Broadband News

Mon, 23rd Nov 2009

Telstra reform may be delayed

The legislative dismemberment of Telstra could be delayed indefinitely unless the Senate can speed through debates on the party-dividing emissions trading scheme that comes before parliament this week.

Source: Australian IT

Sat, 21st Nov 2009

3 set to utilise Vodafone network

3 mobile customers look set to get expanded "on network" 2G coverage, thanks to the merger of the two telcos announced earlier this year.

Source: Whirlpool

TransACT to kick off FTTP gateway in the ACT

Transact will unveil a new Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) gateway in Canberra on Tuesday in what it is describing as a 'first of its kind in Australia'.

Source: Computerworld

iiNet first on national broadband network

The Perth company iiNet is the first internet service provider to break cover and say it will move its customers on to the $43 billion national broadband network.

Source: SMH

Fri, 20th Nov 2009

Optus upgrades HFC too

Optus has finally put an end to speculation on whether it will follow Telstra's upgrade of its hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) network, announcing that it has already started work on its cable in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Telstra CEO: iPhone tethering for Next G (finally) coming soon!

Better late than never, Telstra boss David Thodey says the carrier is working with Apple to enable Next G tethering on the iPhone.

Source: APC Magazine

Telstra builds $280m NSW education fibre network

Telstra will build a $280 million fibre network connecting all NSW schools and TAFE institutes with fast broadband services over the next four years.

Source: iTnews Australia

As Telstra sits on Next G, Optus starts 4G trials

Optus will trial Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile technology from next year. Let's hope it's better than their current 3G network.

Source: APC Magazine

Thu, 19th Nov 2009

Day 20: iiNet can't vet AFACT copyright allegations

ISP iiNet would have to break the law to verify allegations of copyright infringement raised in notices from the film industry, the Federal Court heard today.

Source: iTnews Australia

Comms Alliance defines first NBN wholesale services

Communications Alliance has released a paper proposing a definition for wholesale ethernet services to be provided by the National Broadband Network and other broadband infrastructures.

Source: iTWire

Day 20: iiNet refuses to play police for film industry

ISP iiNet should not have to accept the film industry's "outsourcing" of rights management or deal with the fallout from passing on infringement notices, the Federal Court heard today.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra confirm 30Mbit/s national network plan - but don't mention the NBN

Telstra has completed the 100Mbit upgrade to their Melbourne cable network and are next planning to get 30Mbit speeds into the rest of the country; but first they'll need to dispel those endless NBN comparisons

Source: PC Authority

Day 20: AFACT snoops "arguably" committed crimes in iiNet probe

ISP iiNet was justified in sending the film industry’s copyright notices to Western Australian Police because it was “strongly arguable” the notices were evidence of copyright crimes committed by investigators, the Federal Court heard today.

Source: iTnews Australia

AFACT v iiNet: ISP draws on TV copyright battle

Internet service provider (ISP) iiNet continued to draw on a 2002 copyright case between Channel 9 and Channel 10 over segments broadcast on The Panel as part of its case against the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT).

Source: Computerworld

Telstra boosts Melbourne cable to 100Mbps

Telstra has announced an upgrade to its HFC broadband network within Melbourne as well as its Velocity fibre-to-the-home network and will begin trailing a new TVset top box.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Telstra takes Melbourne cable network to 100mbps

Telstra has completed an upgrade of its hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) cable network to the DOCSIS 3.0 specification, to allow download speeds of 100mbps and uploads of 2mbps.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN Co's Kaiser to get $450,000 a year

The recently appointed NBN Co government relations officer, Mike Kaiser, will receive a salary of $450,000 per year according to a document tabled in parliament yesterday.

Source: Computerworld

Wed, 18th Nov 2009

Telstra to confirm set-top box, cable upgrade

Telstra has told the press it will tomorrow announce an upgrade to its cable broadband network and unveil a "new high definition set-top box".

Source: iTnews Australia

Optus first off the blocks with LTE trial

Optus has stolen a march on Telstra - the long time Australian leader in cellular telephony - with the announcement of plans for the first carrier trials of the next iteration of cellular technology in Australia, Long Term Evolution (LTE) which promises greatly increased broadband data bandwidths (with additional spectrum).

Source: iTWire

Exetel offer radical new approach on download limits

ISP Exetel has changed some of its subscriber's plans from a fixed off-peak download limit to a limit based on an average that users can check every day.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra separation the "deal of the decade" for shareholders: IDC

The separation of Telstra presents a once in a decade opportunity for its shareholders according to IDC telecommunications analyst David Cannon.

Source: Computerworld

Tue, 17th Nov 2009

New powers for spooks snooping on the internet

The Australian Greens have issued a dissenting report on amendments to the Telecommunications Interception Act, objecting to increased powers given to authorities to intercept internet messages for the purpose of protecting critical computer network infrastructure.

Source: iTWire

Greens object to underbaked network interception bill

Greens Senator Scott Ludlam has pulled the handbrake on the Federal Government's Telecommunications Interception Bill, demanding more clarity for network operators and greater privacy provisions for citizens.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN could drive up housing costs

Concerns have been raised that the cost of connecting new houses to the National Broadband Network will deter developers and drive first home buyers out of the market.

Source: ABC News

Rivals fearful of Pipe takeover

With one of the largest DSLAM footprints nationally, a ballooning share price and plans for an extensive network of domestic and international backhaul infrastructure, SP Telemedia is emerging as one of the heavyweights in the broadband sector.

Source: Australian IT

Thodey: NBN speeds a hard sell

Telstra chief executive David Thodey today said that realism was needed on how many people would take up high speed services offered by the National Broadband Network (NBN) given that only 5 per cent of the telco's home customers had taken up its fast ADSL2+ service.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Minchin guns for NBN 'Labor mate' in Senate

The Coalition has raised the stakes in its campaign against the appointment of Queensland Premier Anna Bligh’s chief of staff Mike Kaiser to the NBN Company, filing a Senate motion to clarify whether any Ministers assisted the hiring process.

Source: iTWire

'Truth in bandwidth' box unveiled

An Australian-made "bandwidth meter'' in a box will be used by the federal government to ensure remote and regional internet users are not being ripped off.

Source: Australian IT

Mon, 16th Nov 2009

NBN will drive mobile broadband sector

The national broadband network will create new opportunities for mobile data, but the main game for the mobile carriers remains access to future spectrum allocations, Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association chief executive Chris Althaus says.

Source: iTWire

25 per cent think Telstra will run NBN

More than a quarter of people surveyed believe Telstra will assume control of the $43 billion National Broadband Network (NBN).

Source: ZDNet Australia