Broadband News

Tue, 25th Aug 2009

Dutch ISP heralds end of net neutrality

A Dutch ISP intends to severely restrict users' bandwidth when accessing certain web sites.

Source: PC Authority

Pipe in turf war over oval

Residents are unhappy over the state of their oval after Pipe took it over for a year for construction work.

Source: Australian IT

Mon, 24th Aug 2009

Telstra local loop access prices tipped to rise

The ACCC has proposed a three-year "adjustment path" to cushion the impact of increases in the cost of ISPs accessing unconditioned local loop services on the Telstra fixed network.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telco complaints grow 1.8 percent in three months

Telcos have drawn the Communications Minister's ire for failing to deal with 'small' complaints before they are escalated to the telecommunications industry ombudsman (TIO).

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN Co joins Communications Alliance

NBN Company has joined Communications Alliance, the peak body for the Australian communications industry.

Source: iTWire

How to Get a Good Broadband Deal, Part 7: Avoid the 24 month lock-in

Pre-paid wireless broadband is in vogue right now, and offers an attractive way to get a good deal without a 24-month contract. But how much are you really saving?

Source: PC Authority

Telstra should plan for separation

If Telstra is serious about engaging with the Federal Government over the National Broadband Network it should immediately start the work needed to break itself in two.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Photos: Optus D3 satellite blasted into orbit

Optus' D3 satellite successfully entered orbit over the weekend after lift-off from the Arianespace facility in French Guiana.

Source: iTnews Australia

ACCC calls for industry comment on fixed line services pricing

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued draft pricing principles and indicative prices for six fixed line wholesale services, which allow Telstra competitors to provide fixed voice and broadband services over Telstra's copper network.

Source: Computerworld

Pipe Networks PPC-1 fibre sees first light

Pipe Networks initiated testing of its Sydney to Guam optic fibre link with a successful first light transmission.

Source: ARN

Australian Optus D3 satellite launched on Ariane 5

The latest Optus satellite was put into orbit this weekend by an Ariane 5 ECA heavy-lift launcher.

Source: iTWire

Sat, 22nd Aug 2009

The ISP Q&A Series: Telstra

The ISP Q&A Series is a look at the opportunities Australian ISPs have for resellers.

Source: ARN

Smooth sailing for NBN Works program

A month after its inception, the Communications Alliance's National Broadband Network Works program (NBN Works) is running on schedule.

Source: ARN

Fri, 21st Aug 2009

TransACT rolls out 1Gbps broadband

As the National Broaband Network develops with the intention of provising 100Mbps fibre-to-the-premises, ACT ISP TransACT has announced the successful delivery of 1Gbps broadband to residential dwellings and businesses.

Source: Computerworld

AAPT plans 'ball-breaker' product launch

PowerTel is gearing up to be a critical asset to AAPT as the Telecom New Zealand subsidiary shifts its reliance on fixed line to data and readies to launch what chief executive Paul Broad today said would be a "ball-breaker" consumer product.

Source: ZDNet Australia

ACCAN: Telco consent practices are flawed

There is no love for the telecommunications industry, with a report by the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) showing major potholes in the sector's customer consent practices generating wide consumer dissatisfaction.

Source: ARN

AAPT dials up internet growth

AAPT has seen revenues from dial-up internet services more than double in the last financial year, growing from $19 to $39 million.

Source: iTnews Australia

Heavyweights join Tas NBN Co board

Former Aurora Energy chief, Daniel Norton, and two more directors have been appointed to the remaining spots on the Tasmanian National Broadband Network Company (TNBNCo).

Source: ZDNet Australia

TNBNco holds first meeting

The company formed to rollout and run the national broadband network in Tasmania has held its first board meeting.

Source: ARN

Fears national broadband network will create overhead eyesore

The national broadband network could become a $43 billion eyesore as overhead cables are strung outside millions of Australian homes.

Source: Herald Sun

Internet filtering meetings: Senior public servants keen on speed

Senior public servants have focused on speed in technical discussions with industry representatives on the Federal Government's controversial ISP-level Internet filtering scheme.

Source: ARN

Thu, 20th Aug 2009

Australia's broadband penetration stagnates: Report

Growth in the number of Australian internet users enjoying connections of more than 2 megabits per second has flatlined, according to a global networking report.

Source: iTWire

First NBN bill gets a second second reading

The Government has re-introduced its first piece of NBN legislation into the House of Representatives after first introducing it into the Senate, where debate on all NBN legislation has now been blocked by the Coalition and other members pending release by the government of information on the first failed NBN project.

Source: iTWire

Conroy offers $54m to fund regional and rural broadband projects

Communications minister, senator Stephen Conroy, has called for proposals to receive funding under the $60 million Digital Regions Initiative set up to fund projects that will deliver high-quality digital applications for education, health and emergency services over the National Broadband Network.

Source: iTWire

Photos: Inside the Equinix Sydney2 data centre

Equinix has taken the wraps off its $32 million Sydney2 facility in Sydney's south, boasting a more efficient design and double the standard rack density of Sydney1.

Source: iTnews Australia

Wed, 19th Aug 2009

Aerial cables could halve the cost of NBN: Ericsson

Attaching NBN fibre to power poles instead of putting it in underground ducts would reduce the cost of the rollout by one third to a half, according to an Ericsson guru on NBN matters.

Source: iTWire

iiNet has new weapon to bolster case

Perth-based internet service provider iiNet has put two new lines of legal defence before the Federal Court in its bid to stop a group of entertainment companies suing it for copyright infringement.

Source: Australian IT

Submarine urged for cheaper web

The chief executive of one of Asia's biggest internet providers has said Australian broadband users would be dramatically better off if the Government built an undersea cable to the United States.

Source: The Age

Forecast: NBN, school PCs underpin strong growth

Government spending will cushion the Australian IT market from the worst effects of the global financial crisis, while the NBN roll-out will give the sector a medium and long term shot in the arm, a report from analysts Business Monitor International says.

Source: iTWire

Forensics experts examine iiNet and Telstra facilities

ISP iiNet has revealed the identity of its key forensics expert witness in the film industry copyright case in which it is embroiled.

Source: iTnews Australia