Broadband News

Fri, 18th Dec 2009

Progress made in Telstra separation discussions

Negotiations between the Telstra, NBNco and the Government around structural separation and the telco's potential involvement in the National Broadband Network (NBN) have progressed, the parties claim.

Source: ARN

Naked DSL driving VoIP service offerings

The rise of Naked DSL among ISPs has led to an increase in the number of organisations offering voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services, according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

Source: Computerworld

Telstra downgrades revenue forecast

Telstra warned today first-half sales revenue would be down on the year, and it cut its full-year guidance, pointing to a number of factors, including strong competition in its home market.

Source: Australian IT

Thu, 17th Dec 2009

Commentary: Why we don't need a filter

I swear, if I see one more commentator buying-in to Senator Conroy's spin about child pornography on the Internet I'm going to pop an artery.

Source: iTnews Australia

Broadband use at home on the rise

The number of households with broadband Internet is steadily increasing, according to the latest statistics released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Source: ARN

Telstra first to test HSPA+ at 42Mbps

Telstra says it has become the first operator in the world to test the HSPA+ dual carrier 42Mbps mobile broadband technology outside of vendor laboratories.

Source: iTWire

First Labor politician breaks filter ranks

New South Wales upper house member Penny Sharpe has become the first Labor figure to publicly criticise Communications Minister Stephen Conroy's announced plans for internet filtering legislation.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Testing of Conroy's internet filter flawed: expert

A senior ISP engineer says the government's internet filter was never tested at high speed, nor did it meet the government's own performance benchmark.

Source: APC Magazine

Web filter will compromise NBN

Internet service providers believe Labor's filter to block web nasties could neuter its national broadband network.

Source: Australian IT

Wed, 16th Dec 2009

Abbott drawn into filter debate

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has today fended off questions regarding his stance on the government's legislation for mandatory internet service provider filtering.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Filter pilot did not test high-speed internet

Enex TestLab did not test ISP-level filtering products on internet connection speeds greater than 8 Mbps, raising questions of possible degradation at ADSL2+ and fibre speeds.

Source: iTnews Australia

ISP-level filter trial vendor happy with results

The vendor that provided filtering products to six of the nine ISPs participating in the Federal Government's controversial ISP-level content filtering trial says the results show the technology works.

Source: Computerworld

Australia Internet filtering a test case for global clean-feed

Implementation of the Federal Government's ISP-level filtering could spark worldwide adoption of Internet content filtering, according to IDC head telecommunications analyst, David Cannon.

Source: ARN

Google slams 'heavy-handed' filter

Google Australia posted a statement today on its official blog calling the government's ISP filter "heavy handed" and outlining the search giant's concerns about the scope of filtered content.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Lundy: My filter views 'well known'

Labor Senator Kate Lundy has backed away from directly commenting on the government's internet filtering policy, saying her views on the subject are "well known".

Source: ZDNet Australia

Australia's net filter makes world headlines

Senator Stephen Conroy is fast becoming an international name - with the world's technology and political community astounded as much by his plans for an internet filter as the build of the $43 billion national broadband network.

Source: iTnews Australia

Greens, EFA critical of ISP filtering plans

The chorus of voices critiquing the Federal Government’s mandatory ISP-level filtering plans has grown larger with the Greens and Electronic Frontiers Australia joining the likes of the Federal Opposition and Google in opposing the filter.

Source: Computerworld

Net censorship move a smokescreen: expert

One of Australia's top communications experts says the Government's internet censorship trials were designed to succeed from the outset, presented no new information and are now being used by the Government to further its political agenda.

Source: SMH

Senator Conroy, thou knowest not the scorn to be brought down upon thine head

Today, Australia's supposed technology leader announced his Luddite status to the world at large. I ask you Sir; if it is 'one man, one vote,' why is MY vote worth so much less than Senator Fielding's?

Source: iTWire

Internet filter gives mother some peace of mind

Sue Mistos has used an internet filter to protect her four children from the horrors on the web and would welcome any moves to introduce more widespread filtering.

Source: Australian IT

Tue, 15th Dec 2009

Smith calls for independent audit of Internet content filter trial results

The new shadow Communications Minister, Tony Smith, has called for an independent audit of the Federal Government's controversial ISP-level content filtering trial results released today.

Source: Computerworld

Internode: ISP-level filter goals still not clear

The objectives of the Federal Government's mandatory ISP-level filter plan announced today are still unclear, according to one of the companies likely to be directly affected.

Source: Computerworld

Telstra to double Endeavour cable capacity

Telstra's Endeavour submarine cable is ready for its first upgrade, shortly after its first birthday.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra, Optus, Primus all back Conroy's filtering plans

Three of Australia's largest ISPs, Telstra, Optus and Primus - all participants in the Government's filtering trial - have come out in support of the measures announced today to implement mandatory ISP side filtering of Internet content.

Source: iTWire

Welcome to National Censorship Day

Conroy's blind adherence to his net filtering plan will abandon Net neutrality ideals and push ISPs down a slippery slope of unprecedented responsibility for a callously politicised Australian Internet.

Source: ZDNet Australia

ISPs, pollies & activists speak out on internet filter

Electronic Frontiers Australia has expressed concern over the Federal Government's decision to introduce mandatory ISP-level filtering, as several ISPs indicated support contingent on further "consultation".

Source: iTnews Australia

Mandatory ISP filtering to go ahead

The Federal Government plans to implement mandatory ISP filtering for "refused classification" websites, it was announced today.

Source: Whirlpool

Conroy releases Internet filter trial report

The Minister for Broadband, Senator Stephen Conroy, has released the results of the controversial Internet filter trial.

Source: ARN

Cisco CTO Bloch hung out to dry on NBN comments

Cisco Systems' corporate chieftains have disowned comments made by its Australian chief technology officer Kevin Bloch critical of the technical direction being taken in the $43 billion national broadband network rollout.

Source: iTWire

NBN failings exposed on public data, costs

Labor's $43 billion national broadband network will struggle to deliver on the government's promise, industry experts have warned.

Source: Australian IT