Broadband News
Fri, 19th Jun 2009
Tasmanians may not be happy with Optus wireless expansion
Optus' wireless broadband ambitions may be hampered by Tasmania's local councils and residents.
Source: ARN
ispOne out of the regional NBN loop
Wholesaler ispOne has called on the Federal Government to involve regional ISPs more in NBN discussions rather than "playing political games" to force Telstra to open its network.
Source: iTnews Australia
Thu, 18th Jun 2009
Survey: Elderly, poor narrow broadband service gap
Some groups that have lagged in signing up for high-speed Internet service, like the elderly, the poor and rural residents, have started to gain on those who have had a head start, according to a new survey.
Source: SMH
Let Telstra get on with what it does best
The Luddites are in charge of telecommunications policy. These Luddites are not trade unionists fighting to protect their jobs. On the contrary, since the late 1980s Telstra has shed some 40,000 full-time jobs without fuss, let alone strikes, even though the telco was nearly 100 per cent unionised.
Source: The Age
Industry rejects fear on cables
Industry figures and other experts have brushed aside fears that the national broadband network will lead to unsightly cables festooning suburban streets.
Source: The Age
NBN likely to provide over 55,000 ICT jobs
A new survey of salaries for ICT professionals shows that there has been a significant slowdown in pay increases over the past year as would be expected in the current economic climate. However, if you're lucky enough to have been working in a government ICT job, pay conditions have never been better, and the NBN is going to up the ante to the tune of more than 55.000 jobs, according to ICT professional body the Australian Computer Society.
Source: iTWire
Blog: The economics of the NBN
In this edition of Twisted Wire, Senator Nick Minchin, Maha Krishnapillai and Ian Birks discuss with Phil Dobbie the economic viability of the new National Broadband Network.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Tasmania's NBN shrouded in mystery
Tasmanians have complained they're being left in the dark over the state's leg of the National Broadband Network (NBN), despite the Federal and Tasmanian Governments insisting construction could start within weeks.
Source: ZDNet Australia
ACCC refuse to regulate access from Telstra's 'legacy' ISDN & DDAS services
The ACCC has brushed aside claims from Optus, Primus and other carriers that there are no technically comparable substitutes to ISDN and the Digital Data Access Services in regional and rural areas and has removed these from the list of 'declared' services, giving Telstra the freedom to raise prices, or to discontinue supply if it so chooses.
Source: iTWire
Optus: $9.99 to use iPhone as modem
Optus has outlined the additional cost its iPhone customers face if they want to use their device as a modem.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Wed, 17th Jun 2009
Foxtel makes pitch for fourth network
Foxtel has joined the growing chorus of media companies seeking a review of Australia's telco regulation ahead of the NBN rollout.
Source: Australian IT
Calls and net access cost less
The average price of phone calls and internet access is falling, but sectors of the telecommunications industry are still bedevilled by lack of competition, according to annual report on telco pricing.
Source: The Age
IDC: Wireless demand at risk without backhaul update
Mobile carriers need to get their collective act together with backhaul equipment if they are to keep up with increasing wireless demands, according to IDC.
Source: ARN
Carrier "power" changes signalled to prevent NBN delays
The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy has refused to rule out legislating access to Telstra's conduits and ducts to facilitate underground deployment of fibre for the national broadband network.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tue, 16th Jun 2009
Search begins for NBN chiefs
The government could announce the board of executives to head its $43 billion national broadband network as early as next month after international headhunter Egon Zehnder was anointed to lead the search.
Source: Australian IT
Optus back on the ASX would be a good thing
SingTel has been reported as contemplating reducing its 100 percent stake in Optus to around 20-30 percent and relisting the company on the ASX. That could be a good thing for the Australian telecoms market.
Source: iTWire
Optus HFC sale could be NBN victory
If the sale of the SingTel Optus HFC network to the National Broadband Network Company goes ahead, it could mark the first significant strategic victory by the company since it lost the cable wars a decade ago.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Most NBN cables could hang overhead
Unsightly overhead cables will be rolled out across the country to provide the National Broadband Network, the Federal Opposition has warned.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Mon, 15th Jun 2009
Fast NBN sparks fresh web fears
The NBN has prompted some top web publishers to call for new federal intervention to ensure unrestricted access to their content.
Source: Australian IT
Internode expands ADSL2+ network in face of NBN
Internode plans to almost double the number of its ADSL2+ ports with a mix of new DSLAMs and expansion at exchanges it already services.
Source: iTWire
iiNet case to hinge on 20 accounts
The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) case against Australian ISP iiNet will now hinge on evidence contained within 20 anonymous customer accounts, Justice Cowdroy ruled in the Federal Court today.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Tasmania prepares for NBN with $14.7m
Following news that the long-awaited Basslink network is set to run on June 30, the Tasmanian Government has committed a $12.7 million equity contribution from the state's budget to Aurora Energy's optic fibre system as part of the state's National Broadband Network (NBN) initiative.
Source: ARN
Too much risk in aerial NBN cables: Kelso
Removalists and garbage trucks become enemies of broadband uptime.
Source: iTnews Australia
iiNet wins another round in copyright case
Perth-based ISP iiNet has scored a minor victory in its legal battle with film and TV organisations that are pursuing it for alleged breaches of copyright by not preventing its customers illegally accessing copyright material via its services.
Source: iTWire
Sat, 13th Jun 2009
Media partners leap to Telstra defence
The AFL, NRL and V8 Supercars argue that telecommunications regulation is "sufficient".
Source: iTnews Australia
Aussie Gov't regulatory reform paper branded a sham
While most responses to the Government's discussion paper on regulatory reform have taken it as a bona fide document and attempted to respond to the issues canvassed, telecommunications consultant and commentator, Kevin Morgan, has dismissed it as merely reflecting the views of Telstra's competitors.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 12th Jun 2009
Internet filter ISPs reveal clean-filter technologies
Six of the nine Internet service providers participating in the Government's Content filter trial are using a Marshal8e6 solution.
Source: ARN
Tasmania hurls $12.7m at NBN projects
The Tasmanian Government has allocated $14.7 million to NBN initiatives in its state budget, including establishment of an advisory group to find more opportunities for investment.
Source: iTnews Australia
Massive response to NBN regulatory reform paper
The 127 submissions made to the Federal Government's telecommunications reform paper may be the tip of the iceberg.
Source: iTnews Australia
Revealed: Telstra's regulatory reforms wishlist
Telstra wants an independent telecommunications adjudicator to be set up to resolve equivalence and service-level issues with access seekers.
Source: iTnews Australia