Broadband News

Mon, 05th Oct 2009

Australia-Japan Cable completes refinancing

Australia Japan Cable (AJC) - the 12,700km submarine link between Australia and Japan, says it has successfully completed its refinancing, assuring its viability into the future.

Source: iTWire

Fri, 02nd Oct 2009

Revealed: iiNet's film copyright defence

Next Tuesday, Perth ISP iiNet will throw the spotlight on the film industry, accusing it of being the primary copyright infringer in a Federal Court case to be heard in Sydney.

Source: iTnews Australia

The NBN - Flying blind?

The Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia, Scott Ludlam has questioned whether the Federal Government's $43 billion National Broadband Network (NBN) plan is "flying blind".

Source: Computerworld

Blog: All about separation, or all about copper?

Labor's fibre-to-the-premises NBN was meant to be an act of freedom, a breaking-free from 100 years of copper infrastructure legacy and the start of something new. So why in the world are we still discussing Telstra's copper network?

Source: ZDNet Australia

Amcom on a shopping spree?

Amcom Telecommunications has put itself into a trading halt on the Australian Stock Exchange pending an announcement to be made on a proposed transaction.

Source: ZDNet Australia

AARNet peers with Akamai

Australia's academic research network (AARNet) has announced that it has unmetered access to all traffic hosted on the Akamai content delivery network for its clients in the university and research sectors.

Source: iTnews Australia

Quigley and Conroy at odds over NBN pricing

National Broadband Network Company CEO Mike Quigley has thrown cold water on a suggestion made by Senator Stephen Conroy that NBN Co should subsidise internet users in regional Australia.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN Co to buy telco assets

The National Broadband Network Company is talking to telcos about buying infrastructure to give the government's $43 billion project a leg up.

Source: Australian IT

Thu, 01st Oct 2009

Filtering works, Enex trial shows

Results of a federal government trial show that live ISP-level content filtering does not have a negative impact on network performance and can work in a real-time environment.

Source: Australian IT

Finance battered over Ergas' NBN cost-benefit analysis

A Department of Finance and Deregulation representative has questioned the quality of a "cost-benefit analysis" submitted to the NBN Senate Select Committee by economist Henry Ergas.

Source: iTnews Australia

ANZ bank invests in free Wi-Fi access

ANZ bank has partnered with CafeScreen to offer free Wi-Fi access at 100 Australian cafes, train stations and ferries until the end of January to advertise its new online banking site.

Source: iTnews Australia

Lobby group: Burying NBN cables may increase reliability and decrease health risks

The chairman of a national lobby group has told a Senate Select Committee on the National Broadband Network (NBN) laying cables underground may increase reliability and decrease health risks.

Source: Computerworld

Blog: Has Conroy got the numbers for reforms?

Getting Senator Stephen Conroy's regulatory reform for the telecommunications industry through the parliament would need support from the Senate. On Twisted Wire we ring around to see which parties are supportive and which are against.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Broadband will connect 20% of households worldwide this year, Gartner projects

Research firm Gartner is projecting that 20% of households worldwide will be connected to the Internet through a broadband connection by year-end.

Source: ARN

ACCC warns mobile operators against overstating wireless data rates

The ACCC has told mobile operators that they must not advertise data rates on wireless broadband services in excess of those generally achievable or likely to be achieved by consumers using the network.

Source: iTWire

British ISPs slam plans to cut off file sharers

The British Government's proposed plans to cut off illegal downloaders from the internet have been heavily criticised by internet service providers (ISPs).

Source: iTnews Australia

NBNco's Quigley to face Senate Committee today

The man at the helm of the company set up to rollout the Federal Government's ambitious National Broadband Network (NBN), Mike Quigley, is due to face the Senate Select Committee on the National Broadband Network.

Source: Computerworld

Wed, 30th Sep 2009

AFACT retreat reveals ignorance: iiNet

A group of entertainment companies conducting a landmark copyright claim against iiNet has withdrawn part of its case against the ISP.

Source: Australian IT

Green light for Kordia's new trans-Tasman cable

The board of New Zealand company, Kordia Solutions, has given the green light - subject to customer signups - to the company's plans to build a new trans-Tasman submarine cable, dubbed OptiKor.

Source: iTWire

Film studios drop more of iiNet case

The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft's (AFACT) legal action over iiNet's alleged breach of copyright took a further watering down today as the film studios removed the "primary" copyright infringement claim.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Gartner: Early NBN to add complications for enterprise customers

The early years of the Federal Government's National Broadband Network may spell chaos for enterprise network buyers unaware of the commercial models and capabilities, a new report claims.

Source: ARN

Pirate Party reaches critical mass

A pressure group that hoped to set Australia's copyright law on its head has reached a milestone 500 members it needs to register as a political party.

Source: iTnews Australia

Foxtel tackles telcos on movies

Foxtel chief Kim Williams is challenging Australia's major telecommunications companies -- including Foxtel's major shareholder Telstra -- to drop internet download limits for subscribers downloading movies.

Source: Australian IT

Australian spaces may be ranked by NBN places

The public spaces digitised and connected to the proposed National Broadband Network NBN will rise in social prominence above those that remain analogue, according to a Melbourne University academic.

Source: Computerworld

Tue, 29th Sep 2009

Telstra between a rock and the ACCC?

The proposed regulatory reforms ahead of the roll-out of the National Broadband Network rely on a finely balanced carrot and stick approach. But will Telstra cooperate with the government's ultimatum?

Source: ZDNet Australia

Behind the scenes: Sydney CBD cable cut

Telstra has shown off its ability to quickly repair a fibre optic and copper cable cut in Sydney's central business district that was damaged by an Energy Australia contractor less that two weeks ago, leaving thousands without services.

Source: iTnews Australia

Australia to hit 69% household broadband penetration by 2013:Gartner

Australia is expected to add about 1.7 million household broadband connections between 2008 and 2013, lifting its penetration rate from about 55 per cent in 2008 to 69 per cent, according to new research from Gartner.

Source: Computerworld

Telstra seeks to ease investor fears

Telstra chief David Thodey has reassured shareholders that their interests are his main priority as separation discussions move into full gear with the federal government.

Source: Australian IT

Unwired: Good old fashioned broadband access will drive 4G

Unwired claims the need for traditional Internet access will provide the driving force behind uptake of its forthcoming 4G services.

Source: ARN

Unwired reveals key suppliers & plans for national WiMAX rollout

Unwired has named the remaining key suppliers for the Vividwireless mobile WiMax network rollout in Perth and says networks in the major capitals will follow in short order.

Source: iTWire