Broadband News
Mon, 11th Oct 2010
Turnbull's NBN confusion softens Libs' case
I'm all for a healthy and robust opposition that works to keep the NBN roll-out on the straight and narrow. Yet, while Malcolm Turnbull looks healthy enough, his latest opposition to the NBN has been far from robust.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Attorney-General's office considering copyright law review
The Federal Attorney-General's Department has confirmed that the Government is considering a possible Australian Law Reform Commission review of the country's copyright law, but the news has been met calmly by one internet service provider (ISP) very familiar with the nation's existing laws, iiNet.
Source: Computerworld
Internode and iiNet: Further Telstra price cuts will make things worse
Further reduction to Telstra's retail broadband price will compound woes for the telco's wholesale customers, according to Internode and iiNet.
Source: ARN
Desperate Telstra cuts prices to win back customers
Consumers are set to benefit as Telstra cuts prices on mobile phone plans and broadband and ups the value of its package bundles to try to woo and retain customers.
Source: News Limited
Fri, 08th Oct 2010
ISPs cop customer angst over outbound emails
Email users Australia-wide spent the past 24 hours receiving bounce-back notices after anti-spam blacklist operator SORBS mistakenly listed vast IP address ranges as spammers.
Source: iTnews Australia
AFACT eyes era of ISP anti-piracy cooperation
The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) has thrown its support behind the latest draft of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) on the basis it might force ISPs to cooperate to combat "rampant" online piracy.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra: No preference on NBN opt-out
Telstra chief executive David Thodey this afternoon said that the telco had no real preference as to whether Australians should be forced to "opt-out" of the National Broadband Network rather than opt in, in the wake of a decision this week by the Tasmanian Government to pursue such a policy through legislation.
Source: Delimiter
States baulk at opt-out on NBN link
NSW and Victoria have ruled out following Tasmania's lead and legislating for all homes to be connected to the National Broadband Network.
Source: Australian IT
Thu, 07th Oct 2010
ACTA hits Australia to Pirate Party derision
Depending on who you ask, a draft of the global Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) released by the Federal Government in Australia today is either a welcome measure which will benefit the the nation's creative industries - or a draconian control proposal which will cut down our civil liberties.
Source: Delimiter
Consumers lose from NBN move: Turnbull
A plan to connect all Tasmanian homes to the National Broadband Network has been condemned by the opposition as removing consumer choice.
Source: Australian IT
DFAT releases ACTA anti-piracy draft
The Federal government has released the latest draft of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) following the conclusion of the final round of discussions on the controversial intellectual property protection initiative at the weekend.
Source: Computerworld
Liberal parties at loggerheads on Tasmanian NBN
The Federal and Tasmanian State Liberal parties are at loggerheads over which method is best for rolling out the National Broadband Network.
Source: ARN
Chairmen table NBN concerns
Some of the nation's most influential chairmen are urging the government to obtain a cost-benefit analysis into the National Broadband Network.
Source: Australian IT
Tasmanians to be forced to connect to NBN under new laws
Tasmanians will be forced into connecting to the national broadband network (NBN) unless they "opt-out" of being connected under new laws being proposed by its Premier.
Source: SMH
Wed, 06th Oct 2010
AAPT unlimited plan faces chop next month
AAPT residential users on the unlimited 24/7 plan have until 10 November to change or cancel their plan as a result of iiNet's $60 million acquisition of its consumer customer base.
Source: Computerworld
Telstra reforms by end of month: Conroy
The Gillard Government will introduce crucial telecommunications reform legislation to the Parliament during the two-week sitting period at the end of the month, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has told the Bloomberg news service.
Source: iTWire
NBN cost-benefit analysis is essential
Two of the biggest mistakes you can make with infrastructure are to build massive new projects on over-optimistic estimates of demand and to neglect ongoing maintenance and upgrades of your existing infrastructure assets.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Optus hoses down claims of impending deal with NBN Co
Optus has hosed down claims that it is in negotiations with the NBN Co to transfer its cable broadband customers to the National Broadband Network (NBN).
Source: Computerworld
Broadband claims blasted
The competition watchdog claims slowing broadband speeds after customers exceed a download limit on an "unlimited" plan is like selling them a Ferrari with one gear.
Source: The Age
ISP Beagle says half of TIO effort wasted
ISP Beagle Internet has claimed that half of the energy expended by the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) resulted in "no useful outcome" to the ISP or consumer.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tue, 05th Oct 2010
A-G: Filter won't drive users to encryption
The Attorney-General's Department does not expect to see a rise in the number of users encrypting internet traffic streams to avoid detection by ISP-level filters, according to written responses to questions posed by The Greens.
Source: iTnews Australia
Startup nation: Is Labor's NBN focus a little myopic?
But is it dangerous to view the development of Australia's entire technology sector through the lens of the infrastructure-bsaed NBN? Following last week's announcement, we asked two innovative technology companies -- one big and one small -- what they thought.
Source: Delimiter
Treasury urges quick NBN decisions
Treasury warned the incoming Labor government to quickly act on the findings of the National Broadband Network (NBN) Implementation Study, according to documents published under Freedom of Information.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Internode kicks of FetchTV trial
Internode has kicked of its FetchTV service, inviting customers who had expressed interest in its early adopter programme to sign up.
Source: iTWire
Samsung WiMAX 2 test hits 330Mbps
Yes, it's only a demonstration. Even so, Samsung's trial of WiMAX 2 technology that touched speeds of 330Mbps is still impressive.
Source: Computerworld
Unlikely NBN needs more money: Swan
Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan does not believe more public money needs to be funnelled into the $43 billion National Broadband Network.
Source: Computerworld
Conroy to receive secret filter forum report
The Greens have dug up a handful of further details about Labor’s controversial mandatory filter project through the questions on notice procedure, including the fact that Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, will shortly receive a report on a confidential online forum held by his department on the topic in April this year.
Source: ARN
Telstra's $680m push to remake itself
The company's new marketing boss says the telco has finally got the message: improve the service or keep losing customers, writes Lucy Battersby.
Source: SMH
Fri, 01st Oct 2010
Foxtel joins IPTV bandwagon
Australian cable television provider Foxtel has joined the internet sourced content on demand world with a new service simply known as Foxtel On Demand. Great if you're a Telstra Bigpond customer.
Source: iTWire
Google JPEG alternative speeds up web
It turns out there was more to Google's WebM technology than just a plan to revolutionise web-based video. The company also wants to revolutionise still images on the web with a new format called WebP.
Source: ZDNet Australia