Broadband News
Thu, 26th May 2011
ACMA eyes mobile broadband spectrum gaps
The communications regulator is scrambling to give top priority to fixing anticipated shortages in mobile broadband spectrum.
Source: Australian IT
Samsung Galaxy S II is Australia's first HSPA+ smartphone
When Samsung launches the Galaxy S II on the Telstra Next G network in the coming weeks, it will become the first HSPA+ compatible device, capable of downlink speeds of up to 21Mbps.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN 2.6 million times too slow, says Alan Jones
Radio shock jock Alan Jones appears to have gotten his technologies a little confused, in an analysis this week of how a new data speed record set by scientists in Germany might affect the National Broadband Network.
Source: iTWire
NBN could deliver 10 Gbps in five years
Australians connected to the National Broadband Network could receive peak speeds of up to 10 Gbps within five years through upgrades to the gigabit passive optical network (GPON) network, according to NBN Co.
Source: iTnews Australia
Wed, 25th May 2011
Getting the picture via broadband
Sydney primary school students dismember a giant 3D human brain with children in Japan over a high-definition video link.
Source: Australian IT
NBN Co: 26Tbps record proves fibre right
The National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co) has heralded the results of a German experiment that achieved a record data transfer rate of 26 terabytes per second (Tbps) over a single fibre optic cable, stating that this demonstrates the longevity of the technology.
Source: ZDNet Australia
ACCAN calls on carriers and regulator to end mobile data rip-off
Peak telco consumer body ACCAN has called on Optus and Vodafone to follow Telstra and stop ripping off customers who inadvertently exceed their mobile data limits. ACCAN has also demanded that the Australian Communications Media Authority to put some regulatory teeth into protecting mobile data consumers.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co goes cock-a-hoop over super fast German fibre test
NBN Co has used the results of a new super fast fibre transmission test in Germany to highlight the superiority of fibre and justify the current $36 billion NBN project.
Source: iTWire
Cisco adds IPv6 migration features to routers
Cisco this week rolled out products and services designed to ease the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 for enterprise customers.
Source: Computerworld
NBN asks contractors 'to do impossible'
Leighton Holdings chief executive David Stewart has accused NBN Co of setting unrealistic expectations for contractors.
Source: Australian IT
Telstra to throttle over-quota mobile broadband services
Telstra is to start throttling mobile broadband services once customers hit their data quota, instead of the current practice of charging high rates for over quota data.
Source: iTWire
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