Broadband News

Mon, 16th Nov 2009

iiNet taps on Channel 9, Ten battle

iiNet has drawn on Nine Network's 2004 court battle with Channel Ten over clips broadcast on The Panel as part of its bid to fend a Hollywood-backed copyright lawsuit in the NSW Federal Court.

Source: Australian IT

Tassie Education asks burning NBN question

Tasmania's Department of Education wants help from the IT industry to "broaden its thinking" on what it could use the national broadband network for.

Source: iTnews Australia

Tasmania asks for help on NBN

The Tasmanian Government has put out a call to the information and communications technology industry for suggestions on how to best use the National Broadband Network and Digital Education Revolution for the students of the state.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Minchin: NBNco a "gravy train" for Rudd's mates

Shadow broadband Minister, Senator Nick Minchin, has lashed out at the Government's recent NBNco appointments, claiming the organisation is a "dumping ground" for Labor supporters and ex-party staffers.

Source: ARN

Sun, 15th Nov 2009

Optus chief urges Senate to pass telco reforms

Optus chief Paul O'Sullivan has urged Federal Parliament to pass without delay telecommunications reform legislation scheduled to be debated in the Senate over the next two weeks, saying the changes will unleash a new wave of competition in the sector.

Source: iTWire

Sat, 14th Nov 2009

TPG: Don't worry, we're just like Optus

A spokesperson for Pipe Networks' potential new parent, SP Telemedia, has pointed to Optus as a prime example of how it can successfully operate a wholesale and retail telco.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Top posts on the AFACT v iiNet case - Week 4

In the closing stages of the iiNet vs AFACT case at the Federal Court of Australia, online debate about the pros and cons of each side's arguments continues unabated.

Source: Computerworld

Fri, 13th Nov 2009

Day 19: Federal Court reserves another day for copyright case

The Justice presiding over the copyright case between ISP iiNet and the film industry has again extended the number of days reserved to hear the case.

Source: iTnews Australia

TPG and PIPE will work well together: Teoh

SP Telemedia (SPT) chairman David Teoh has brushed aside concerns TPG and PIPE Networks cultures will clash saying the two have a lot in common.

Source: Computerworld

Day 19: Film studio "prism" distorts iiNet activities

The film industry's reading of case law and of ISP iiNet's internal documents was distorted by the "prism of concern" the studios had for their copyrights, the Federal Court heard today.

Source: iTnews Australia

Internode may be alone for some time in IPv6 trial

Internode is going it alone in offering a trial of IPv6 services in native mode on its national ADSL network as other large ISPs report they won't be following suit in the near future. Internode recently announced an IPv6 trial across the company's national network and provides concurrent IPv6 and IPv4 PPP access for any router or computer that supports it.

Source: Computerworld

Day 19: iiNet tries to show disbalance in studio demands

ISP iiNet will argue the "reasonable steps" that the film industry proposes the ISP take are disproportionate to the number of infringements recorded against a sample of 20 user accounts.

Source: iTnews Australia

Mike Kaiser to head NBN Co external affairs

NBN Co has appointed Mike Kaiser - former chief of staff to NSW premier Morris Iemma and presently chief of staff to Queensland premier, Anna Bligh - as principal - government relations and external affairs and Claire Rawlins as chief information officer.

Source: iTWire

iiNet stands firm on Telco Act defence

iiNet did not comply with requests to cancel the accounts of alleged copyright infringers, but it did not need to, iiNet's legal counsel argued today as the ISP started to close off its legal battle in the Federal Court.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Pipe customers apprehensive over Soul/TPG acquisition

Several of Pipe Networks' customers have expressed apprehension about the company's imminent sale to telecom player, Soul/TPG.

Source: ARN

Thu, 12th Nov 2009

Pipe Networks sell-out an absolute travesty

The proposed buyout of Pipe Networks by SP Telemedia is an absolute travesty for Australia's telecommunications industry and will be overwhelmingly negative for customers, Pipe Networks staff, shareholders and the industry as a whole.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Nextgen fibre cut near Sydney

Nextgen Networks is suffering a cut fibre on one of their paths between Sydney and Melbourne.

Source: iTnews Australia

Analyst: Too early to tell SP Telemedia and PIPE Networks deal impact

The impact of the tie up between SP Telemedia and PIPE Networks announced to the ASX yesterday, will not be known for some months, according to Layer 10 founder, Paul Brooks.

Source: Computerworld

Smooth Slattery to soothe ISP concerns on PIPE sale

PIPE Networks chief executive Bevan Slattery will have an interesting night ahead at the company's Sydney Christmas party this evening.

Source: iTnews Australia

Analyst: PIPE bid is the right price

Australia's pre-eminent telco analyst believes SP Telemedia's $373 million bid to acquire PIPE Networks is at the right price for PIPE and is just within reach of SP Telemedia's borrowing capacity.

Source: iTnews Australia

Wed, 11th Nov 2009

SP Telemedia to pay $373m in cash for Pipe Networks

SP Telemedia has made a $373m cash offer to buy Pipe Networks which operates an extensive network of optical fibre cables and data centres in Australian capital cities and which owns the newly-opened PPC-1 submarine fibre cable from Sydney to Guam.

Source: iTWire

SingTel: No decision yet on Optus sale

Singapore Telecommunications Ltd chief executive Chua Sock Koong says the company has yet to decide whether or not to sell a stake in its Australian subsidiary Optus.

Source: ZDNet Australia

AFACT steps up attacks on iiNet’s credibility

The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) has stepped up efforts to destroy the credibility of iiNet representatives in its closing statements.

Source: ARN

Day 18: Studios seek to deprive iiNet barristers of "beauty sleep"

The film industry lead barrister has accused iiNet's legal team of trying to win time for "beauty sleep" by requesting the case be adjourned until Friday mid-morning.

Source: iTnews Australia

TPG-Soul, Pipe issue trading halts

In similarly worded announcements citing continuous disclosure rules, data carriers Pipe Networks and SP Telemedia (TPG-Soul) have again requested the ASX halt trades in their securities.

Source: iTnews Australia

Day 18: Studios call for Federal Court to disregard iiNet evidence

The film industry has accused ISP iiNet of making contradictory statements with regards to evidence of alleged copyright infringement found on its network by AFACT investigators - which could ultimately damage iiNet's credibility in the copyright case, the Federal Court heard this morning.

Source: iTnews Australia

Tue, 10th Nov 2009

Day 17: Film industry attacks iiNet witness selection

ISP iiNet's chief Michael Malone has witnessed first-hand an attempt by barristers representing the film industry to assassinate his character in the Federal Court, with the film industry's lead barrister labelling Malone's evidence as "incredible", "evasive" and unreliable.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra split bill 'one vote short'

Australia's minor political parties appear likely to support the Federal Government's plan to split Telstra, with key supporters of the legislation telling iTnews that Communications Minister Senator Conroy is just 'one vote short' of forming a majority on the bill.

Source: iTnews Australia

Day 17: iiNet clutching at legal "splinters", studios claim

Barristers representing the film industry claimed today in the Federal Court that case law referenced in iiNet's defence could potentially work against the ISP.

Source: iTnews Australia

AFACT vs iiNet: AFACT alleges iiNet argument

iiNet is asking the court to find the company's own terms and conditions to be unenforceable and unreasonable, AFACT has today alleged in court.

Source: Computerworld