Broadband News

Wed, 10th Jun 2009

IIA cautions against ISP e-security burdens

Measures outlined by Senator Conroy to kick-start development of an e-security code of practice for ISPs are "on the table" but may not make the final cut.

Source: iTnews Australia

Tue, 09th Jun 2009

Canberra acts fast on bush net grant

The federal government has moved swiftly to close loopholes in its bush broadband subsidy scheme that have allowed a satellite company to claim grants for services that do not comply with the program.

Source: Australian IT

Thodey mending fences with ACCC

Telstra's conciliatory tack under new chief executive David Thodey has gathered momentum with the telco's voluntary withdrawal from a looming legal battle with the competition regulator.

Source: Australian IT

Thodey could make $6.8m per year

Telstra's new chief executive David Thodey will receive a fixed annual remuneration of $2 million or $1 million less than his predecessor, compensated by a significant boost to incentive payments that could see him take home up to $6.8 million a year.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Good year for iiNet

Australia's third-biggest internet provider iiNet today said it expected "strong growth" for the 2009 financial year, with expected full-year net profit of $25 million.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Forget FTTP, the NBN is about the apps

The laboratory director of one of Australia's leading ICT research and development organisations has claimed the national broadband network (NBN) is all about the applications, not the fibre.

Source: ARN

Basslink to go live by 30 June

The long-awaited Basslink fibre cable, which will end Telstra's monopoly over the Bass Strait between Tasmania and the mainland, will start carrying customer traffic by 30 June, the cable's operator said today.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Mon, 08th Jun 2009

Telstra split-up key: Optus

The Government's $43 billion NBN will be economically unviable unless Telstra is structurally separated, Optus says.

Source: Australian IT

Striving for mediocrity

If the latest NBN scenario planning is right, David Thodey will have to accept that even an optimal outcome for both Telstra and the government will not deliver dramatic returns for Telstra's one million shareholders.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Future FTTH network should be buried, and shouldn't be PON

With the benefit of 40 years in telecoms engineering, management and consulting Ross Kelso brings an informed and independent perspective to the debate around Australia's National Broadband Networks and his submission to the Government's review of the regulatory environment has some interesting ideas.

Source: iTWire

Sat, 06th Jun 2009

Did cyber security concerns decide the NBN?

I'm not one for conspiracy theories but I just can't get the idea out of my head that the Federal Government's decision to go it alone with the NBN was because of cyber security concerns. No, not because of China and Russia directly, but because it will help our own national security.

Source: ARN

Telstra split-up key to NBN viability, says Optus

The federal Government's $43billion national broadband network will be economically unviable unless Telstra is structurally separated, arch-rival Optus says.

Source: The Australian

Fri, 05th Jun 2009

ACCC to extend Telstra rules

The competition watchdog late Thursday said it intended to extend the declarations that enable Telstra's competitors to provide fixed voice and broadband services over the telco's copper network for a further five years.

Source: ZDNet Australia

ACCC draws copper line

The ACCC has moved to address uncertainty over regulation of Telstra's copper network ahead of construction of the NBN.

Source: Australian IT

National auditor to begin NBN tender review

The national auditor will soon begin a full review of the federal government's abandoned NBN tender process.

Source: Australian IT

Full blown audit into NBN tender

The Auditor General has cancelled the Audit Office's preliminary inquiry into the failed NBN tender, opting instead for a full-blown performance audit.

Source: iTnews Australia

Broadband Dept hires for NBN team

The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy is on the hunt for five key executives to join its National Broadband Network team.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Thu, 04th Jun 2009

Structural separation of Telstra slips off the agenda

Neither the ruling ALP nor the Liberal Party will openly advocate the structural separation of Telstra, despite repeated calls from competitors for the Government to break up Australia's incumbent carrier.

Source: iTnews Australia

Libs won't push for Telstra break-up

Shadow Communications Minister Nick Minchin this week said the opposition would not support calls from Telstra's rivals for the telco to be broken up into chunks.

Source: ZDNet Australia

ACCC wants to keep Telstra's lines open for 5 years

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced its intention to extend a key declaration that allows Telstra's competitors to use its copper network for a further five years.

Source: ARN

Government collects regulatory reform papers

The Government received more than 90 submissions yesterday for its regulatory reform discussion paper.

Source: Australian IT

Wed, 03rd Jun 2009

Amcom cautious of NBN role for fibre assets

Amcom Telecom has held "very preliminary discussions" with Senator Conroy's department around the NBN but is seeking further clarification before committing to vend in some of its dark fibre assets.

Source: iTnews Australia

Internet filter: $44.5m and no goal in sight

The Rudd Government's internet censorship policy will cost about $90,000 per blocked web address to implement and the Government has admitted it has not developed any criteria to determine whether trials of the scheme are a success.

Source: SMH

Internode raises 3G download caps

Internode has boosted its 3G wireless broadband quotas in a move that will make the plans more competitive with other offers in the market.

Source: iTnews Australia

AAPT wants Optus reined in too

AAPT chief executive Paul Broad has called on the government to boost the competition regulator's power to rein in both Telstra and Optus from moves he claimed were stifling competition in the fixed line and broadband markets.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Government to show off NBN in public demo

The benefits to the Australian community of the proposed National Broadband Network (NBN) have been touted many times since the federal government announcement of its NBN plans, and an event tomorrow will endeavour to show just us how services might be accessed through the high speed broadband network once it's up and running.

Source: iTWire

Break up Telstra and force it out of Foxtel, says Optus

Optus has released its submission to the government's review of telecommunications regulation, calling for Telstra to be broken up into separate network-owning and retail service providing entities and for it to be forced to divest its 50 percent stake in Foxtel.

Source: iTWire

Tue, 02nd Jun 2009

Filter plan angers Young Labor

Unwired has become the ninth ISP to join the Government's internet filtering trials as Young Labor rebels against the plans.

Source: Australian IT

Aussie anti-piracy battle moves into schools

The Australian film and television industry will take its fight against piracy into schools courtesy of a newly-formed body, the Intellectual Property Awareness Foundation (IPAF).

Source: iTnews Australia

A broadband Australia tapping a market of 5 billion Internet users

Outgoing ICANN CEO, Paul Twomey, paints a picture of enormous opportunities for Australia as the NBN increases broadband speeds and as the global population of Internet users more than doubles in the space of two years to five billion, most of these in Asia.

Source: iTWire