Broadband News
Thu, 25th Nov 2010
NBN testbed plans terabit trials
Australia's Academic and Research Network, AARnet, which sees itself as "almost a testbed for the NBN", is planning a terabit per second communications trial next year and believes it will be able to offer network speeds of up to 500 Gbps to universities and research organisations by 2017.
Source: iTWire
NBN rebels: NBN to cost more than $55 billion, not $35.7 billion
The Alliance for Affordable Broadband (AAB) has ripped into the NBN Co business case summary, claiming the document reveals the National Broadband Network will cost close to $55 billion, almost $12b more than its initial budget.
Source: ARN
iPrimus signs up Smithton school to NBN
ISP iPrimus claims to have signed its first school onto the NBN in Tasmania, giving 128 students access to 100 Mbps broadband services.
Source: iTnews Australia
Senate may sit extra day for NBN bill
The Senate may sit into an extra day tomorrow as Labor tries to have key National Broadband Network legislation passed before the summer break.
Source: Australian IT
On the ground with the NBN rollout: Part 1 - Brunswick
The gentle hum of suburbia is broken by the grunts of a 2-ton digger edging past a Jacaranda tree. A wary Telstra site manager looks out for trouble - he knows just one accidental twitch could send the mechanical beast charging through flowerbeds onto headlines around the country.
Source: ARN
Labor bills lay groundwork for NBN
Two key pieces of legislation have been introduced into the parliament which will set up the regulatory framework for the National Broadband Network.
Source: Australian IT
Libs threaten to drag out NBN debate
The Coalition is threatening to drag out debate on legislation to split Telstra after the government won the support of two senators for the bill.
Source: Australian IT
Fielding, Xenophon back Telstra split bill
The Telstra split bill appeared likely to clear the Senate after positive statements from key independents Nick Xenophon and Steve Fielding in the lead-up to today's expected vote.
Source: iTnews Australia
Wed, 24th Nov 2010
NBN Co to build wireless network from late 2011
NBN Co will start building its wireless network in November next year, according to a summary of the network builder's business plan [PDF] released today.
Source: iTnews Australia
10-year wait for NBN demand to hit 100Mbps
Nbn Co has forecast that the average consumer demand for broadband speeds won't hit 100Mbps until 2022.
Source: Australian IT
NBN summary "curiously inadequate": Turnbull
The coalition has jumped on the 36-page summary of the forthcoming NBN Co business plan as "curiously inadequate" in financials.
Source: Computerworld
NBN docs: timelines and products
The Federal Government has released a timeline stretching to 2012 for the National Broadband Network (NBN) in its summary of the NBN Co business case released this afternoon.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co business case summary leaves many questions unanswered
In a bid to win over independent senator, Nick Xenophon, to secure passage of its NBN legislation, the Government has released a 36 page summary of the NBN Co business case, but it is devoid of any pricing information, any estimates of revenue or of service take-up rates.
Source: iTWire
NBN docs: Telstra deal or no deal details
The summary of the National Broadband Network (NBN) business plan released today laid out two costing scenarios for an NBN build: one where Telstra goes ahead with the $11 billion financial Heads of Agreement, and one where the planned deal falls apart.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN will cost $35.7 billion, not $43 billion
The National Broadband Network will cost $35.7 billion and not the $43b previously quoted, according to the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and NBN Co's business case.
Source: ARN
NBN Co business case summary to be released before Telstra separation vote
The Federal Government is set to publicly release a full summary of NBN Co's business case before its Telstra separation Bill goes before a vote. The reversal comes after significant pressure from the Opposition and cross-bench Senators to get the document.
Source: ARN
Deal paves way for passage of NBN bill
Labor has paved the way for the passage of key National Broadband Network legislation by agreeing to release a summary of the NBN business plan.
Source: Australian IT
Network glitch reveals Telstra customer accounts
Telstra Tribe users mistakenly gained access to other customers' accounts this month due to a server glitch that randomly linked them to different mobile identities.
Source: iTnews Australia
If you're not PC literate, fear the NBN
Perhaps I am getting cynical again, but our governments may have an underhanded motive in spending taxpayer billions to get our homes wired to the internet.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra separation Bill survives second reading vote
The Government's controversial telco Bill, which would pave the way for Telstra's structural separation, has survived a vote in the Senate and will be read for a second time.
Source: ARN
iiNet takes BoB development in-house
Internet service provider iiNet has launched a research and development division for the in-house creation of consumer goods.
Source: iTnews Australia
PM acts to break NBN deadlock
Julia Gillard has personally intervened to rescue legislation underpinning the construction of the $43bn National Broadband Network from a hostile Senate.
Source: Australian IT
Xenophon reserves Telstra split bill judgement
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon has ultimately reserved his position on the Telstra split bill, supporting the separation of Telstra but holding out on a 'yes' vote until the release of the NBN Co business plan.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tue, 23rd Nov 2010
Nick Xenophon not a phoney NBN independent
The news that Senator Nick Xenophon has decided to act like a true independent and intends to hold the Government to account over the NBN will come as a refreshing change to many who are astounded that so-called independents in the Australian Parliament are prepared to allow important legislation to be rammed through without adequate scrutiny. The question now is whether the Government is prepared to accede to the Senator's request that it lifts the veil on the NBN business plan and if not, then what?
Source: iTWire
Conroy exits Coalition-dominated Telstra debate
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has walked out of the Senate on the third day of debate on the Telstra split bil, as Coalition opponents lined up to rail against the bill, the NBN and the Government.
Source: iTnews Australia
Government announces another NBN Inquiry
Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese today announced that the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications would examine the economic and social benefits of the National Broadband Network (NBN).
Source: iTnews Australia
Government mum on independent NBN examination
The Gillard Government has refused to publicly release an independent examination of the assumptions used to develop NBN Co's business plan.
Source: Computerworld
Turnbull: Government commissioned external NBN evaluation "puzzling"
Shadow Communications Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has criticised the Federal Government hiring of external advisers for the National Broadband Network (NBN), branding the idea "unusual" and "puzzling".
Source: ARN
Gillard runs ruler over NBN
The Gillard government has hired external corporate advisers to test the assumptions underpinning the confidential business case behind the NBN.
Source: Australian IT
Millions of consumers unhappy with telco customer service
The Australian Communications Consumers Action Network (ACCAN) has released the results of a survey saying it shows that a third of people who lodge a complaint with a telco are unhappy with the outcome.
Source: iTWire