Broadband News

Fri, 07th Jan 2011

Wireless vs Fibre debate: a personal experience

One of the most annoying NBN debates is whether we really need fibre when wireless is supposedly the future. I tried to run a business using wireless, and it was a nightmare.

Source: APC Magazine

TPG to escape ACCC fines for unlimited ads

ISP TPG will not face the same fines meted out by the competition watchdog to fellow ISP Dodo yesterday, despite being pulled up for what appeared to be a similar advertising campaign for unlimited ADSL2+ services.

Source: iTnews Australia

Opinion: NBN and the art of planning

We Australians are a pretty cynical lot. Despite having above average health and education outcomes in the OECD for below average expenditure, we tend to bemoan the state of our hospitals and schools.

Source: iTnews Australia

Mandatory ISP filter still on the agenda: Gillard

The Federal Government's mandatory internet service provider (ISP) level filter is still on the agenda, according to the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard.

Source: Computerworld

Thu, 06th Jan 2011

Budget NBN offering unlikely to hit it big

A new entry-level broadband offering planned for introduction by internet service providers over the National Broadband Network is unlikely to boost adoption, according to Internode.

Source: Computerworld

BigAir buys ISP AccessPlus for $5m

BigAir has bought ISP AccessPlus for $5 million in a bid to expand its share of the internet market servicing tertiary students.

Source: iTnews Australia

Dodo cops $26K fines for misleading ads

Internet service provider Dodo has copped $26,400 in fines from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over advertisements for its ADSL2+ Unlimited broadband plan, which the regulator deemed misleading to consumers.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Election result boosted Kiama NBN opt-in

NBN Co received a 9 per cent surge in homeowners opting to have their homes connected to the National Broadband Network (NBN) in the first mainland roll-out site of Kiama following the 2010 Federal Election.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Broadband Dept loosens iron grip on documents

The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy loosened its grip on secret documents ever so slightly in the past year, according to a new report.

Source: iTnews Australia

Wed, 05th Jan 2011

Internode customers get NBN uplink win

ISP Internode has brought uplink speeds on broadband services delivered over Tasmania's NBN network up to the minimum national standards proposed in the NBN Co business case last month.

Source: iTnews Australia

Vodafone could be sued by over 9000 users

Around 9000 Vodafone users have registered their interest in suing the telco for call drop-outs and poor service according to law firm, Piper Alderman.

Source: ARN

We'll fix the network, promises Vodafone

Mobile telco VHA has pledged to implement a series of rolling upgrades this year to the network of its troubled Vodafone brand, following a series of outages and problems in 2010 that bought the company a tsunami of customer complaints.

Source: Delimiter

Tue, 04th Jan 2011

2010 Whirlpool survey focuses on the NBN

Australia's most controversial and perhaps largest internet forum has just opened the doors of its flagship annual survey, which will poll readers throughout January on their broadband purchasing habits and general opinion about the telecommunications market in general. And the focus in 2010? The National Broadband Network.

Source: Delimiter

NBN at risk from spies and hackers

The National Broadband Network could be vulnerable to attack unless it is backed by tougher counter-measures, says a cyber security report.

Source: Australian IT

Mon, 03rd Jan 2011

Australian Broadband Survey 2010

The Australian Broadband Survey is now online, so consumers can once again have their say about the state of broadband in Australia.

Source: Whirlpool

Sun, 02nd Jan 2011

Lay off NBN smears, PM warns

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has leapt to the defence of two NBN Co executives, accusing Opposition Leader Tony Abbott of playing smear politics.

Source: SMH

Gillard rubbishes Libs' NBN, Alcatel questions

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has rubbished Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's questioning of the handling of the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Source: ZDNet Australia

Sat, 01st Jan 2011

Gillard dismisses Abbott's NBN claims

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has rubbished Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s questioning of the handling of the national broadband network (NBN).

Source: SMH

Coalition targets NBN over bribes scandal

The two top executives of the company rolling out the national broadband network have tried to distance themselves from an international corruption scandal that is engulfing their former employer, the French telco giant Alcatel.

Source: SMH

Fri, 31st Dec 2010

NBN advisers fined in US for paying bribes

Alcatel-lucent, the company providing key advice to the National Broadband Network, has been fined $137 million in the US.

Source: Australian IT

It's policy: Victoria rejects NBN opt-out

Victoria's new technology minister has confirmed the state's new Coalition Government does not support the introduction of Labor's preferred 'opt-out' model for the National Broadband Network, in a move that will force residents to actively choose to receive fibre infrastructure when the rollout hits their neighbourhood.

Source: Delimiter

NBN project a worry: John Colvin

The chief of the Australian Institute of Company Directors is particularly worried about the National Broadband Network.

Source: The Australian

NBN boss denies part in corruption scandal

Mike Quigley, the man Kevin Rudd appointed to head the national broadband network, denies being involved in a multimillion-dollar bribery scandal that occurred during his time as a top executive at the French telecommunications giant Alcatel.

Source: SMH

Thu, 30th Dec 2010

Behind the 'no' to Telstra's flat $30

It was an exciting, brash and colourful time in a complex and boring industry.

Source: SMH

Face to face: Vodafail's Brimo meets VHA chief

Over just a few short weeks his nascent website has become a focal point for customers angered by problems in the mobile networks of telco giant VHA, with his name has been splashed across Australia's mass media. Now Vodafail founder Adam Brimo has taken his complaints directly to the top of the corporate telco ladder.

Source: iTWire

Wed, 29th Dec 2010

Alcatel Lucent fined over bribes

French-based telecom equipment giant and NBN contractor Alcatel-Lucent has agreed to pay US$137 million in fines and penalties to settle US charges it paid bribes to win contracts in Latin America and Asia, officials said.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Tue, 28th Dec 2010

NBN: politicians and their promises

The Federal Coalition, the opposition to the Federal Government, has had its Finance Spokesperson, Andrew Robb, make an excellent suggestion in relation to the NBN, but would he take it up himself?

Source: iTWire

Mon, 27th Dec 2010

Asbestos next big challenge for NBN

The company delivering the National Broadband Network could be forced to remove asbestos from trenches being dug for the project.

Source: Australian IT

Vodafone customers to sue in class action

It has already presided over one of the biggest PR disasters of the year and now Vodafone faces being sued by potentially thousands of its customers over poor network performance.

Source: SMH

Costly NBN will prove a super test

Would Julia Gillard and Stephen Conroy be willing to link their superannuation payouts to the performance of the National Broadband Network?

Source: Australian IT