Broadband News
Wed, 18th May 2011
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
Telstra cable cut in road-widening project
Telstra has restored services to 1,290 customers in the NSW Blue Mountains town of Hazelbrook after contractors widening a road cut through a key phone cable last week.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tue, 17th May 2011
Telstra's copper must be in NBN deal: Libs
The Coalition is keen for the government buy-back of Telstra's copper network as part of the National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co)'s deal with the telco worth $11 billion - just in case the party needs it for its own broadband policy.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN launch: Gillard, Conroy pack Armidale bags
National Broadband Network hype is expected to soar to record levels this week, with the Federal Government and NBN Co preparing to host the formal launch of NBN mainland services in the Northern NSW city of Armidale this Wednesday.
Source: iTWire
NBN cops a month of buffeting, can it weather the storm?
Over the past month, it seems as if the National Broadband Network and NBN Co, the company charged with making it happen, have been hit by a cyclone. With its greatest champion, the federal government, on the ropes over a number of issues, can the NBN weather the storm?
Source: iTWire
Optus 3G tower raises airport concerns
Optus has urged Clarence Valley Council to approve a 40 metre 3G tower near Grafton airport, despite concerns it could pose a risk to aircraft.
Source: iTnews Australia
FetchTV eyes top 10 ISPs to take on Telstra
Australian IPTV start-up FetchTV has flagged plans to ink deals with the 10 largest local service providers outside of Telstra by the end of the year in efforts to form a competitive "coalition" against the incumbent telco's popular T-Box service.
Source: Computerworld
vividwireless allies with Global TD-LTE Initiative
Vividwireless has become part of the Global TD-LTE Initiative (GTI), joining a band of telco operators from all over the world united to promote TD-LTE as the major standard in the mobile broadband arena.
Source: ARN
Optus, Qantas in Frequent Flyer team-up
Optus customers will soon be able to earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points from their consumer and business accounts and services after a new partnership was announced today between the airline and the number two telco.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Quigley denies construction tender was flawed
The company charged with the rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN), NBN Co, has denied its original construction tender process was flawed to begin with and ultimately resulting in the suspension of its procurement process, stranding 14 bidders.
Source: Computerworld
I got it wrong, Quigley tells MPs
NBN chief Michael Quigley has admitted making more incorrect claims about his past as one of the top executives of French telecommunications giant Alcatel.
Source: Australian IT
Optus doubles up on mobile promises
The nation's number two telco, Optus, has defended its investment in Tasmania after the revelation that a number of the sites that it announced on the weekend that will shortly receive 3G mobile coverage in the state were first earmarked for network roll-outs back in 2008.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Revealed: NBN Co's IT strategy
NBN Co has adopted a 'buy over build' approach to IT, choosing to adopt cloud computing services and commercial off-the-shelf software rather than develop its own applications.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mon, 16th May 2011
Telstra opens up second release NBN sites
NBN Co has negotiated early access to Telstra's infrastructure to fuel the rollout of its fibre network at the planned second release sites, ahead of the finalisation of what NBN Co chief Mike Quigley described this morning as the pair's "hideously complex" permanent arrangement.
Source: iTWire
Pro rata, Internode had fewest TIO complaints
In an analysis of complaints about Internet services statistics blog site Bernoulli Trial has found that Internode recorded the lowest rate of TIO complaint numbers compared to its market share.
Source: iTWire
No NBN 'go button' until Telstra deal
Although Telstra and the National Broadband Network company (NBN Co) have agreed to use Telstra's pits and ducts at second release sites, the "go button" on the NBN will not be hit until the deal is finalised, according to CEO Mike Quigley.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co shops for more fixed wireless spectrum
NBN Co has revealed it is shopping for unallocated 2.2 GHz spectrum, which it intends to use to offer fixed wireless broadband services in Western Australia.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co opens peace talks with Simon Hackett
NBN Co chief executive Mike Quigley today said his team had opened discussions with Simon Hackett over the Internode managing director's NBN pricing concerns, but stopped short of saying NBN Co would be able to address what Hackett has previously described as the company's
Source: iTWire
GFOA claims NBN Co exploited greenfield fibre operators
Greenfield Fibre Operators in Australia (GFOA) has accused NBN Co of milking its member’s knowledge and expertise before unceremoniously dumping them in favour of Fujitsu for the National Broadband Network (NBN) deployment to greenfield estates.
Source: ARN
ACMA outs teacher online security course
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has released a national online training program today to help teachers learn how to protect students online.
Source: ZDNet Australia
In the NBN world, the buck stops…Nowhere
A paper in the latest edition of the Telecommunications Journal of Australia argues that, in the NBN world, unlike today, there will be no single entity responsible for the overall end-to-end performance of services delivered over the NBN.
Source: iTWire
Bribe countries on NBN boss's watch
Michael Quigley was responsible for overseeing Alcatel operations in four countries where company employees paid bribes to corrupt officials.
Source: Australian IT
Sun, 15th May 2011
Optus spends $25m on Tassie mobile sites
Optus will spend $25 million on its mobile network in Tasmania, challenging rival Telstra's dominance of the state.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Sat, 14th May 2011
Telstra windfall if NBN changes
Telstra could receive a multi-billion-dollar windfall if a Coalition government sought to redesign the National Broadband Network.
Source: Australian IT
4G will deliver three times more capacity than 3G: Ofcom
Ofcom has published new research that says 4G mobile technology will deliver more than 200 percent of the capacity of existing 3G technologies, on the same amount of spectrum.
Source: ARN
Fri, 13th May 2011
Optus accused of 'price gouging' on data roaming
Optus is Australia's most expensive mobile network for data roaming, according to a study by Australian Business Traveller.
Source: iTnews Australia
Quigley and court records at odds
A host of public claims made by NBN chief Michael Quigley about French Telco giant Alcatel-Lucent are different from allegations made in US court documents.
Source: Australian IT