Broadband News
Sat, 11th Dec 2010
Internet community incensed at 'government-only' Internet governance review
Global Internet bodies are incensed by a United Nations review of Internet governance that will be conducted solely by government representatives. They are urging people to sign a petition calling for a more widely representative review.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 10th Dec 2010
NBN business case release likely next week
Communications minister Stephen Conroy has indicated the 400-page business case for the National Broadband Network (NBN) will be released next week.
Source: Computerworld
Vodafone customers seething over dropped calls, slow data
Vodafone customers have had a horrid run into Christmas with thousands experiencing dropped calls, reception issues and poor data performance over the past two months.
Source: SMH
TIO wants confidentiality in Exetel case
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman is seeking to keep consumer names confidential in a case brought against it by internet service provider Exetel.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Conroy details NBN Co greenfield fibre role
The Federal Government has moved to further lock in the National Broadband Network (NBN), announcing that NBN Co will install fibre in new developments from 1 January 2011.
Source: Computerworld
VHA, Optus reveal 1800 MHz LTE trials
Vodafone Hutchison Australia and Optus have shed new light on their respective trials of Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile broadband technology in the 1800 MHz spectrum band.
Source: iTnews Australia
Cabling for NBN rollout cut back
A proposal for every new home built after January 1 to be connected with fibre cable for the National Broadband Network has been abandoned.
Source: Australian IT
Thu, 09th Dec 2010
NBN's tilted playing field
New National Broadband Network (NBN) legislation has been introduced into parliament changing existing telecommunications and competition legislation to accommodate the network and NBN Co.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telcos' billing and usage information: a danger to consumers' finances, says ACMA
The ACMA has released a progress report on its 'Reconnecting the Customer' inquiry into how the telecommunications industry deals with its customers, concluding that billing and usage information on telecommunications services is inadequate and potentially detrimental to consumers' finances.
Source: iTWire
All change in the cut-price telco world
As two major low-cost mobile providers set themselves up in Australia, Channel 7 is out to buy the rest of cut-price IP phone provider Engin. So what's going at the cheap end of the industry?
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra mulls more LTE trials
Telstra may conduct further Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology trials to follow up three rounds of tests carried out over the past six months, according to its wireless chief.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN entrenching rural disconnect
In Brigalow, residents will be able to watch earthmovers digging a trench for a lightning-fast cable network they have no chance of using.
Source: Australian IT
Wed, 08th Dec 2010
Should you be terrified of terabyte plans?
We crunch the numbers to discover the best broadband value.
Source: PC Authority
AIIA slams Victoria's opt-in NBN
Australia's peak technology industry representative group has criticised Victoria's new Coalition Government for its apparent decision to reject an 'opt-out' approach to rolling out the National Broadband Network (NBN) in the state in favour of requiring residents and businesses to 'opt-in'.
Source: ARN
Anti-filter activist evades criminal record
A 19-year-old Melbourne student who pled guilty to four charges relating to distributed denial-of-service attacks on the Prime Minister's website has escaped a criminal conviction.
Source: ZDNet Australia
AIIA lobbies States for NBN opt-out laws
The Federal Government faced a fresh challenge over its NBN strategy with Australia's peak IT industry association making the case for states and territories to make residents "opt-out" of being connected to the NBN.
Source: iTnews Australia
Bundled Optus users pushed onto updated terabyte plans
Optus customers have been automatically pushed onto the refreshed 'yes' Fusion bundled broadband and home phone plans following customer demands for higher data options.
Source: Computerworld
Conroy flags NBN business case delay
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has hinted the business case for the National Broadband Network (NBN) may not be released by Christmas as promised.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Four technologies for faster broadband in 2011
A number of different technologies are being developed or improved to offer higher speeds for fixed and mobile broadband networks, as operators are preparing to compete with each other and carry video traffic in 3D and at higher resolutions, which is expected to happen in the coming year.
Source: ARN
Tue, 07th Dec 2010
Telstra red-faced after email error
Telstra has accidentally leaked personal details of 570 customers after an employee sent an email to customers waiting for products rather than the stores delivering the products.
Source: SMH
Conroy: Worsening broadband backs up Government case for NBN
Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, has used Australia’s falling OECD broadband penetration ratings as evidence that the National Broadband Network is needed.
Source: ARN
Telstra separation unnecessary for competition: Ovum analyst
Structural separation of Telstra will not affect broadband competition in Australia and is unlikely to change the market dynamic. This is the view of a senior analyst at global telecommunications research consultancy Ovum.
Source: iTWire
Candle: Skills shortfall to hit NBN
Recruiter Candle ICT called on the Government to address a computing skills shortfall of 2,700 people a year that was likely to affect big projects like banking transformations and the NBN.
Source: iTnews Australia
ISPs hope for options in NBN plan
Internet services micro-providers are hoping NBN Co will not build 200 interconnection points on its network, as the ACCC recommends.
Source: Australian IT
Mon, 06th Dec 2010
Internode tops for customer satisfaction again
Internode has again topped a customer satisfaction survey run by Roy Morgan Research. The company also performed very strongly in a poll carried out by one of Australia's major PC magazines.
Source: iTWire
Optus succumbs to common broadband definition
Optus has axed its last plan to charge users for using more than their monthly quota in a plan refresh that also introduced terabyte limits to the telco's offering.
Source: Computerworld
Optus joins 1TB broadband gang
Optus has finally brought out a 1TB plan after its competitors kickstarted the terabyte trend.
Source: ARN
Get nicked, Conroy: Baillieu rejects opt-out NBN
The new Coalition State Government in Victoria has given its clearest signal yet that it will reject the 'opt-out' model for the National Broadband Network rollout in the state, meaning residents will need to actively choose to receive fibre when it hits their neighbourhood.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 03rd Dec 2010
NBN Co refines access products
NBN Co has "refined or modified" 90 percent of the attributes of its fibre, wireless and satellite products as a result of 200 hours of consultations with 25 retail ISPs this year.
Source: iTnews Australia
TIO sees sharp rise in 'money' complaints
A sharp rise in complaints about bill shock for internet and mobile phone services has raised the hackles of the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman Simon Cohen.
Source: iTnews Australia