Broadband News

Wed, 13th Jan 2010

AARNet and the lords of the dark fibre

How a narrow band of enthusiasts in universities and the CSIRO brought the internet to Australia.

Source: Australian IT

ACMA blacklist costs $400,000 to run

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) spent just over $400,000 in 2008-9 to investigate complaints against internet content and take action on prohibited content hosted overseas.

Source: iTnews Australia

IDC, ACMA: Wireless broadband won't hurt NBN

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and IDC have rejected any notion of accelerated wireless broadband adoption hurting the National Broadband Network.

Source: ARN

Broadband billions left hanging as wireless bites back

Australians are flocking to 3G mobiles and wireless broadband devices, bringing into question some of the assumptions behind the Rudd Government's $43 billion national broadband network.

Source: SMH

Nation goes wild for wireless

Use of wireless broadband services mushroomed during the past year to reach more than two million subscribers.

Source: Australian IT

Tue, 12th Jan 2010

Broadband Dept tight with secret data

The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy granted full access to just one internal document under freedom of information laws in 2008-9, a report has revealed.

Source: iTnews Australia

Customer server puts iiNet on spam blacklist

Perth ISP iiNet had some of its email servers placed on one of the world's largest spam blacklists for the second time in a week after a gaffe by a "junior" staff member.

Source: iTnews Australia

Fisherman accused of breaching internet cable zone

A NSW fisherman will face court again in February after he allegedly breached a submarine cable protection zone near Sydney and trawled across the undersea fibre links.

Source: iTnews Australia

AFACT v iiNet: Decision timing still uncertain

The timing of the verdict in the much-publicised civil court case between the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) and ISP, iiNet, is still unclear some six weeks after closing arguments were given.

Source: Computerworld

Mon, 11th Jan 2010

Conroy sells NBN at CES

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has talked up the Federal Government's ICT projects and its proposed separation of Telstra in a speech at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Source: ARN

Committee demands NBN implementation study

If Communications Minister Stephen Conroy wants the Senate Select Committee's inquiry into the National Broadband Network to end, he will need to hand it the lead advisor's implementation study, committee chair and Liberal Senator Mary Jo Fisher said last week.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Sat, 09th Jan 2010

10 million speeds tests

Today, 8th January 2010, we passed the 10 million speed tests milestone.

Source: Oz Broadband Speed Test

Fri, 08th Jan 2010

AFACT v iiNet: Judge tipped to examine France, Britain copyright law

The judge overseeing a trial between iiNet and AFACT will likely consider rulings by foreign courts - many favouring antipiracy campaigners - in its decision to uphold or quash allegations of copyright infringement by the ISP's subscribers.

Source: Computerworld

National filter protest: 6 March

A national day of protests against the Federal Government's internet filtering project, organised by the group Block the Filter, will now take place on 6 March 2010 instead of late January.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Anti-Net filtering group aims to bring protestors closer together

Giving Internet filtering protestors an avenue for collaboration and promoting education to end-users are top priorities for Electronics Frontiers Australia’s latest recruit.

Source: ARN

Thu, 07th Jan 2010

National net filter protest pushed back

A planned national protest against the Federal Government's internet censorship regime was pushed back to March but separate Australia Day protests were on track.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telcos called on to help with spectrum sell off

The federal government has called for responses on how best to cash-in on analogue spectrum following the digital television switchover in 2013.

Source: Computerworld

Telcos eye 4G networks in sale

Telstra, Optus and Vodafone Hutchison have begun formulating responses to the federal government's proposed auction of broadcast spectrum.

Source: Australian IT

Wed, 06th Jan 2010

Internet-enabled TVs: we don't want 'em

CES 2010: Aussies might complain at the lack of Net-enabled TVs here, but people who have them can't be bothered using them.

Source: APC Magazine

Mobile broadband hits mainstream NZ

Previously the cost of mobile broadband in New Zealand was prohibitive, but now, thanks to the arrival of prepay, it has become more affordable and controllable, and so after months of deliberation, for the Christmas break, I have finally hooked myself up.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Conroy prepares for wireless spectrum sale

Television broadcasters may be required to change their channel frequencies and upgrade network kit to make way for next generation mobile technologies including long-term evolution (LTE), a Federal Government report has revealed.

Source: iTnews Australia

ISP filter trial company stands by test results

The company responsible for the controversial ISP filtering trial will welcome any proposed audit and claims to have proven beyond doubt that a filter is feasible.

Source: ARN

Tue, 05th Jan 2010

Govt seeks NBN investment advisor

The Department of Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) is on the hunt for investment advisors to assist it in assessing commercial agreements that the NBN Co may make.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Huawei slams critics

China's Huawei has once again been forced to dismiss spying allegations and stake its claim in Australia's $43 billion NBN bonanza.

Source: Australian IT

NBNco gets more directors

The organisation created to oversee the rollout of a National Broadband Network has brought on two more directors.

Source: ARN

Mon, 04th Jan 2010

Stephenconroy.com.au is back for good

Try hitting the (supposedly) disabled site stephenconroy.com.au. Its back and auDA will have a hard time killing it off this time.

Source: iTWire

McKinsey's NBN bloc demands scrutiny

McKinsey's growing influence on the National Broadband Network Company is a concerning fact that should continue to be closely scrutinised.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Huawei backs NBN model

A leading global player in providing high-speed internet systems has backed the Rudd government's plan for an open-access national broadband network.

Source: Australian IT

Fri, 01st Jan 2010

2009 Broadband Survey now running

The Australian Broadband Survey 2009 is here, and we are once again asking consumers to have their say about the state of broadband in Australia.

Source: Whirlpool

Thu, 31st Dec 2009

Internet filter: just geeks beating their chests?

Ask the man-in-the-street about Conroy's filter proposal and they'll probably tell you it's a good idea. Geeks may hold the theoretical high-ground, but right now the electorate doesn't care.

Source: iTWire