
Source: Computerworld
Labor pumps $70m in NBN, digital economy
The Gillard government has announced a $70 million spending package to promote the $36 billion National Broadband Network and the digital economy.
Source: Australian IT
iiTrial costs back before Federal Court
The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) will press for a revised ruling on costs when it fronts the full bench of the Federal Court Wednesday in its continuing copyright stoush with ISP iiNet.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mon, 30th May 2011
Men jailed for pulling a fast one on Telstra
Two men who defrauded Telstra in a mobile phone-selling scam worth hundreds of thousands of dollars have been jailed.
Source: ZDNet Australia
New iiNet initiative spreads awareness about cyber security
Australia's second largest DSL service provider, iiNet, has launched an online safety series to help Australians become more aware of safe practices when surfing the Web.
Source: ARN
Internode founder joins FiRe entrepreneur ranks
Internode founder and managing director, Simon Hackett, has taken out the Future in Review (FiRe) 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year award in the US, for his work in telecommunications.
Source: Computerworld
Opinion: The NBN must end the telco blame game
The build of a National Broadband Network presents a real opportunity to end the blame game between retail ISPs and their wholesale provider, which today tends to be Telstra.
Source: iTnews Australia
Fri, 27th May 2011
Qualcomm: LTE not a replacement for 3G
There has been a lot of momentum around 4G LTE networks for high-speed mobile broadband data transfer but that doesn't mean it will be a supplant existing 3G networks, according to Qualcomm South-East Asia and Pacific president, John Stefanac.
Source: ARN
ACMA eyes single LTE spectrum auction
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has indicated it intends to hold a single auction of 700 MHz and 2.5 GHz spectrum targeted at mobile broadband services next year.
Source: iTnews Australia
EFTel predicts $2.2m annual wholesale windfall
ISP EFTel has revealed expected savings of up to $184,000 a month in wholesale costs if it succeeds in merging with ClubTelco.
Source: iTnews Australia
Wireless, satellite not second-rate NBN solutions: AIIA
The use of wireless and satellite technology under the National Broadband Network (NBN) should not be regarded as a second-rate solution for regional and remote Australia, a Senate Estimates session has been told.
Source: Computerworld
Builders stung by Telstra NBN cost
The rollout of the National Broadband Network in greenfields estates threatens to increase the price of new homes.
Source: Australian IT
Thu, 26th May 2011
Reps NBN enquiry wraps up consultation phase
The House of Representatives Infrastructure and Communications Committee's inquiry into the role and potential of the National Broadband Network (NBN) will hold its final public hearing in Canberra tomorrow 27 May.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co outlines criteria for satellite access
Australians in rural and remote areas will be subject to a service qualification process in order to use the NBN Co's Interim Satellite Service.
Source: Computerworld
More ISPs to block child abuse online
Webshield and ItsXtreme will join three of Australia's largest ISPs to voluntarily block child abuse web pages.
Source: Australian IT
NBN Co calls for satellite broadband ISPs
NBN Co has called for expressions of interest from ISPs wanting to offer broadband products on the company's interim satellite service.
Source: iTnews Australia
Conroy trusts public's view on what to filter
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy this afternoon said that he trusts Australians to get the mix of content to be blocked under Labor's controversial mandatory internet filter project right, and that the government remains committed to the initiative.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra pressures ACMA to speed up clearance of 700MHz spectrum
Telstra has called for the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to expedite the process of auctioning off the 700MHz spectrum so high demands for mobile data capacity can be met.
Source: ARN