Broadband News

Tue, 14th Sep 2010

Turnbull scores Shadow Communications portfolio

Malcolm Turnbull has been appointed as the Federal Opposition's new communications minister, replacing Tony Smith.

Source: Computerworld

NBN Co lacks numbers on fibre consent

NBN Co has extended the cut-off date for residents and businesses to return forms consenting to receive a fibre connection from the next-generation network builder.

Source: iTnews Australia

Forget everything you've read: there are no 4G wireless services

3G Americas has published a useful report on the evolution of mobile wireless technologies, which points out that there is no current technology that meets the requirements of 4G; and which highlights the challenges in extracting ever more bandwidth from wireless systems.

Source: iTWire

Austar boosted by Labor NBN plan

After being left at the altar once, Austar is confident of a spectrum windfall from Labor's decision to prioritise its regional NBN rollout.

Source: Australian IT

Industry eager for NBN timetable

Construction of the National Broadband Network's first mainland sites is set to recommence within the next fortnight.

Source: Australian IT

Mon, 13th Sep 2010

NBN roll-in a chance for decentralisation

"Rolling in" the NBN from the bush to the city is good news for regional areas. Indeed, the trickle down effect has never really worked for "the bush" so the reversal of the NBN's delivery approach is a promising sign of policy change.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN, regulatory concerns faze Telstra

Telstra has pointed to government regulatory measures and continuing negotiations surrounding the telco's participation in the National Broadband Network (NBN) as key causes for concern for the company's ability to strive financially.

Source: Computerworld

Telstra to reveal NBN deal details soon

The Federal Election delayed the legal work for Telstra's multibillion-dollar involvement in the National Broadband Network (NBN) but information should be ready for shareholders before the company's annual general meeting in November, according to Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN obsoletes a million security systems: ASIAL

The National Broadband Network has placed the future of more than a million security alarm systems that alert Australians to fire, home invasion, break-in and medical emergency in limbo pending the building of a simulated test bed next year.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN, regulatory concerns phase Telstra

Telstra has pointed to government regulatory measures and continuing negotiations surrounding the telco's participation in the National Broadband Network (NBN) as key causes for concern for the company's ability to strive financially.

Source: Computerworld

CEOs demand change from Conroy

The federal government has been presented with a broad array of potential media and telecommunications reforms.

Source: Australian IT

More of South Australia gets Internode WiMAX services

Internode has opened its third regional WiMAX network, covering the Riverland and Murraylands areas of South Australia.

Source: iTWire

Election delayed Telstra NBN paperwork

The election held up the legal work for Telstra's multibillion dollar involvement in the national broadband network, the federal government says.

Source: Australian IT

Decentralised NBN key to unlocking bush potential

"Rolling in" the NBN from the bush to the city is good news for regional areas. Indeed, the trickle-down-effect has never really worked for "the bush" so the reversal of the NBN's delivery approach is a promising sign of policy change.

Source: Delimiter

Sat, 11th Sep 2010

Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, gets promoted with more responsibilities

Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, has retained his position in the Gillard Government's cabinet with an increase in responsibility.

Source: ARN

Fri, 10th Sep 2010

Optus stays mum on 21 Mbps upgrade

Optus has declined to put a date on an upgrade of its 3G network to HSPA+, believing that access devices and consumer demand for the speeds it promised wasn't there yet.

Source: iTnews Australia

Dodo thinks NBN wholesale

Telecommunications company Dodo's CEO Larry Kestelman has said that he thinks it will be difficult for small players to operate on the National Broadband Network (NBN), but the company would consider becoming a wholesaler for the network.

Source: ZDNet Australia

AAPT-iiNet user migration on track: Broad

The migration of AAPT's consumer business to iiNet is tracking to schedule and will be complete by the planned 30 September deadline, according to AAPT CEO, Paul Broad.

Source: Computerworld

Distressed Optus starts Open Network

Optus marketing chief Michael Smith has hinted at concerns about damage to its brand after the regulator again launched legal action against it.

Source: Australian IT

Conroy's net filter still alive and kicking

The Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, is ploughing ahead with his internet filter policy despite there being virtually no chance any enabling legislation will pass either house of Parliament.

Source: SMH

Telstra deal secures employee pay rise

After a 20-month-long battle between Telstra and its unions, employees have voted in favour of an enterprise bargaining agreement that will lead to an 8 per cent increase in wages over the next two years.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Clear path forward for NBN: Greens

Whatever other complications minority government might create, in communications policy there is a clear path forward, according to Greens communications spokesman Scott Ludlam.

Source: iTWire

iiNet deals with unlimited fallout

Plans to axe unlimited quota plans for AAPT customers on the iiNet network has sparked fierce debate among those fearful they will be forced onto a relatively limited monthly quota.

Source: Computerworld

So we have an NBN ... where's my television 2.0?

Righto. So. Now we're getting our 21st century internet (thank Messrs Oakshott, Windsor and Wilkie). Can we also get our 21st century television?

Source: Delimiter

Industry demands NBN cost analysis

The country's third-largest internet service provider has renewed calls for a cost-benefit analysis of the National Broadband Network.

Source: Australian IT

Thu, 09th Sep 2010

NBN Co restarts recruitment machine

NBN Co has sprung back into action after its election hiatus by employing three new staff and posting 35 job advertisements since the formation of government on Tuesday.

Source: iTnews Australia

Slattery: NBN Co now a wireless telco

Labor's deal with the independents to roll out the National Broadband Network to regional areas first means it will now necessarily have to place a big emphasis on the wireless component of the network's construction, according to Pipe Networks managing director and long-time NBN critic, Bevan Slattery.

Source: ARN

TPG counts uploads in ADSL2+ changes

An ISP's plans to fundamentally alter how it counts users' activity has sparked outrage among its customers.

Source: iTnews Australia

Much cheaper NBN wins it by a whisker

The green light has been turned back on for the NBN, perhaps because the Independents were told the cost to the taxpayer was considerably less than $43 billion.

Source: ZDNet Australia

City won't pay for bush broadband: Swan

The Gillard government insists the city won't be slugged to fund affordable broadband in the bush.

Source: Computerworld