Broadband News

Thu, 09th Sep 2010

Telco sees NBN pitfalls

The head of the nation's third-biggest telco has warned that the National Broadband Network could duplicate existing fibre in some areas.

Source: Australian IT

Deal on NBN to cost billions

Julia Gillard's promise to deliver the ambitious NBN to regional areas before major cities will cost taxpayers billions of dollars, the opposition warns.

Source: Australian IT

Wed, 08th Sep 2010

Internode: leave us, but it's not our fault

Internode's managing director Simon Hackett has said he understands that his company will lose customers to BigPond because the internet service provider's ADSL2+ broadband plans using Telstra ports continue to be more expensive than the telco's retail prices, but added that he isn't prepared to go broke selling plans lower than Telstra Wholesale's (TW) cost price.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Photos: Nextgen shows off 100 Gbps test network

Nextgen Networks has demonstrated IP traffic running at 100 Gbps across a fibre optic test network of the kind being deployed for the Government's $250 million backhaul blackspot program.

Source: iTnews Australia

Internode accuses Telstra of wholesale price bias

ISP Internode has accused Telstra of giving more favourable wholesale pricing and terms to service providers not rolling out competing DSLAM networks.

Source: iTnews Australia

Conroy to rejig NBN rollout schedule

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy will meet with NBN Co in coming days to "re-design" its rollout timetable in a way that prioritises regional deployment of fibre.

Source: iTnews Australia

Independents' deal sees NBN watchdogs

Independent monitoring groups will be established at a number of universities to keep a watchful eye over the delivery of Labor's promises to the regional independents, including the delivery of the National Broadband Network (NBN), according to Independent MP Tony Windsor.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Optus targeted by ACCC for latest broadband ads

Telco giant, Optus, is under fire from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for its latest series of advertisements targeting high-speed broadband customers.

Source: ARN

Bush NBN focus gets rebel group's tick

A chief member in the Alliance for Affordable Broadband, which shattered industry consensus on broadband by aiming harsh criticism at Labor's $43 billion National Broadband Network, has backed the scheme's regional priority roll-out schedule.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN will be cheaper than $43b: Nextgen chief Phil Sykes

The National Broadband Network (NBN) will cost "significantly" less than the proposed $43 billion price-tag, according to the head of the company responsible for the fibre rollout in regional 'blackspot' communities.

Source: Computerworld

Critics say fast reform key to NBN success

The National Broadband Network has helped save the Labor government from a first-term defeat.

Source: Australian IT

God help Australia, says Linton on NBN

The outspoken chief executive of internet service provider Exetel has issued a blunt reaction to the news that the National Broadband Network project is likely to go ahead: “God help us all”.

Source: Delimiter

Tue, 07th Sep 2010

Optus responds to NBN and Labor Gov't win

Australia's other several hundred pound telco gorilla, Optus, has issued a statement responding to the victory of Australia's Labor party in winning government and commenting on regulation and the National Broadband Network.

Source: iTWire

Abbott pledges sleepless NBN vigilance

Tony Abbott has warned Julia Gillard's government-in-waiting that the Opposition will be "hyper-vigilant" in its monitoring of Labor's National Broadband Network project for screw-ups.

Source: Delimiter

Gillard acknowledges NBN victory

Prime Minister Julia Gillard invited Australians to reflect on the significance of Labor's National Broadband Network project going ahead, with its potential to deliver equivalent telecommunications pricing for the bush with metropolitan Australia.

Source: Computerworld

NBN full steam, regional areas prioritised

The roll-out of Labor's $43 billion National Broadband Network project is set to resume following the announcement earlier today that Labor had secured the requisite number of votes to form a minority government with three independents and one Greens MP.

Source: ZDNet Australia

IT industry applauds as NBN proves key to Australia's political future

The issue of broadband has decided the future of Australia's Government with key independent, Tony Windsor, naming Labor’s NBN as the most important issue in his decision.

Source: ARN

Broadband 'main influence' to Windsor's Labor backing

Labor's national broadband network was one of the "main influences" for Tony Windsor's backing of the Labor Party, the independent MP said today.

Source: SMH

Labor wins broadband election

Independent MPs Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor have backed Labor to govern Australia, with both saying the national broadband network was critical to their decisions.

Source: iTnews Australia

TPG returns fire in broadband battle

Internet service provider (ISP) TPG has fired the latest volley onto the bandwidth battlefield, offering "unlimited" broadband plans available from today.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Katter backs NBN, but goes with Coalition

Independent MP for Kennedy, Bob Katter, has announced he will side with the Coalition to form a minority government, but has continued to affirm his belief that the National Broadband Network (NBN) is the stronger of the two broadband plans.

Source: Computerworld

NBN is good for Gillard, not taxpayers

Labor's $43 billion National Broadband Network may be the most politically rewarding pork barrel of all if it gets Julia Gillard over the line with the country independents.

Source: The Australian

Katter pays tribute to the "no vote" NBN

Independent MP Bob Katter has paid tribute to Federal Labor for pursuing the National Broadband Network even though there were "no votes in it for them".

Source: iTnews Australia

Mon, 06th Sep 2010

Sydney rail travellers get free WiFi - for three months

RailCorp - operator of the NSW rail network is offering train travellers at Circular Quay station in Sydney free Internet access via WiFi for a three month trial period.

Source: iTWire

Back to the future: Analysys Mason recommends FTTN over FTTH

UK based consultancy Analysys Mason has lobbed another hand grenade into the NBN camp, telling telcos that they should reconsider costly plans for fibre to the home (FTTH) and focus on copper-based technologies such as FTTN combined with VDSL.

Source: iTWire

WA regional mobile blackspots under the hammer

The Western Australian Government has committed a total $120 million to eliminating mobile phone blackspots and overhauling emergency communications networks.

Source: Computerworld

ACTA leak cuts out ISP liability

Countries that were party to an Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) may now be relieved of the obligation to impose third-party liability on internet service providers, according to leaked notes.

Source: iTnews Australia

Independents firm with NBN favour

Australia might still be waiting to find out which of the major parties will form Government following the election two weeks ago, but one thing appears clear: The three independents yet to make up their mind which side they will support are still giving off signs they view Labor's National Broadband Policy with enthusiasm.

Source: Delimiter

Internode now offering 1TB broadband

Internode has become the latest internet service provider (ISP) to launch an ADSL broadband plan featuring a terabyte of broadband quota.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Internode to offer terabyte plans next week

ISP Internode will join the terabyte internet craze next week with a revamp of its ADSL2+ Easy Broadband plans.

Source: iTnews Australia