Broadband News

Wed, 30th Mar 2011

Labor ready to use law for NBN link-up

The government is refusing to rule out using federal laws against states that oppose its plans to connect all households to the NBN.

Source: Australian IT

Turnbull: NBN gets harder to 'unpick'

Shadow communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull has conceded that NBN legislation passed this week made it harder for a future Coalition Government to sell down the network before it was finished.

Source: iTnews Australia

AAPT: NBN uniform wholesale broadband prices "defies logic"

The Federal Government's commitment to provide uniform wholesale prices on the National Broadband Network (NBN) "defies logic" as it prevents vital competition at the infrastructure level

Source: ARN

Telstra Wholesale begins customer portal migration

Telstra Wholesale has revealed it will begin migrating customers across to a new "one-stop" service portal from today.

Source: iTnews Australia

Tue, 29th Mar 2011

'Insane' NBN pricing will kill small ISPs: Hackett

Internode managing director Simon Hackett today described the National Broadband Network's pricing model as "insane" for small internet service providers, warning that none will survive their walk through the "valley of death" transition from the current copper network to the fibre future envisioned by the Federal Government.

Source: Delimiter

NBN law stalls cloud for small business

Anti-cherry-picking provisions in the National Broadband Network (NBN) legislation will prevent many small businesses from accessing cloud services until 2020, datacentre provider NextDC chief Bevan Slattery has warned.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN cost model 'entrenches' Telstra, Optus

Internode managing director Simon Hackett has claimed as few as five national ISPs have the scale to pay for a direct wholesale feed from NBN Co based on publicly available cost models.

Source: iTnews Australia

Vividwireless: 4G provides incentive to switch off fixed-line

Wireless to become primary broadband technology over fixed-line, according to Vividwireless CEO.

Source: ARN

Thodey calls for united front in telco land

Telstra chief David Thodey has called on the telecommunications industry to band together and present a united front for the benefit of all players.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN Co chief promises no volume discounts

NBN Co chief Mike Quigley has today promised the Government-owned telco has no intention of offering volume discounts to Telstra or any other service provider connected to the national broadband network.

Source: iTnews Australia

CommsAlliance: Saving 700MHz spectrum for public safety "damaging" for telco industry

Public safety organisations' proposal is incredibly disruptive for commercial telco players, according to the industry representative body.

Source: ARN

IBM bags key NBN Co deal

Nbn Co has appointed IBM as the prime integrator for its software systems that support the broadband network's processes.

Source: Australian IT

Telstra unveils South Brisbane wholesale fibre service

Telstra Wholesale has revealed details of the Layer 2 fibre product it will supply ISPs on the revamped South Brisbane Exchange, the site of a controversial copper to fibre migration.

Source: iTnews Australia

Mon, 28th Mar 2011

NBN Co to hold public education campaign

NBN Co will launch a public education campaign after acknowledging a lack of understanding about the network.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Govt accused of nutting out backroom NBN deal

Leader of opposition business in the House of Representatives Christopher Pyne has accused Labor of "filibustering" as Communications Minister Stephen Conroy lobbied key independent members to turn down Coalition amendments to a series of bills concerning the NBN.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN Bill amendments get Optus' support

Despite the strong words used against government amendments to key National Broadband Network legislation last week, Optus has now welcomed the passage of the legislation through the Senate.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Labor buckles on uniform NBN prices

The Gillard government has been forced to offer a written commitment to supply future broadband technologies at uniform prices across Australia.

Source: Australian IT

TransACT joins Federal mobile services panel

TransACT has joined the Australian Government's telecommunications commodities, carriage and associated services panel.

Source: iTWire

Coalition argues against NBN bill consideration

The Federal Opposition has attempted to shut down debate on amended NBN bills passed by the Senate late Friday, saying there was "no urgency" to see them moved into law.

Source: iTnews Australia

Mobile broadband the only way forward: Budde

Wi-fi technology will overtake traditional mobile networks due to its low cost and ease of integration associated with mobile applications, according to leading Australian telecommunications analyst, Paul Budde.

Source: Computerworld

Vocus to acquire PerthIX for $7m

Network company Vocus has announced that it is set to takeover Perth datacentre company PerthIX in a deal worth $7 million.

Source: ZDNet Australia

MPs return to approve NBN bills

Lower house MPs are returning to Canberra on Monday for a short session of parliament that will consider changes the Senate has made to National Broadband Network legislation.

Source: ARN

Fri, 25th Mar 2011

Reaction: NBN Senate extension raises concerns

Senate sitting hours have been extended for the NBN, sparking mixed reaction from industry players.

Source: ARN

Telcos reveal new broadband offers for the iPad 2

Optus and Vodafone have unveiled new 'starter packs' in preparation for the iPad 2's Australian debut this afternoon.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN delayed as deadline pushed to 2020

The $36 billion national broadband network will be completed more than two years later than planned.

Source: Australian IT

The NBN's 24 hours: The good, the bad & the ugly

Wow. It has been a simply massive 24 hours in NBN-land (which, in our imagination, is best described as a climate-controlled datacentre room with a view, where Mike Quigley and Kevin Brown sit casually in director's chairs quietly sipping Earl Grey, examining ping times to remote locations and murmuring "excellent" to each other in quietly satisfied voices).

Source: iTWire

Coalition to Conroy: Telco industry is not your plaything

The Opposition is none too pleased with the raft of amendments and speculated whether more changes will be added later down the track due to further discussion with crossbenchers.

Source: ARN

Conroy wins NBN bill changes in Senate

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has succeeded in having a raft of Government-proposed amendments to the NBN Companies bill approved despite mounting frustration from opposition senators.

Source: iTnews Australia

Microsoft pays US$7.5m for IPv4 address stash

The value of IPv4 addresses is set to rise as companies look to snap up remaining addresses ahead of the switch to IPv6, according to academics.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN changes trigger fears of a monopoly

Labor will today resume its battle to push through urgent legislation for its $36 billion broadband project in the face of a corporate revolt.

Source: Australian IT