Broadband News

Mon, 22nd Nov 2010

Turnbull holds $10m network conflict

The opposition communications spokesman, Malcolm Turnbull, has a $10 million investment in an information technology company which, its managing director says, stands to reap ''new wealth'' from the Labor government's $43 billion national broadband network.

Source: SMH

Sun, 21st Nov 2010

Greens go green at gills over goofy NBN private briefing offer

OMGreen - Australia's "Green" party has refused the offer of a "private briefing" on Australia’s National Broadband Network business plan because of the Federal Government’s onerous "non-disclosure" restrictions that last up to 7 years.

Source: iTWire

Telstra adamant that $11bn NBN deal figure non-negotiable

Telstra CFO John Stanhope told the company's AGM on Friday that Telstra was hopeful of finalising draft definitive agreements on its NBN deal by Christmas, but hosed down speculation that the $11b figure could be negotiable.

Source: iTWire

Higher scrutiny is best solution to the nation's $43 billion broadband mesh

Funny how politicians love to talk about transparency and the benefits of parliamentary scrutiny - before they get into power. You can bet that if the boot was on the other foot, and the Coalition was holding back information about some national broadband network-type project, Labor would be screaming.

Source: SMH

Fri, 19th Nov 2010

What of Telstra if shareholders reject NBN deal?

Telstra will survive without the $11 billion deal with NBN Co but its fixed line business will struggle, according to analysts.

Source: ARN

Future Fund blocks Telstra at AGM

Telstra's biggest shareholder, the Future Fund, has voted against all resolutions at the telco's AGM in Melbourne today.

Source: Australian IT

Shareholders rail against Telstra at AGM

Telstra's board and senior management today faced down a series of shareholders angry about the company's dwindling share price, with one accusing the beleaguered telco of having suffered "ten years of failure" in terms of its management and another branding the situation "a shocker".

Source: ZDNet Australia

Turnbull rails against parliamentary NBN blockage

Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has accused several of the independents and Greens MP Adam Bandt of irresponsibility for their decision not to support his private member's bill designed to increase transparency of the National Broadband Network and force the Government to conduct a cost/benefit analysis.

Source: iTWire

Optus to send letters for misleading ads

The Federal Court has today ordered Optus to send letters to each of its customers who bought broadband plans during the company's misleading "Superfast" and "Think Bigger" broadband advertising campaigns.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Young adults leading trend away from fixed-line phones: ACMA

A growing number of Australians are ditching their fixed-line phones in favour of internet-enabled mobile devices, according to research by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

Source: Computerworld

Conroy keeps dialling trouble on NBN

Stephen Conroy began with a winning hand on the National Broadband Network, but he's since been busy digging himself into a hole.

Source: Australian IT

Thodey: NBN deal is key to Telstra's future

Telstra CEO, David Thodey, has named concluding a deal with the NBN as one of his company’s top three goals. The comments were made during the telco’s annual general meeting in Melbourne.

Source: ARN

Telstra transformation strategy achieving results: Thodey

Telstra's transformation strategy is beginning to see early signs of success according to the telco's chief executive, David Thodey.

Source: Computerworld

Telstra eyes Christmas deal on NBN

Telstra says talks on its planned $11 billion deal with NBN Co are progressing well and it could have a draft agreement by Christmas.

Source: Australian IT

Close call on issue of NBN costings

Julia Gillard has escaped being ordered by the House of Representatives to table the business case into the National Broadband Network.

Source: Australian IT

Thu, 18th Nov 2010

Coalition seeks to gag Conroy, NBN debate

The Senate has demanded Communications Minister Stephen Conroy table further documents related to the National Broadband Network, including a complete version of the 'Red Book' departmental advice to the incoming government relating to the project.

Source: iTWire

ACMA: Australians moving away from fixed-line phones

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has released research showing a rapid rise in the number of people without fixed-line phones at home.

Source: ARN

Broadband beats buses in ideal suburbs

Australians value access to the internet over public transport links and schools in their ideal suburb, new research shows.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN plan mutiny could lead to Senate delay

Opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull has all but called on the Senate to delay voting on the Telstra split bill until after the Government releases NBN Co's business plan.

Source: iTnews Australia

PM vows to put fine tooth comb through NBN

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has promised to put a fine tooth comb through the business case for the $43 billion national broadband network before it is publicly released.

Source: Computerworld

Conroy at risk of being in contempt

Stephen Conroy risks being found in contempt after flouting its order to produce the business case into his National Broadband Network.

Source: Australian IT

Turnbull's Transparency Bill fails to pass

The NBN oversight Bill proposed by Shadow Communications Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has failed to pass in the House of Representatives.

Source: ARN

Gillard snubs Senate order on NBN

Prime Minister Julia Gillard is defying a Senate order for the government to immediately release the business case for the $43 billion national broadband network (NBN).

Source: SMH

Conroy, 'poo or get off the pot': Oakeshott

The NBN was one of the reasons Independent MP Rob Oakeshott sided with Labor. Now he sees the Coalition's position has changed and he's concerned about the lack of reliable information from the government.

Source: ZDNet Australia

VHA boosts tower links for mobile broadband

Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) plans to upgrade its backhaul capacity to base stations across Australia to cater for growing mobile broadband traffic.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN cost blowout in new housing projects

The government is looking at measures to avoid a blowout in the cost of taking the National Broadband Network to new housing estates.

Source: Australian IT

Wed, 17th Nov 2010

Release of Telstra-NBN agreement in doubt

Telstra has cast fresh doubts over the anticipated release of its $11 billion heads of agreement with NBN Co in time for the telco's annual general meeting on Friday.

Source: iTnews Australia

Photos: Conroy enjoying himself at NBN launch

Last week, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy attended an event held by Nextgen Networks in Mulgrave, Victoria, to mark the halfway point in the completion of the National Broadband Network Regional Backbone Blackspots Program, which is seeing fibre rolled out in remote locations around Australia.

Source: Delimiter

Internode revamps broadband plans after Telstra negotiations

Internet service provider, Internode, has revamped its ADSL broadband plans to make them all run at ADSL 2+ speeds after protracted negotiations with Telstra wholesale.

Source: ARN

Govt to force NBN Co, smart grid alliance?

The NSW Government is mulling action to force reticent energy providers to lay smart metering networks when trenches are dug for the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Source: ZDNet Australia