Broadband News
Thu, 13th Jan 2011
Opinion: What will we do with all that download quota when the NBN rolls down our street?
Generous download plans have meant that maxing out quotas is almost a thing of the past. But has this got more to do with the limits of TV and movies holding back how much content is available via the web?
Source: PC Authority
Wed, 12th Jan 2011
Mobile networks flag as backups die
The areas worst affected by the Queensland floods may have further problems, with mobile service outages possible if battery backups fail later today.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN batteries pose disaster issue: experts
With some mobile telecommunication services in Queensland currently under siege and mains power shut off to thousands, an expert has warned that basic fixed phone services could have been cut off if the National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co) had deployed the network with its current battery backup technology.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Nextgen swaps wavelengths in Qld
Nextgen Networks was organising "wavelength swaps" with other carriers to shore up its fibre services as one of its inter-capital data arteries was severed near Thagoona, west of Ipswich.
Source: iTnews Australia
AAPT: Multiple Brisbane co-lo sites "under threat"
Telco giant AAPT this afternoon revealed a number of its Brisbane-based co-location hosting sites were in danger of being affected by rising floodwaters in the capital, in the wake of news this morning that it had powered down one site in Eagle Street.
Source: Delimiter
Optus network disrupted by flooding
The Optus network in Queensland has been disrupted due to power outages as the flooding continues.
Source: Computerworld
Oz NBN plans beat NZ's: Microsoft execs
Two Microsoft executives have said that Australia's approach to its National Broadband Network is better than that of New Zealand with its Ultra-Fast Broadband initiative.
Source: ZDNet Australia
No flood havoc for fibre blackspots network
The Queensland floods have covered some areas where Nextgen Networks has already laid cable for its 6000km fibre-optic backhaul network, but a previously scheduled staff break and lack of installed repeater equipment means the network remains intact for now.
Source: ZDNet Australia
QLD data centres operating despite floods
Queensland's major data centres operators indicated today that they had so far been spared the impact of rising flood waters in the state with only unconfirmed reports of a handful of facilities powering down.
Source: iTnews Australia
PayPal founder backs New Zealand submarine link
An investment fund led by PayPal co-founder and chief executive, Peter Thiel, has become one of the first to financially back a New Zealand submarine cable venture, committing NZ$5.5 million (AUD$4.24 million) to the project.
Source: Computerworld
POWERED DOWN: Flood takes out AAPT datacentre
The Queensland floods have claimed their first datacentre victim, with AAPT's facility at 167 Eagle St in Brisbane confirmed to have powered down. And a number of other facilities may be about to follow it, as the statewide disaster continues to hit technology providers where it hurts.
Source: Delimiter
Tue, 11th Jan 2011
Voda back up, telcos under siege in QLD
Vodafone has restored service to Queensland customers as it and other telcos work feverishly to protect network assets in the flooded areas.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Man pleads not guilty to stealing Telstra copper
A Newcastle man accused of unearthing $110,000 of Telstra's copper cables has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Source: iTnews Australia
Vodafone network sufffering in QLD, NSW, NT
The floods in Queensland have taken their toll on Vodafone's network with the telco reporting ongoing issues today.
Source: Computerworld
Australians using just 15 percent of broadband quota
Australians use only 15 percent of their monthly broadband quota, on average, according to a report by Sydney-based telecommunications analyst firm Market Clarity released this week.
Source: Delimiter
Vodafone answers calls for upgrade
Vodafone Hutchison Australia is expected to spend more than $550 million on expanding and upgrading its mobile network this year.
Source: Australian IT
Fibre broadband speeds pointless, claims Turnbull
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday claimed there was no evidence that there was any benefit to end users from getting access to broadband speeds higher than currently available under existing ADSL2+ technology.
Source: Delimiter
Mon, 10th Jan 2011
Westnet spends $10m on new DSLAMs
ISP iiNet has announced plans to spend around $10 million deploying ADSL2+ DSLAMs in regional NSW and Western Australia, with more states also set to benefit from the rollout shortly.
Source: iTnews Australia
Alcatel-Lucent keyed for role in NBN operational systems
NBN Co is set to announce a panel of software providers for its operational and billing support systems by the middle of next month, with vendor Alcatel-Lucent likely to play a key role in the tender.
Source: Computerworld
Vodafone will report to Privacy Commissioner within 24 hours
The Australian Privacy Commissioner, Timothy Pilgrim, has been tasked with investigating Vodafone's latest security breach and will receive a report from its CEO within 24 hours.
Source: ARN
Vodafone may be liable on privacy breach
Vodafone faces compensation payments to up to 4 million customers after confirming it is investigating a security breach that has put billing and call records on a publicly accessible website protected only by passwords that change monthly.
Source: SMH
NBN roll-out in action: Kiama
Work is well underway in putting fibre in the ground of the first mainland roll-out sites for the Federal Government's $37.5 billion National Broadband Network project. ZDNet Australia took a trip to one of the sites to see how the project was unfolding.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Vodafone security outrage a reason to switch carriers?
Compromising the security of more than 4 million Vodafone customers is nothing short of an outrage and may even be a reason for another class action against the company. But could it also be final grounds for a mass migration to another mobile carrier?
Source: iTWire
NBN Co to sub-contract new housing estates
NBN Co has revealed it will provide the passive fibre, active electronics and cabinets to any company it subcontracts to help meet a mandate for the deployment of fibre in new housing estates.
Source: iTnews Australia
Sun, 09th Jan 2011
Mobile security outrage: private details accessible on net
The personal details of millions of Vodafone customers, including their names, home addresses, driver's licence numbers and credit card details, have been publicly available on the internet in what is being described as an ''unbelievable'' lapse in security by the mobile phone giant.
Source: SMH
Fri, 07th Jan 2011
New estates to get NBN first but how fast for how much?
Government funded National Broadband Network operator, NBN Co, has reiterated its plans to provide fibre broadband infrastructure in new estates to property developers going forward. New estates will be among the first to get fibre to homes, although what that means in terms of broadband bang for buck is still fuzzy.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co begins scheme to pay for most new buildings' fibre
The company responsible for the rollout of the National Broadband Network, NBN Co, has released key details of its plan to pay for the fibre of all new developments with over 100 premises. The changes begin on January 1, 2011.
Source: ARN
Optus offers 24-month handset warranties
Optus has agreed to provide 24-month warranties for all of its mobile handset customers - including those on plans bundled with Apple iPhones - following an ACCC crackdown.
Source: iTnews Australia
Vic opt-out block no big deal, says NBN chief
Nbn Co chief executive Mike Quigley isn't fazed by the Victorian Government's decision to reject the 'opt-out' policy which would have seen every premise in the state receive fast broadband by default, noting today Australians could make their own decision to sign up to his company's planned new network or not.
Source: Delimiter
NBN Co fibre takeover inevitable: Quigley
NBN Co CEO Mike Quigley has admitted that some existing fibre developers will be disadvantaged by the company offering last resort fibre to some new housing developments, but said that was inevitable, because the industry was being transformed by the National Broadband Network (NBN).
Source: ZDNet Australia