Broadband News
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
Akamai finds Aussie broadband speeds improve
Based on an analysis of over 8 million unique Australian IP addresses, Australia had the 48th fastest broadband speeds across the world, according to content-distribution company Akamai, which has released its quarterly State of the Internet report.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN won't raise cost of landlines: Conroy
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy last night gave an assurance that landline phone users who hook up to the new NBN would not have to pay more for their service.
Source: Australian IT
Minister moves to mandate NBN
If Communications Minister Stephen Conroy can't get the states and territories to make it mandatory to connect to the national broadband network (NBN) he will legislate it at a federal level.
Source: SMH
Wed, 20th Oct 2010
Telstra welcomes telco reform legislation
Telco giant Telstra has thrown its support behind the telecommunications industry reform legislation re-entered into parliament today, which puts the telco on the path to structural separation as part of an agreement to join the National Broadband Network.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Rural NBN focus has no cost impact: Quigley
The Gillard Government's promise to king-making rural independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott to make regional areas the roll-out priority for the National Broadband Network would have no impact on NBN Company finances, a Senate committee has been told.
Source: iTWire
Telstra boosts pre-paid broadband plans
Telstra has raised data caps and increased expiry periods for its pre-paid mobile broadband plans. According to the telco, the move comes on the back of rising consumption of wireless broadband.
Source: ARN
NBN Co: Three-quarters of residents consent to fibre
NBN Co has reported the first statistics on how many residents have consented to NBN fibre connecting their premises.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telecom reform law back on table
Key legislation to reform competition in the telco sector and underpin the success of the NBN will be reintroduced to parliament today.
Source: Australian IT
Tue, 19th Oct 2010
NBN business plan to board this week: Quigley
NBN Company executives will present its corporate plan and business model to a meeting of its board of directors for approval on Friday, chief executive Mike Quigley has told a Senate committee, but it is still not clear when or how much of those documents will be made public.
Source: iTWire
Feds focus on voluntary-filter ISPs
The Federal Government was pressing ahead with talks with the three ISPs that volunteered to participate in an internet filter.
Source: iTnews Australia
Exetel initiates legal action against telco ombudsman
The procedures used by the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) to deal with customer complaints could soon be scrutinised by the Federal Court, after telco Exetel served the ombudsman with a statement of claim, alleging a number of breaches.
Source: Computerworld
Conroy fires back at Turnbul's NBN bill
Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, has fired back at the Coalition's plan to introduce a Bill that would force more reviews onto the National Broadband Network.
Source: ARN
Turnbull files private members' bill for NBN transparency
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull today revealed he had garnered Coalition support for a private member's bill that would force Labor to disclose key financial details of its flagship National Broadband Network project and conduct a cost/benefit analysis into its construction.
Source: Delimiter
AFP: net filter trials were legal
Trials of the government's internet content filter were legal according to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), which has thrown out claims by network engineer Mark Newton that the tests breached the Telecommunications Act.
Source: ZDNet Australia