Broadband News

Sat, 03rd Jul 2010

Telstra tests LTE in 1800 MHz band

Telstra has tested Long Term Evolution (LTE) kit from Chinese vendor Huawei in a spectrum band it currently uses for 2G services.

Source: iTnews Australia

Fri, 02nd Jul 2010

iiNet disappointed at NBN customer publicity

Perth-based ISP, iiNet, isn't happy about the publicity surrounding first customer connections on the National Broadband Network (NBN) in Tasmania.

Source: ARN

Telstra makes support calls free

Telstra chief executive David Thodey today announced that calls to Telstra inquiry and complaint numbers would be free of charge.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Exetel latest ISP to sign on with NBN

Despite its well publicised of the National Broadband Network (NBN), Exetel has become the fourth Internet service provider (ISP) to sign on to supply services on stage one Tasmanian NBN trial sites.

Source: Computerworld

AAPT sale within the next week?

Business Day is reporting that the bidding war for AAPT is coming to a close, with TPG putting a $350 million bid on the table, while Amcom is said to be still considering its funding strategy. Business Day believes Amcom may sell its iiNet stake to fund the deal. I think it's a pity to sell such a money maker.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Mainland NBN operations facility set for Melbourne

The Federal Government company tasked to oversee the National Broadband Network (NBN) has picked Melbourne as the site for its mainland network operations and test facility.

Source: ARN

IT WAS ME: first NBN user speaks about what it's like

"It's AWESOME" says Robert Pettman of Midway Point, Tasmania, who is now surfing on 50Mbit/s home broadband speeds.

Source: APC Magazine

Thu, 01st Jul 2010

Net filter trials 'unlawful', claims engineer

The internet filtering "live trials" conducted by the Federal Government in conjunction with internet service providers (ISPs) were done illegally, according to claims by network engineer Mark Newton.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Gillard's diary dictates NBN live date

July has arrived, but the first National Broadband Network (NBN) service is yet to be turned on, despite former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd having nominated this month as the go-live time. According to Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, the start of services will be dictated by new Prime Minister Julia Gillard's diary.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Vividwireless to open Sydney, Melbourne networks in late July

ISP vividwireless has started taking registrations from Sydney and Melbourne residents for its high-speed wireless broadband service that is due to launch later this month.

Source: iTnews Australia

Plan B for the NBN

If there's a change in government at the next election we know the National Broadband Network will be ditched. So is there another way of achieving the objective of providing ubiquitous high speed broadband across the country?

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN won't stop Telstra upgrades

Telstra has injected the final dose of download speed to its cable network as it prepares for the slow transition to the new fibre-based NBN world.

Source: Australian IT

Wed, 30th Jun 2010

NBN 101: The Economic Argument

Computerworld Australia delves into the economic argument for a high-speed national broadband network.

Source: Computerworld

Tas NBN kit different to national roll-out?

The national roll-out of the Federal Government's National Broadband Network (NBN) is unlikely to use the same equipment that has been installed in the first portion of the network's build involving three Tasmanian suburbs, according to the chief executive Mike Quigley of NBN Co, the company charged with building it.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Public network maps a security risk: telcos

Telstra and Optus say a proposal by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to publish infrastructure location information could be a risk to security.

Source: ZDNet Australia

AAPT to move Sydney call centre to the Philippines

AAPT has announced plans to offshore its consumer call centre functions from Glebe, in Sydney's inner-west, to Manilla in the Philippines.

Source: iTnews Australia

OH DEAR: Mark Newton's epic anti-Conroy Rant

Usually submissions to government committees are tame and boring to read. Not this one from Internode engineer Mark Newton, who has finally let it all out.

Source: APC Magazine

NBN to cost taxpayers $30bn: Quigley

NBN Co chief executive Mike Quigley has said taxpayers will pay up to $30 billion to build the national broadband network.

Source: The Australian

Whirlpool DDoS attacks to be reported to police

Australian broadband forum Whirlpool was today hit with a distributed denial of service attack, the second day in a row the popular site was attacked.

Source: iTnews Australia

Internode launches London PoP

Internode has announced an upgrade to its network with a newly established point of presence (PoP) in London in bid to increasingly globalise its network.

Source: Computerworld

Tue, 29th Jun 2010

Telstra outage hits NBN Co

Nbn Co will be looking forward to when it doesn't need to rely on Telstra for its telecommunication services.

Source: Australian IT

Sydney-based ISP Comcen buys Gippsland ISP, Australis

Sydney-based ISP Comcen - with a nationwide customer base - has acquired Australis - a regional ISP serving the Gippsland region, and says it is looking for more acquisitions.

Source: iTWire

NBN Co late on business case

NBN Co has not yet delivered its business case to the Federal Government, despite having previously said it would be handed over by 31 May, the group's chief executive Mike Quigley confirmed this week.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Analysis: Telstra Velocity faces uncertain future

Telstra will be forced to lose its Velocity fibre business if it comes to a definitive agreement with NBN Co, according to NBN Co chief Mike Quigley.

Source: iTnews Australia

Optus nearly doubles mobile broadband customers in FY09/10

Strong demand in the Optus's mobile phone business has seen the Singtel subsidiary's financial year 09/10 revenues increase eight per cent year on year to $8,949m.

Source: Computerworld

yARN: Who cares about the mandatory ISP filter? "Nobody"!

Issues of child pornography and censorship aside, a major question that runs throughout the ISP filtering debate is whether or not voters even care. Senior political analysts think the answer is 'no'.

Source: ARN

Whirlpool crippled by DDoS attack

Broadband forum Whirlpool has been brought down by a distributed denial of service attack this morning.

Source: iTnews Australia

Mon, 28th Jun 2010

Quigley rejected lucrative job for NBN

The chief executive of the company charged with building the Federal Government's National Broadband Network (NBN), Mike Quigley, turned down a higher paying job overseas before committing himself to the $43 billion project, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy today revealed.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Senator Conroy says "I'm not into opting into child porn"

The hypocrisy is breathtaking.  After listening to two years of unambiguous opposition to the Internet filter proposal, Senator Conroy invariably falls back on the paedophile defence.  Shame on you Sir, shame on you.

Source: iTWire

Conroy puts Fielding in front of Telstra, NBN Co

The Government has moved to facilitate meetings between Family First Senator Steve Fielding and Telstra and NBN Co as it seeks passage of legislation that has become known as the 'Telstra bill' through Parliament.

Source: iTnews Australia