Broadband News
Tue, 26th Oct 2010
NBN to pay for linking up units
The National Broadband Network Co will cover the costs of rewiring old apartment blocks to ensure they can connect to the service.
Source: Australian IT
Australian Industry Group backs NBN
A report by a leading industry group has backed the National Broadband Network (NBN) but has also raised concerns about the lack of a cost-benefit analysis of the $43 billion project.
Source: ARN
NBN could hurt backhaul providers
NBN Co may compete with private backhaul providers selling capacity to mobile carriers to boost its commercial returns.
Source: Australian IT
Mon, 25th Oct 2010
Cheap broadband strands aged-care firm
South Australian internet service provider (ISP) Tardis Telecommunications has told one of its aged-care provider customers that it will need to terminate internet services to hundreds of elderly people because the broadband deal it had put in place wasn't as lucrative as it had first believed.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra buys spectrum for mobile broadband
Telstra has bolstered its Next G network with 2.1 GHz spectrum licenses for 1,400 base stations within months of rival Optus licensing similar spectrum assets.
Source: iTnews Australia
Video: Gillard hits YouTube for NBN legislation
After watching this video, we're convinced that Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard really does not know what she is talking about when she's referencing the National Broadband Network. Does anyone else get the sense she's reading from a script but not deeply understanding many of the concepts she's discussing?
Source: Delimiter
Return from NBN not enough: Turnbull
The National Broadband Network will not deliver enough of a commercial return to justify government support, Malcolm Turnbull has declared.
Source: Australian IT
ACCC wants final say on NBN, Telstra
ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel has outlined the competition regulator's desire to have final say on undertakings submitted by Telstra and NBN Co, without facing the prospect of court appeals.
Source: iTnews Australia
RBA's Stevens cautious on tech sector, NBN
Australia probably doesn't need a large information technology production industry, and may be better focusing on being sophisticated users, the Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens said.
Source: iTWire
Why can't Labor sell the NBN's benefits?
The National Broadband Network (NBN) is Australia's biggest-ever infrastructure project, we're told. So you'd think the government could do a better job of selling its benefits than TV advertising containing little more than vague generalities and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy's magic smart dishwasher.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Turnbull’s NBN transparency bill hits parliament
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has tabled in parliament his brief piece of legislation designed to force the Government into disclosing key financial details of its flagship National Broadband Network project and conducting a cost/benefit analysis into its construction.
Source: Delimiter
Greens want NBN costings
Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown has called for the government to release costings relating to the $43 billion National Broadband Network.
Source: Australian IT
Windsor against NBN cost-benefit analysis
Key federal independent MP, Tony Windsor, won't back any move for a Productivity Commission analysis of the $43 billion National Broadband Network.
Source: ARN
Sun, 24th Oct 2010
NBN cost study a waste of money: Conroy
Malcolm Turnbull's call for a Productivity Commission cost-benefit study of the National Broadband Network was a waste of money, and Mr Turnbull was unlikely to support the roll-out even if such a report was positive, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 22nd Oct 2010
More spectrum for wireless broadband services, at 2.5GHz
The ACMA has announced the result of its long running review of 2.5GHz spectrum, presently used for electronic newsgathering but allocated internationally for wireless broadband, and eagerly sought after by Australia's mobile operators.
Source: iTWire
VHA sees 5.6 Mbps uplink speeds on LTE
Huawei has shed further light on Long Term Evolution (LTE) trials revealed by Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) yesterday.
Source: iTnews Australia
How a cost-benefit analysis could help the NBN case
It may be entirely appropriate that NBN Co deliver the Federal Government ongoing cost-benefit analysis around the national broadband network rollout: so long as stakeholders understand how to interpret the results, writes David Havyatt.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN wiring could cost up to $400 a room
Wiring up a house to make best use of the National Broadband Network could cost up to $400 a room.
Source: Australian IT
Coalition has each-way bet on Telstra break-up bill
Shadow Communications Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, claims the Coalition would oppose parts of Labor's controversial legislation to restructure the telecommunications sector and break up Telstra but would welcome other sections that it found logical.
Source: ARN
NBN war: Is The Australian out of line?
Conroy's arrogant attitude towards criticism of his prize project will need to change drastically - and soon - if he truly wants to drive the project forward and to success. Otherwise, he may find it's not just The Australian on his back about the issue - but much of the rest of the media as well.
Source: Delimiter
4G: are we there yet?
Two of the most popular next-generation wireless technologies are close to getting their official 4G moniker from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Source: ZDNet Australia
Just 1 in 10 opt to take up NBN
Only about one in 10 of the first Australians to be offered high-speed internet services under the National Broadband Network have taken up the offer.
Source: Australian IT
Thu, 21st Oct 2010
'Unlimited': use with caution, Telstra
Telstra has today aired details of its latest unlimited offering in the $129 cap plan, and while it's great that the telco's plans are becoming more and more competitive, has Telstra read the warning label properly?
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co reveals Point of Interconnect plan: ACCC calls for comment
The ACCC has released a discussion paper on the number and location of points of interconnect to the National Broadband Network (NBN) that would best meet the long-term interests of end users.
Source: iTWire
Victoria plugs $15m into NBN research gap
With Victoria increasingly seen as the natural home of research related to the National Broadband Network, the State Government has awarded a further $15 million in funding for projects that develop and pilot applications that run on high-speed broadband.
Source: iTWire
Conroy declares war on The Aus over NBN
The Australian newspaper was "waging a war" against the National Broadband Network and against the Gillard Government, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has charged.
Source: iTWire
VHA moves in on Next G territory
Vodafone Hutchison Australia (ASX:VHA) has flagged intentions to move in on Telstra's Next G network, with plans to erect a total of 1500 base stations nationally for a new 850MHz network.
Source: Computerworld
ACCC considers regulating Telstra's DSL
The National Broadband Network is on its way and legislation supporting the separation of Telstra's retail arm from its other assets has been tabled. But the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission may not have finished with Telstra just yet.
Source: ARN
Internode defaults to IPv6 dual-stack
Internode will sell only internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) dual-stack hardware and connections from next year.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Watchdog backflips on Telstra's charges
The competition watchdog says it may force Telstra's fixed-line broadband charges lower and increase rural and regional competition.
Source: Australian IT