Broadband News
Thu, 25th Mar 2010
Free-to-air TV over the NBN?
Hopes for the provision of free-to-air television over the National Broadband Network (NBN) have been dealt a blow by Free TV Australia, the body representing Australia's commercial free-to-air (FTA) television broadcasters.
Source: Computerworld
Better LTE than never
Double-digit wireless broadband speeds are now a reality, and with Optus and now Telstra planning LTE trials we could see triple-digit speeds in a few years. It sounds great for consumers, but it could further complicate things for the NBN - and play right into the hands of a forcibly separated Telstra.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co claims industry support
The Government-owned company responsible for rolling out the National Broadband Network, NBN Co, claims to have significant industry support and agreement for its infrastructure plans.
Source: ARN
TV sport rules to cover web
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says the anti-siphoning rules governing sports broadcasting are likely to be extended to cover the web, and has flagged a review of the regulations once the switch-over to digital TV is completed.
Source: The Australian
ISP-level filter "ideological" and "political": iiNet
iiNet has taken a swing at the Federal Government's mandatory ISP-level filter, calling it and "ideological approach aimed at a political objective".
Source: Computerworld
Huawei demos LTE-Advanced at 1.2Gbps
Huawei has demonstrated what it says is the world's fastest LTE-Advanced downlink speeds at the CTIA Wireless show in Las Vegas.
Source: PC Authority
Conroy to show his hand on national broadband network
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has finally agreed to release an implementation study on the national broadband network, and claims the 500-page report will back his claim the federal government can build the multi-billion-dollar project without Telstra.
Source: The Australian
Wed, 24th Mar 2010
We should be told when we're filtered
Telstra outright opposed the government's option to boost the transparency of its ISP filter regime by issuing a "block page notification". But will transparency really make the filter a Refused Classification (RC) oracle?
Source: ZDNet Australia
Bootleg video: Telstra 'dual carrier' 42 Mbps trials
During the Telstra Next G technology briefing last week, journalists and media were shown a brief video about Telstra partners testing dual carrier HSPA technology, which uses two standard 3G channels to double the bandwidth available to a handset.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mobile networks now carry more data than voice
According to Ericsson, mobile data traffic, globally, surpassed voice in December 2009. It says this finding "is based on Ericsson measurements from live networks covering all regions of the world."
Source: iTWire
Internode slashes prices to attract SMBs
ISP, Internode, has slashed prices on its SHDSL product line in a move to penetrate the SMB space.
Source: ARN
Vividwireless owner proposes carrier license fee hike
Vividwireless' owner Wireless Broadband Australia (WBA) has suggested that ISPs bear the cost of determining whether online content should be refused classification in Australia via a hike in their carrier license fees.
Source: iTnews Australia
Ten wants 3D spectrum
The chief executive of Network Ten, Grant Blackley, has called on the Rudd government to set aside broadcast spectrum to allow free-to-air broadcasters to provide new services such as 3D television.
Source: The Australian
Tue, 23rd Mar 2010
ISPs a no-show on filter discussion paper
If the level of industry feedback on the Federal Government's measures to increase accountability and transparency for Refused Classification (RC) material is anything to go by, then it's safe to say ISPs have effectively chosen to filter out the exercise as a waste of time.
Source: Computerworld
Aussie 3G competition hots up in maturing market
Competition between vendors in the Australian 3G market is expected to intensify as the market continues to mature, with end-user data service quality in terms of throughput, coverage, latency and overall experience in sharp focus.
Source: iTWire
Don't review filter blacklist: Christian group
Family Voice Australia said in a submission on suggested transparency measures for the government's planned internet filter that regular reviews of material judged to be Refused Classification would be "overly bureaucratic".
Source: ZDNet Australia
Public weighs in on Internet filter plans
The Federal Government has released some of the public submissions received for its Internet filtering discussion paper.
Source: ARN
Conroy's filter plan unworkable: Google
Internet giant Google says Australia's mandatory ISP filter is both unworkable and unwanted by parents.
Source: Australian IT
Telstra pulls plug on future copper rollouts
Telstra has offered to continue digging pits and pipes in new housing estates despite its decision to stop rolling out copper phone lines ahead of a Federal Government mandate on optical fibre deployment.
Source: iTnews Australia
TPG quadruples profits, lifts guidance
TPG Telecom (ASX: TPM) has reported a 443 percent increase in after tax profit and 34 percent increase in EBITDA for the six months to 31 January 2010.
Source: iTWire
Filter: Telstra against block notifications
Telstra was the only major organisation to advise the Federal Government against notifying internet users when a web page has been blocked by its mandatory internet filter because it believed that such action could increase the accessibility of Refused Classification (RC) content.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Conroy releases internet filter submissions
Embattled comms minister Stephen Conroy has lifted the veil of secrecy on public submissions to the internet filtering project.
Source: APC Magazine
$50m Stokes WiMax network
Kerry Stokes added an element to his media set-up in Perth yesterday when the Seven Network's wireless broadband subsidiary Vividwireless launched its $50 million WiMax network.
Source: Australian IT
ACCC bulks up on staff ahead of NBN
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has ramped up resources and restructured its pivotal Communications unit, hiring up to ten new staff ahead of the challenges presented by the NBN and associated industry developments.
Source: iTnews Australia
EFA fundraising to fight Internet filtering and support R18+ games
Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA) has launched a fundraising campaign to raise money for future lobbying efforts.
Source: ARN
Mon, 22nd Mar 2010
Telstra calls halt to copper lines
Thousands of new houses around the country will take longer to come onto the market and cost up to $3000 more because Telstra has stopped installing copper phone lines.
Source: News Limited
Consultation raises 'issues', delays filter Bill
The Federal Government has delayed the introduction of legislation that will make it mandatory for internet service providers to block
Source: ZDNet Australia
Vividwireless unveils Perth WiMAX prices
Vividwireless has released the prices for wireless broadband services on its Perth WiMAX network, with its largest plan costing at $99 per month for 40 GB of data.
Source: iTnews Australia
Behind every good LTE there's an EPC
The press has been full of Telstra's upcoming LTE trials and the names of its chosen vendors. LTE is sexy because it promises us downloads of YouTube videos and lots of other good stuff at speeds undreamt of a few years ago, but it is only one part of the story, and not even the most important part.
Source: iTWire
Photos: Inside the AAPT Richmond data centre
AAPT has started talks with Citipower for a substation upgrade that would allow it to potentially expand its data centre in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond.
Source: iTnews Australia