Broadband News
Tue, 30th Nov 2010
4G advances make NBN an uphill battle
Our major telcos seem further down the 4G route than previously thought and this could and should have major implications for our government-led broadband roll-outs.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Mobile internet is already dominant, survey says
The people behind the Opera mobile Web browser have released the results of their State of the Mobile Web survey, which questioned 300,000 users in July and August this year. It makes for fascinating reading.
Source: Computerworld
Xenophon to vote against NBN bill
South Australia Independent, Nick Xenophon, has vowed to vote against a National Broadband Network (NBN) legislation introduced into parliament last week.
Source: ARN
Whirlpool attackers escape charge
The perpetrators behind the distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against broadband website Whirlpool have been let off the hook as a "sign of good will".
Source: ZDNet Australia
One in two customers in dispute with telcos
Telecommunications companies and ISPs are in the firing line again with new research showing that one in two customers has faced a problem with their phone or internet service provider in the last year.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mon, 29th Nov 2010
PM hails NBN passage as historic
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has hailed as historic the passage of legislation to structurally separate Telstra.
Source: ARN
Vividwireless tests LTE for future migration
A war between competing fast wireless broadband technologies will begin within days over Sydney skies as telco Vividwireless kicks-off what it says will be the first trial of its kind in Australia.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Xenophon demands uniform NBN pricing
It's only been a matter of days since independent Senator Nick Xenophon forced the Federal Government into a corner over one piece of legislation pertaining to the National Broadband Network; now he's flagged plans to do it again.
Source: Delimiter
Turnbull attempts to change Telstra split bill
Opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull has made a last-ditch attempt to put the Coalition's stamp on the Telstra split bill by pushing a fresh round of changes that – if agreed to - would delay its passing this year.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN cherry-picker laws introduced
The Government has introduced draft laws that, if passed, will force carriers that build new or upgrade existing fibre networks to provide an open access, wholesale service to internet retailers.
Source: iTnews Australia
Labor downplays critical report on NBN
The federal government has downplayed an international study which claims the benefits of the national broadband network (NBN) have been grossly overstated.
Source: ARN
Don't add Telstra deal to NBN cost: Quigley
It is unreasonable to add the $13.8 billion payment to Telstra, which National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co) counts as an operating cost, to the $35.7 billion capital expenditure cost of the whole network, NBN Co chief Mike Quigley has said.
Source: ZDNet Australia
IPv6 compatibility coming to more Billion routers in 2011
Network hardware vendor Billion has announced a forthcoming firmware upgrade for its X series routers that will allow the devices to simultaneously support IPv4 and IPv6 addressing.
Source: iTWire
Happy Budde faces a hostile NBN crowd
Paul Budde's support for the National Broadband Network project is well known, with most in the industry considering the analyst's open bias to be a matter of public record.
Source: Delimiter
Nervous investors await ruling on NBN Co
Investors are watching how the ACCC plans to break the deadlock over NBN Co's plans to charge the same prices in the city and bush.
Source: Australian IT
NBN benefits 'grossly overstated'
An international study has found the claimed benefits of a national broadband network have been "grossly overstated", and accuses the federal government of misusing research to build the case for it.
Source: ARN
Sun, 28th Nov 2010
NBN boss: We know the Telstra financials but we won't tell you
The boss of the government-owned company in charge of implementing the NBN rollout today refused to reveal details of the project's business case relating to Telstra. Mike Quigley, In an interview on ABC TV, the CEO of NBN Co Mike Quigley claimed that the cost of buying Telstra's network could not be added to the cost of implementing the NBN but would not reveal how much Telstra is expected to improve NBN Co's bottom line.
Source: iTWire
Sat, 27th Nov 2010
Early customers test NBN's limits
Nbn customers in Tasmania who have bought high-speed connections are stretching their ISP's bandwidth capacity.
Source: Australian IT
Fri, 26th Nov 2010
Telco reform bill passes Senate
Labor's controversial legislation to break up Telstra and restructure the telecommunications sector was approved in the Senate this afternoon, in a long-awaited move that the Federal Government has been pushing for for more than a year.
Source: iTWire
Govt stays ISP zombie laws
A peak Australian technology body has welcomed the Federal Government's decision to not force internet service providers (ISPs) to disconnect the infected computers of its customers as part of its response to a Senate committee report into online security threats.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Focus shifts to Telstra-NBN Co deal as Bills pass the Senate
With legislation crucial to the NBN and NBN Co's deal with Telstra now through the Senate the focus shifts to the deal between NBN Co and Telstra: NBN Co's business plan is predicated on definitive and binding agreements being signed by year end.
Source: iTWire
NBN "holy grail" of reform: Conroy
Communications minister Stephen Conroy has described the National Broadband Network (NBN) as the "holy grail" of micro-economic reform after the Senate passed legislation to break up Telstra.
Source: Computerworld
NBN: recreating Telstra by stealth
Worldwide it has always been fashionable to hate your government-owned telephone company and Telstra has been no exception. Privatisation and regulation has seen the Telstra haters dwindle in number and intensity amidst strong competition. Why then is the Government spending massive taxpayer dollars to buy back the previous government-owned telecoms monopoly in order to create another one?
Source: iTWire
Telstra separation bill passes Senate
The Senate has passed legislation which separates Telstra's retail and wholesale arms and paves the way for the National Broadband Network (NBN).
Source: ZDNet Australia
AARNet to trial 'terabit' network
Education and research network operator AARNet has announced plans to trial a cross-Australia 'terabit' connection next year.
Source: iTnews Australia
Opposition throws spanner in efforts to pass NBN vote
The federal opposition has mounted a last-ditch effort to stymie the national broadband network by delaying until Monday a vote on the bill to structurally separate Telstra.
Source: SMH
Conroy lashed over lack of NBN discount
The NBN Co has faced criticism that its service could disadvantage lower-income households.
Source: Australian IT
Labor MPs stack NBN group
The committee being created to scrutinise the taxpayer-funded National Broadband Network will be stacked with Labor MPs and not operate until July.
Source: Australian IT
Thu, 25th Nov 2010
Conroy assaults broadband alliance
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has dismissed the Alliance for Affordable Broadband as a group of "ten CEOs who represent almost no customers".
Source: iTnews Australia
Victoria proposes opt-out NBN model
A re-elected Victorian Labor Government would introduce legislation demanding households and businesses opt out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) rollout.
Source: Computerworld