Broadband News
Tue, 20th Apr 2010
'Three-strikes' rule dropped from ACTA
The controversial three-strikes ban in the secretive Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) appears to have been dropped.
Source: Computerworld
EFA fights ACMA over 'take down' notice
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal in Sydney is hearing an appeal against a take-down notice for a link Electronic Frontiers Australia provided to illustrate its case against Internet filtering.
Source: iTWire
Quigley: Why an all-wireless NBN is pointless
An all-wireless NBN would require five times the total number of mobile cell sites in Australia today to achieve a committed information rate of 5 Mbps, according to "saturday afternoon" calculations by NBN Co.
Source: iTnews Australia
Slattery calls 'bullshit' on NBN economics
Pipe Networks founder Bevan Slattery today delivered a ringing slap in the face to Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, predicting most of the promises around his flagship National Broadband Network initiative would fall flat, with the project to end up being a liability to Australia's taxpayers.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Update: ACMA investigates telco complaints
The Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) has launched a formal investigation into the telco industry's handling of customer complaints after a spike in customer dissatisfaction.
Source: ARN
NBN leading to 457 visa surge and salary hikes
Demand for ICT skills to develop the national broadband network is one factor leading to the reappearance of an Australian IT skills shortage and a surge in demand for overseas IT professionals to plug the gaps.
Source: iTWire
AFACT using election: iiNet, Pirate Party
Broadband provider iiNet and the Australian division of the Pirate Party have come out swinging in response to apparent moves by content providers to nudge the Federal Government about potential legislation to stop copyright infringement.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Optus adds muscle to its 3G network
Optus has begun boosting data capacity across its 3G mobile network in a bid to meet subscribers' demand for data-heavy devices and services.
Source: Australian IT
Internode overhauls FFTH plans
Internode has announced price cuts, quota boosts and a doubling of upstream speeds for its Internode Home Fibre services in a bid to increase take up of its fibre offerings.
Source: Computerworld
Mon, 19th Apr 2010
The pros and cons of letting NBN Co sell to government
The voices complaining about provisions in the NBN legislation that would enable NBN Co to provide services to government agencies have been many and loud, but according to one expert this is a perfectly reasonable proposition; and one that could create an upheaval among established telecoms providers.
Source: iTWire
Four bidders in AAPT auction: source
Telecom New Zealand is auctioning off its AAPT unit, with four bidders vying for the struggling Australian telecoms carrier, a source familiar the situation said.
Source: iTnews Australia
Big ISPs to benefit from mandatory Internet filter: Academic
The burden of managing the costs associated with the implementation of ISP-level filtering could put many of Australia's smaller ISPs out of business, according to a University of Sydney academic.
Source: Computerworld
Conroy hands off greenfields fibre discretion
The Australian Communications and Media Authority and local councils could be enlisted to enforce exemptions for the rollout of fibre in new housing estates, according to Senator Conroy's department.
Source: iTnews Australia
iiNet blasts AFACT's attack on ISPs
Perth-based ISP iiNet has fired back at the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT), which claims ISPs won't talk with copyright holders over how to distribute content online.
Source: ARN
Channel: Get ready for NBN
The entire channel should be looking to seize infrastructure and services opportunities presented by the Federal Government's $43 billion National Broadband Network (NBN), according to one networking and wireless distributor.
Source: ARN
Telstra ready to fight
Telstra will try to convince the Federal Court it should not be fined $300 million despite admitting it engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct.
Source: Australian IT
ACTA agreement to be made public
Negotiators on Wednesday will publish the first officially released draft of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, a new treaty designed to harmonise copyright enforcement around the world.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Fri, 16th Apr 2010
iiNet executive questions NBN Co's objectives
iiNet chief regulatory office, Stephen Dalby, has questioned the NBN Co's objectives and its role as a wholesaler at a Senate select committee on the National Broadband Network (NBN).
Source: Computerworld
Conroy seeks comment on FTTP legislation
The Federal Government has released a position paper on the provision of fibre networks on greenfields housing developments. Comments are invited.
Source: iTWire
Blacklist costs could beat filter
Today the costs of running a blacklist were made clear, showing that the filter could be a very expensive operation.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Taswegian NBN ready to roll
The Tasmanian government has dropped pamphlets on citizens it is soon about to bring broadband democracy to, promising "unlimited possibilities".
Source: APC Magazine
Blacklist referrals cost up to $685 to classify
Suspect internet content referred to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) cost between $173 and $685 per item to investigate and classify last year.
Source: iTnews Australia
AAPT brings EdgeCast to Australia
AAPT has introduced content delivery network provider EdgeCast into the Australian market in what is being touted as a "viable alternative" to rival Akamai.
Source: iTnews Australia
No return on NBN for 'up to 30 years'
The head of the national broadband network has warned that the federal government will not make a financial return on its project for up to 30 years.
Source: Australian IT
Thu, 15th Apr 2010
Utility pricing key to NBN viability: Analyst
Services on the National Broadband Network (NBN) need to be charged like electricity and water, telecommunications economist, John de Ridder has told a Senate Select Committee.
Source: Computerworld
Telecom NZ: AAPT is for sale
Telecom NZ will give "serious consideration" to any offer to buy its Australian subsidiary AAPT if it was deemed to be in the interest of shareholders, chief executive Paul Reynolds said today.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co to determine national wholesale pricing in June
NBN Co will reveal final wholesale pricing on the National Broadband Network (NBN) to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) as part of an undertaking it has planned with the commission in June.
Source: Computerworld
Google goes to Washington on filter
Google Australia has voiced its concerns over the Rudd Government's controversial internet filter directly to the US State Department.
Source: Australian IT
NBN can't shake layer three concerns
NBN Co's decision to stay at the layer two wholesale market and not push into layer three was partially an issue of Government funding, according to Australian Telecommunications User Group (ATUG) chair Rosemary Sinclair.
Source: iTnews Australia
What will the NBN look like?
Last December, the NBN Co issued a consultation paper in which it outlined the proposed wholesale offering to retailers. The paper discussed the technology standards that would be used and where on the network the points of interconnect (PoIs) should be located.
Source: ZDNet Australia