Broadband News
Thu, 22nd Oct 2009
Draft laws to split Telstra pass lower house
Draft laws paving the way for the break-up of Telstra have passed the lower house of Federal Parliament, with Labor using its numbers to defeat a coalition move to delay its reform agenda.
Source: ZDNet Australia
ACMA restructures for NBN, digital broadcasting and empowered consumers
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is to revamp its internal structure to give a sharper focus on issues thrown up by the National Broadband Network and the transition to digital TV and radio; and "to give appropriate new weighting to the role of...individuals as citizens, as consumers and as audiences for content."
Source: iTWire
Telstra should have been split earlier: Joyce
Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce will toe the coalition line on delaying government legislation that aims to force a structural break-up of Telstra.
Source: Australian IT
'Truss clueless': Conroy
Another day, another insult. That's life in the capital city for Australia's Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy.
Source: iTWire
Optus cuts wireless broadband excess usage charges
Optus has more than halved excess usage costs for a new range of 3G wireless broadband plans from 15c to six cents per MB.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN should be free, says economist
Why the National Broadband Network should be free, and other stories from another day of the Senate Select Committee on the Rudd Government's telco infrastructure baby.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Prime Minister avoids questions on Internet filtering
Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has largely avoided the debate on Internet filtering during a live Web chat, despite several direct questions and comments by participants.
Source: ARN
Value for Telstra in network sale
The proposed dismemberment of Telstra has become the issue du jour, and understandably, given the telecommunications colossus has 1.4 million direct shareholders and many millions more through superannuation funds and other investment vehicles.
Source: SMH
NBN 'won't be derailed'
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said opposition attempts to block his reforms, including a plan to force Telstra to separate, would be a blow to consumers but would not derail the government's $43 billion broadband network.
Source: Australian IT
Wed, 21st Oct 2009
Turnbull lacks leadership on Telstra debate: Conroy
Opposition plans to delay the passage of the telco regulatory reform package would be disastrous for the Australian economy and for consumers, and Malcolm Turnbull should assert his leadership on the issue, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said.
Source: iTWire
Rage against the Coalition: Industry lashes out as Opposition fights against Telstra separation
The Coalition's attempt to delay the Government's proposed legislation to separate Telstra has been denounced by the industry.
Source: ARN
Upgrade halt puts Telstra in for NBN role
Telstra has put on ice an extension to the upgrade of a high-speed cable network that was touted as an alternative to the $43 billion national broadband network.
Source: The Age
Smartphone downloads can cost a bundle
Consumers signing up for smart phones are finding their bills can blow out alarmingly.
Source: SMH
Exetel adds its two cents on aaNet price rises
Exetel chief John Linton has entered the fray on ISP aaNet's ADSL1 price rises announced Monday, launching a stinging attack against the company.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tassie NBN stage 2 announced
The Tasmanian and Federal governments have jointly announced the locations for stage two of the NBN rollout.
Source: Whirlpool
Photos: Telstra unveils Queensland headquarters
Telstra CEO David Thodey and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh officially opened Telstra's new multi-million dollar Queensland headquarters yesterday.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra plan splits Coalition
The Coalition faces a fresh split over new laws to force the break-up of Telstra, with Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce signalling he would vote in favour of it but the opposition saying it opposed the reforms.
Source: Australian IT
Tue, 20th Oct 2009
Family First fields concerns over Telstra split
Family First leader Steve Fielding has expressed reservations about legislation aimed at forcing Telstra to structurally or functionally separate its business.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra pleads its case with independents
Executives from Telstra met with Senators Nick Xenophon and Steven Fielding yesterday in an attempt to convince the two independents to swing their crucial votes to the Coalition on a bill aimed at forcing the structural or functional separation of Telstra.
Source: iTnews Australia
Don't hold your breath for the NBN implementation study
It is scheduled to be handed over to the Government in February next year, but by then the National Broadband Network implementation study's findings will have already become a moot point.
Source: Computerworld
Coalition fights for unified Telstra
The Coalition has issued its reproach for the forced separation of Telstra and remains "fundamentally opposed" to the Federal Government's proposed telecommunications reform.
Source: ARN
Conroy will 'shortly' release filter report
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy late yesterday said he had received the report from Enex Testlabs into trials of ISP-based internet filtering technology, and would release it "shortly" as part of a public consultation process.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Secret treaty to enforce worldwide copyright
A secret treaty might bind the world's countries to act as copyright cops, but no one other than a few lawyers for big corporations is allowed to read the draft.
Source: PC Authority
Analysts: Future of separated Telstra is rosy
Leading telecommunications analysts have predicted a rosy future for Telstra (ASX: TLS), despite the telco claiming the Federal Government's attempts to force it to separate would hurt the business.
Source: Computerworld
Telstra signals end for copper
Telstra has finished upgrading its 1856th ADSL2+ enabled exchange, signalling the end of future investment in its ageing copper-based internet technology.
Source: Australian IT
Telcos dispute 'flawed' pricing
Telstra's competitors have urged the consumer watchdog to take the $43 billion national broadband network and the imminent break-up of Telstra into account when deciding how much they should be charged for access to Telstra's network.
Source: SMH
Mon, 19th Oct 2009
'Adult' games may be captured by internet filter
The Rudd Government is investigating how its proposed internet filtering system might apply to the online games market, particularly in relation to complications that result from the lack of an R18+ ratings classification in Australia.
Source: iTWire
AFACT and iiNet: halfway through the trial what have we learned?
The trial that is being hailed by many as the ultimate test of just who is responsible for what occurs on the internet has adjourned until November. Set down for four weeks of hearing before Justice Cowdroy in the Federal Court, this break was always part of the Court’s schedule.
Source: iTWire
Internet Industry Association content filters updated
The Australian Internet Industry Association (IIA) is updating its Family Friendly Internet Filter list with new products after testing by Enex Testlab.
Source: Computerworld
Conroy commits to public consultation on filtering
Government will release the Enex Testlab report on internet filtering "in full" at the same time it issues a discussion paper on policy options, and has committed to a public consultation on the controversial issue before it proceeds further.
Source: iTWire