Broadband News

Mon, 04th Apr 2011

Killing the fixed-to-mobile substitution myth

Opponents of the National Broadband Network (NBN) have been arguing that mobile access will replace demand for faster fixed-line connections. The latest ABS statistics tell a different story.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Apprentices on notice, NBN plans put at risk

New apprentices are struggling to pass tests that were breezed through a decade ago, with skills in maths and physics so poor as to endanger plans for the national broadband network, an industry skills council says.

Source: SMH

Small ISPs should start small: Conroy

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has dismissed Internode's concerns about National Broadband Network (NBN) pricing smaller ISPs out of the national market, stating that new players wouldn't necessarily be national right away.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Conroy backs NBN as tender put on hold

Stephen  Conroy has defended a shock move by the NBN Co to suspend a crucial network building tender.

Source: Australian IT

Fri, 01st Apr 2011

Small ISPs can thrive in NBN's regions

The National Broadband Network (NBN) will mean massive change for the telecommunications industry, with a range of industry players already looking at their future business models. We want retail service providers (RSPs) and others to seriously consider the opportunities of the NBN.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN Co explores options

Nbn is talking with a single constructor about building the entire network in the wake of the cancelled first tender.

Source: Australian IT

Union fears NBN workers face wage squeeze

The union representing workers laying out the national broadband network believes their wages will be squeezed as the project manager seeks to tighten up construction contracts.

Source: ARN

Hackett's premise flawed, says NBN Co

NBN Co has defended its pricing approach in the face of strident criticism from an ISP which will be one of its largest customers, claiming comments by Internode managing director Simon Hackett this week didn't reflect the "reality" of how it would sell services to the telecommunications market after its network was rolled out.

Source: iTWire

High prices force NBN to change tack

The company overseeing the national broadband network will seek new builders after suspending its cabling tender process due to high price demands.  

Source: The Australian

NBN tender halted over 'price gouging'

The company given the job of rolling out the $36 billion National Broadband Network has received exorbitant demands from construction companies.

Source: Australian IT

Thu, 31st Mar 2011

Why the Telstra/NBN deal should be scrapped

Over at his blog, seasoned technology executive and all-round nice guy Sean Kaye has some interesting thoughts on a wide range of matters involving the NBN, including his pessimism about Telstra's multi-billion dollar deal with NBN Co: "The deal with Telstra should be scrapped. I agree with the idea, but the truth is, you [...]

Source: iTWire

Google to be grilled on piracy

Google's antipiracy efforts are likely to come under scrutiny during a US congressional hearing scheduled next week in Washington.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Slattery: NBN is turning toxic

The $36 billion Government funded National Broadband Network (NBN) has become a bad investment that will only benefit Telstra in the long run, according to NextDC CEO and Pipe Networks founder, Bevan Slattery.

Source: ARN

Cisco set to expand in Australia

Network equipment outfit Cisco will expand its headcount in Australia and New Zealand this year by as much as 20 per cent.

Source: Australian IT

Wed, 30th Mar 2011

Students shrug off NBN as a 'waste'

The national broadband network may have secured the support of the independents and squeezed through Parliament but according to the next generation of internet users it's a waste of money.

Source: SMH

Security woes heighten as NBN, cloud take hold: IIA

The security settings associated with the National Broadband Network (NBN) are increasing the level of risk and potential for damage, according to the head of the Australian Internet Industry Association (IIA).

Source: ARN

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