Broadband News

Thu, 17th Sep 2009

Telstra confirms support for NBN

Telstra is still firmly behind the federal government's push for a national broadband network (NBN), the telco's chairwoman Catherine Livingstone says.

Source: The Age

ISPs refuse to join TERRiA

The revived TERRiA telco consortium’s recruitment plans may be stifled as several Internet service providers (ISPs) have refused to join the group.

Source: ARN

Greens attack Conroy on P2P filtering

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy had "shifted the goalposts" in the debate on the internet filtering of peer to peer traffic, Greens senator Scott Ludlam has claimed.

Source: iTWire

Blog: Special edition Telstra break-up podcast

In a massive "special edition" of our telco podcast Twisted Wire, we talk to virtually everyone in the telecommunications industry about the break-up of Telstra, including man of the moment, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Bligh gets cooking on NBN

The core ingredients of Queensland's bid to host the national broadband network (NBN) headquarters are secret but "very, very attractive", says Celebrity MasterChef and state premier Anna Bligh.

Source: Australian IT

France passes revised three-strikes rule

The French legislature has passed into law a revised version of the controversial so-called Hadopi 'three strikes' law targeting illegal online peer-to-peer file swappers.

Source: iTnews Australia

IIA releases draft eSecurity for ISPs

The Internet Industry Association (IIA) has released a draft eSecurity code to help internet service providers (ISPs) to improve security for their customers.

Source: Computerworld

Cable cuts cause panic in CBD

Telstra's overreaction to the severing of fibre-optic cables in the city today created panic among businesses and residents in the CBD who were told they would be without their phone, internet or mobile for up to a week.

Source: SMH

Wed, 16th Sep 2009

NBN should not have RF channel for cable TV, says Ericsson

iTWire understands that part of the capacity on the NBN will be set aside to bandwidth to carry cable TV services, as presently delivered over the Optus and Telstra HFC networks. This is not a good idea, according to Ericsson.

Source: iTWire

Quigley sets out timetable for NBN Co's first six months

NBN Co executive chairman Mike Quigley has spelt out an ambitious programme for the company's first six months that, if accomplished, would see many details of the NBN emerging. He has also canvassed the possibility of NBN Co building and launching its own satellite.

Source: iTWire

NBN could create a multi-million battery environmental headache

NBN Co CEO, Mike Quigley has foreshadowed that the customer equipment for the network will have battery backup to ensure telephone services operate in the event of power failure. These would need replacing every few years, and could end up in landfill.

Source: iTWire

Greens to question ISP-level filtering

Greens Communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam will today push for Senator Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, to abandon his ISP-level filtering plans.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra gets offer it can't refuse

Investors dumped Telstra shares yesterday as the federal government placed its regulatory sword of separation against the telco's throat and made real its threats to dismember the telecommunications industry giant.

Source: Australian IT

Sydney telco services cut after Telstra's cables are jackhammered

Thousands of Telstra customers in Sydney's CBD have lost fixed, wireless and mobile network services after a contractor ripped through cabling at 9:30pm last night (September 15).

Source: ARN

Quigley offers ISPs a rough sketch of NBN architecture

NBN Co has developed a rough architecture for the build-out of the National Broadband Network in an attempt to keep ISPs and carriers in the loop as to how their services will intersect with it.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra must move quickly on NBN

Telstra should move quickly to negotiate as favourable a strategic NBN position possible, analysts have warned after the government's bombshell announcement yesterday that it would separate the telco's retail and wholesale operations if the company didn't voluntarily separate first.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN process already taking shape

The Rudd government may be forcing the break-up of Telstra to help realise its national broadband network dream, but the first NBN rollout is already under way, bypassing Telstra.

Source: Australian IT

Small ISPs to benefit under new telco reforms

It may have been upstaged by news of Telstra's structural separation, but the Federal Government's flurry of telecommunication regulatory reforms will also improve conditions for small ISPs with network assets.

Source: ARN

Cables cut: CBD phone and internet services lost

Thousands of homes and businesses in Sydney's CBD have lost phone and internet connections after a contractor accidentally severed crucial cables.

Source: SMH

Samuel: A new era for telecommunications regulation

ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel has told iTnews the Federal Government's regulatory reform bill enters Australia into a "whole new paradigm" for telecommunications regulation, in which the competition watchdog will find it much easier to resolve access disputes.

Source: iTnews Australia

The NBN is dead - long live the new Telstra powered NBN?

Australia's federal government has come out with an offer that Australia's dominant and supposedly independent telco, Telstra, seemingly cannot refuse: structurally separate the company or the government will do it for you.

Source: iTWire

Expert: No recourse for Telstra in the High Court

With Senator Conroy providing Telstra few options to escape the prospect of separation in one form or another, Telstra's legal department would no doubt be spending the coming days assessing whether the carrier has a case to take to the High Court.

Source: iTnews Australia

Conroy rings in new Telstra era

The Rudd government has given Telstra an ultimatum to split its wholesale and retail businesses or it will be forced to sell key assets and locked out of new broadband and mobile phone opportunities, in the biggest shake-up of the communications sector in a generation.

Source: Australian IT

Tue, 15th Sep 2009

Regulatory reform: Telstra rivals praise Conroy's separation ploy

Telstra's rivals have cracked open the champagne after the Federal Government delivered sweeping changes to the regulation of Australian telecommunications, with market incumbent Telstra being asked to structurally separate or have a form of separation imposed upon it by law.

Source: iTnews Australia

Analysts weigh in on Telstra break-up

Separating Telstra is at the heart of proposed telecommunications industry reforms announced by the Federal Government today. But while the industry was quick to welcome the news, analysts say there is still a long way to go before the restructure can be finalised.

Source: ARN

Optus warns Telstra not to cheat

Optus said that it and the industry would be keeping a sharp eye on any separation plans Telstra put forward to the government.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Shareholder group slams Telstra split

The Australian Shareholders' Association (ASA) today said the Federal Government's planned reforms for Telstra and the telecommunications industry are a "giant kick in the teeth" for shareholders.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Telstra 'disappointed' with separation plans

Telstra chief executive officer, David Thodey, has responded to the Federal Government's proposed regulatory reform package in a media release to the Australian Stock Exchange.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra forced to separate

The Federal Government has delivered sweeping changes to the regulation of Australian telecommunications, with market incumbent Telstra being asked to structurally separate or have a form of separation imposed upon it by law.

Source: iTnews Australia

Reforms announced that could break up Telstra

The Rudd government has announced a package of reforms to telecommunications regulations that will pave the way for a break-up of Telstra.

Source: SMH