Broadband News

Tue, 27th Apr 2021

What's the difference between Sky Muster and Sky Muster Plus?

If you've got satellite NBN, you can now pick between Sky Muster and Sky Muster Plus plans. Here's what you need to know about how they differ.

Source: WhistleOut

Mon, 26th Apr 2021

Pentagon surfaces giant netblock for recon and anti IP squatting

The mystery behind the appearance of over 175 million unique Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) addresses in the global network routing table has been partly solved, after the United States Department of Defence came out with an explanation.

Source: iTnews Australia

ACMA releases telco complaints-handling performance data for Dec quarter, CommsAlliance happy, ACCAN concerned

ACMA has published its telco complaints-handling data for the quarter ended December 2020, with the Communications Alliance noting complaints have dropped 40% of a 2 year period.

Source: iTWire

Fri, 23rd Apr 2021

King Island connectivity upgrade to include 110km radio link across Bass Strait

When completed, a 110-kilometre radio link from King Island back to Victoria's Surf Coast will be the longest such link over water in the Telstra network, the company said on Friday.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Five local telcos fork out $647.6M for 5G-enabling spectrum

​Telstra, Optus, TPG Telecom subsidiary Mobile JV, Pentanet and Dense Air Australia have won rights to radio spectrum in the 26 GHz band, an optimal ingredient for delivering 5G services in Australia.

Source: ARN

Telstra, Optus, TPG drop $650m on ultra-fast 5G spectrum at auction

Telstra, Optus, TPG Telecom, Dense Air and Pentanet have secured more than half a billion dollars of millimetre-wave spectrum in the first of two 5G spectrum actions to take place this year.

Source: iTnews Australia

TPG Telecom (Vodafone) to 'supercharge 5G' with mmWave spectrum

The new 5G mmWave spectrum will "power 5G fixed wireless and super-fast 5G mobile", and with Optus, Telstra, Dense Air Australia and Pentanet winning mmWave spectrum, the future for Australia is super fast.

Source: iTWire

Optus secures ‘golden GHz’ and unlocks ultra-fast 5G future with 26GHz spectrum acquisition

Optus states it is continuing to build a world-class 5G network which will be made even better with the acquisition of a range of new licences in the 26GHz spectrum band.

Source: iTWire

Telstra claims to reinforce 5G leadership, investing $277 million to secure 1000 MHz nationally in 26 GHz spectrum auction

Telstra has announced it has secured 1000 MHz in the 26 GHz spectrum auction, investing $277 million to further extend its leadership in 5G now - and into the future. 

Source: iTWire

ACMA details outcome of 5G millimetre Wave spectrum auction

Five companies have won spectrum in the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s latest spectrum auction in the 26 GHz band. The 26 GHz band has been identified as optimal for the delivery of 5G wireless broadband services.

Source: iTWire

Thu, 22nd Apr 2021

Telco complaints down by 25% during Dec quarter

Telco complaints were down by nearly a quarter for the three months ending December 2020, compared to the same period the year prior, according to new data.

Source: ARN

RSPs fork out to keep high-speed NBN customers on the books

NBN retailers are choosing to pay from their own pockets to keep existing high-speed customers happy - or to lure such customers away from rivals - by matching a steeply discounted price offer not meant for either customer type.

Source: iTnews Australia

Vodafone offers free data weekend as penance for network outage

Vodafone customers will receive free data services this weekend, with the telco calling it a "goodwill" gesture in the aftermath of a nationwide network outage experienced earlier this month.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Mon, 19th Apr 2021

Most MATE mobile plans now come with free music streaming subscriptions

Most MATE mobile subscribers can now get at least a year of free Tidal.

Source: WhistleOut

Aussie Broadband looks for CVC upside from 'white label' customers

Aussie Broadband is hoping that a ‘white label’ arrangement launched last week could help the company offset the growing bandwidth demands of its own customer base, reducing some of its exposure to excess fees charged by NBN Co.

Source: iTnews Australia

Thu, 15th Apr 2021

Satellite NBN providers and their Sky Muster NBN plans compared

Need help picking a Satellite NBN provider? We've got the lowdown on the major providers offering Sky Muster-powered NBN plans.

Source: WhistleOut

Tue, 13th Apr 2021

Save $150 on the iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 mini with Telstra

iPhones rarely go on sale - especially recent models - but Telstra has cut up to $150 from all models until April 19. If you nab an iPhone 12 mini or iPhone 12, you'll save $150 from the outright cost (divided over your repayment period). This is equivalent to $6.25 per month on a 24-month term.

Source: WhistleOut

Aussie Broadband moves into white label space

Aussie Broadband announced on Tuesday it has moved into the white label space, with an unnamed company with a customer base of 3 million already signed up.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Aussie Broadband to let resellers sell its services under their own brand

​Aussie Broadband is to start letting reseller and retail service provider (RSPs) partners sell its products under their own branding with a new white label solution.

Source: ARN

How NBN Co pieced its service assurance function back together

NBN Co transformed its service assurance function - the part of the company that deals with service faults and outages - under a program of work codenamed ‘Jigsaw’ that is already said to have delivered $100 million in ‘benefits’.

Source: iTnews Australia

Kogan has a new 45GB mobile plan for just $25 per month

Kogan has expanded its range of mobile plans with two new SIM-only plans, one of which will set you back just $25 per month for your first year and get you a sizeable 45GB. The plan is sold on a 12-month contract, and the pricing will only apply during that period, after which you'll need to pay $40 per month. However, you can always bounce when the discount runs out, as your contract will be over too.

Source: WhistleOut

Fri, 09th Apr 2021

Vodafone works on resolving nationwide network outage

Vodafone customers were experiencing outages across the network on Friday, with reports being made via social media from around 11am AEST.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Vodafone hit by nationwide 4G outage

Vodafone is suffering a nationwide outage of its 4G cellular network, with users across Australia unable to access mobile data and voice services.

Source: iTnews Australia

Vocus emerges as earth station builder for Starlink

ASX listed Vocus is building the earth station for satellite broadband service Starlink, set up by Elon Musk's SpaceX, a media report and a search of the New Zealand government radio spectrum management register indicates.

Source: iTnews Australia

Thu, 08th Apr 2021

Optus puts Australians in control of their Mobile and Home connectivity with Optus Pause

Optus has introduced what it calls "a game changing Australian first innovation" that gives its customers "the freedom to ensure they enjoy the time that matters most by opting to pause notifications and connectivity distractions they often face everyday."

Source: iTWire

Wed, 07th Apr 2021

Optus reaches blistering 10Gps aggregated throughput on live 5G site in Brisbane

Poking fun at Telstra by stating "You don’t need Australia’s fastest 5G… until you do", Optus aggregated its 5G spectrum bands of 3500Mhz and 28Ghz (mmWave) on top of existing 5G spectrum bands to deliver "unprecedented bandwidth and speed."

Source: iTWire

SpinTel is the latest NBN provider to promise congestion free NBN

SpinTel is now reporting typical evening speeds of 100Mbps on NBN 100 plans.

Source: WhistleOut

Tue, 06th Apr 2021

TPG, Optus, Nokia to shape national emergency mobile broadband network

Australia’s long-promised national mobile broadband network for emergency services has finally moved forward, with TPG Telecom, Optus and Nokia selected to deliver the first feasibility trial.

Source: iTnews Australia

TPG Telecom and Nokia pick up Public Safety Mobile Broadband trial

TPG Telecom and Nokia have been appointed to trial a proof-of-concept network for the long mooted Public Safety Mobile Broadband to be used by the nation's emergency services.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Tue, 30th Mar 2021

Optus is now all but promising congestion free NBN for NBN 50 and NBN 100 plans

Optus has increased its typical evening speed guidance for plans as fast as NBN 100, ostensibly promising congestion free connectivity during peak hours. Optus is now reporting that customers can expect typical evening speeds of 100Mbps on NBN 100 plans and 50Mbps on NBN 50 plans.

Source: WhistleOut