Broadband News

Thu, 16th Sep 2010

Internode cuts terabyte pricing by $30/month

Internode has cut the prices on its new terabyte broadband plans by $30 a month, bringing them into closer in line with what the national broadband provider's competitors are charging, although it will no longer offer the plans to customers using Optus' wholesale infrastructure as it had previously planned to.

Source: Delimiter

Pros advise on Optus 64Kbps 'supersonic'

The Federal Court in Sydney will next month hear experts determine if 64Kbps internet access can really be called "supersonic" broadband.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Conroy: Turnbull knows dial-up, not broadband

Newly appointed Shadow Communications Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has experience in the dial-up business, not the broadband industry, according to Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy.

Source: ARN

NBN plan makes 'heroic' assumptions: Turnbull

Government must urgently publish the financial model it used in developing its National Broadband Network plan so the assumptions on which it is based can be properly debated, newly-appointed Coalition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull says.  

Source: iTWire

NBN Co reveals IT rollout progress

NBN Co has reported "massive progress" in its IT infrastructure rollout as it started work on the first of two data centres and embarked on a second wave of recruitment to support the deployment program.

Source: iTnews Australia

Wed, 15th Sep 2010

Conroy lashes Turnbull on NBN, Telstra bill

The Federal Government will push to get its stalled telecommunications reform bill passed this year, and says the Opposition will be held to account for any delays and cost escalations for the National Broadband Network if the legislation is held up.

Source: iTWire

Ericsson first with 21Mbps embedded HSPA modem

Ericsson has released what it says is the first embedded HSPA modem to support 21Mbps downstream bandwidth, and a new version of its 7.2Mbps product with half the power usage of its predecessor.

Source: iTWire

Wilkie, Oakeshott won't sway over NBN

Rob Oakeshott has lined up behind fellow independent Andrew Wilkie by ruling out the prospect of switching sides to support the Coalition over the NBN.

Source: Australian IT

Opposition trying to trash NBN: Gillard

The Opposition is trying to trash Labor's $43 billion National Broadband Network (NBN) initiative because they don't understand what it means to the economy, according to Prime Minister, Julia Gillard.

Source: Computerworld

Ludlam warns Turnbull: Don't be a "NBN wrecker"

Greens Communications Spokesman Scott Ludlam today welcomed Malcolm Turnbull's appointment as Shadow Communications Minister but warned the Liberal heavyweight against "wrecking" Labor's National Broadband Network project.

Source: Delimiter

IPv4 shortage dawning on ISPs

The difficulties of adopting the next-generation internet standard so far have outweighed its advantages, but one key part of the computing industry is showing signs of beginning the IPv6 transition in earnest: internet service providers.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN: Abbott sets Turnbull on independents

Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, says one of Malcolm's roles as the new Shadow Communications Minister will be to expose problems with Labor's National Broadband Network project with the aim of wooing independent MPs back to the Coalition's camp.

Source: ARN

Tue, 14th Sep 2010

Election delay extends free NBN deadline

The National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co) announced today that it will extend the deadline for those in first release sites to sign up to have their houses connected to the fibre network.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Widespread problems with Telstra BigPond

Telstra was experiencing widespread problems with user login and email on its BigPond internet and Foxtel cable services.

Source: PC Authority

Turnbull blasts NBN waste, internet filter

Freshly minted federal shadow communications minister Malcolm Turnbull has criticised the Federal Government over its NBN investment, likening it to the '90s subsea cable boom that led to a "massive destruction of wealth".

Source: iTnews Australia

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