Broadband News

Wed, 23rd Sep 2020

The NBN is getting an upgrade, but does that mean your internet's about to get faster?

Millions of Australians are set to get access to high-speed internet as the NBN is upgraded over the next three years. Here's what you need to know about whether that includes you.

Source: ABC News

Details of NBN Co's $3bn FTTN upgrade are still undecided

A $3 billion plan to upgrade half of the NBN fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) network to full fibre still needs to be put to industry consultation, where finer details of the offer will be determined.

Source: iTnews Australia

'Monumental policy backflip': NBN backdown slammed by former PM Rudd

Millions of Australians are set to get access to ultra-fast broadband under a $3.5 billion upgrade to the NBN, expected to be finished by 2023, in a backdown by the Government from its original plan for the network's rollout.

Source: ABC News

NBN Co to spend $3bn upgrading half of FTTN network to full fibre

The federal government will offer last-mile fibre upgrades to half of NBN Co’s fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) footprint under a $3 billion plan announced today.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN build to bring major jobs boost to economy

The building of the National Broadband Network will create a total of 25,000 jobs across the economy in two years, including almost 10,000 in regional Australia, according to newly released economic impact analysis.

Source: iTWire

Tue, 22nd Sep 2020

New customers can save $10 per month on Telstra NBN

Starting today new Telstra customers get $120 off selected NBN plans over the course of 12 months.

Source: WhistleOut

Govt ties business fibre upgrades to NBN Co's financial achievements

NBN Co’s ability to offer free fibre to more businesses is enabled by the company’s financial achievements, the government says, raising questions about what kind of financial performance is required before residential upgrades are offered.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN throws AU$700 million at hooking up 700,000 businesses with fibre

The company responsible for the National Broadband Network (NBN) announced on Tuesday it was spending AU$700 million to create 240 "business fibre zones" that will cover 700,000 business premises.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN Co to spend $700m on 240 'business fibre zones' across Australia

NBN Co is set to spend as much as $700 million creating 240 “business fibre zones” across Australia where every business in the area can get a fibre connection at “CBD zone wholesale pricing”.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN Co announcement: Labor says Libs now recognise that fibre is better

Labor shadow communications minister Michelle Rowland says the announcement made by NBN Co on Tuesday, about spending up to $700 million on creating 240 Business Fibre Zones, including a presence in 85 regional centres, shows that the Liberal party does not have a clue about either technology or economics.

Source: iTWire

Thu, 17th Sep 2020

Aussie Broadband gives customers a chance to collectively buy a quarter of AU$40m IPO

Victorian-based ISP Aussie Broadband is giving any customers it had at September 7 a chance to purchase between 2,000 and 10,000 shares as part of its initial public offering (IPO).

Source: ZDNet Australia

Netflix, YouTube to lift Aussie bitrate restrictions once more

Bitrate restrictions re-introduced by Netflix and YouTube in Australia could be lifted again permanently from next week, with at least one retail service provider believing they are “unlikely” to be reinstated.

Source: iTnews Australia

Boost Mobile's 20 years of success in telco disruption

It has been 20 years since Boost Mobile launched, becoming a massive brand in the US and a great success in Australia too, supporting a range of sports but also by offering and even pioneering genuinely competitive offers on Australia's best network.

Source: iTWire

Tangerine is doing practically unlimited home wireless broadband if you're sick of the NBN

Just in case you want to watch 25 days straight of YouTube every month.

Source: WhistleOut

Optus switches on 100th mobile black spot tower

Optus has switched on its 100th mobile black spot tower, with a newly activated tower going live at the south east Queensland town of Boreen Point, as it works towards its goal of delivering a total of 47 mobile black spot sites across Queensland.

Source: iTWire

Tue, 15th Sep 2020

NAB strikes enterprise telco deal with TPG

NAB has struck an enterprise agreement with TPG Telecom that will see it use a mix of TPG and NBN fixed-line services as well as Vodafone mobile services.

Source: iTnews Australia

Uniti Wireless bumps up OptiComm acquisition offer

OptiComm has flagged its approval of a renewed acquisition offer from Uniti Group valuing the target company at roughly $610 million.

Source: ARN

Telstra pays out more to shareholders than its net profit

In a somewhat surprising display of generosity, Telstra has paid out more as dividends to its shareholders compared to its net profit for the year 2019-20.

Source: iTWire

Fri, 11th Sep 2020

Optus announces new NBN standalone 50/20 and 100/20 plans

Optus has announced new standalone NBN home internet plans that are split into two categories: 50/20Mbps and 100/50Mbps plans.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Thu, 10th Sep 2020

Huawei Australia official urges Turnbull to stop embarrassing himself over 5G

Huawei Australia's chief corporate affairs officer Jeremy Mitchell has taken another swing at former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, after the latter claimed during an interview on ABC's Radio National that the operational core and radio access parts of the network in 5G could not be split.

Source: iTWire

Watchdog sets March 2021 cut-off for NBN Co, telco cooperation

​The competition watchdog has issued a final determination granting authorisation for NBN Co and a group of telco providers to work together until 31 March next year to bolster capacity amid COVID-19 disruptions.

Source: ARN

Optus will now offer 100Mbps and uncapped 5G home internet products

Optus is changing the way it prices its ‘5G’ home internet services, including the creation of a $75 a month product with roughly the same speed profile as a fixed-line 100Mbps NBN service.

Source: iTnews Australia

Optus unveils uncapped speed 5G Home internet plan for AU$90 a month

For those approximately 420,000 households lucky enough to be in the Optus 5G footprint, the telco has unveiled a pair of unlimited data plans on Thursday.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Aussie Broadband’s Phillip Britt wins ACOMM top award

Aussie Broadband managing director Phillip Britt has taken out the Australian communications industry’s most prestigious accolade, with the award of the title of Communications Ambassador 2020 at this year’s ACOMM awards.

Source: iTWire

Optus appeals to customer ‘usage habits’ with launch of new 5G Internet plans

Optus is launching two new 5G Internet plans targeting its customers with the options of selecting a 5G high speed and streamed entertainment package it claims will best meet their usage habits.

Source: iTWire

Tue, 08th Sep 2020

Good Deal: Get 100GB mobile plan for $45 per month on Vodafone

Vodafone is currently offering a $15 per month discount on its 100GB mobile plan.

Source: WhistleOut

ACCC to examine competition between Apple and Google app stores

Australia's competition watchdog on Tuesday said it would look into the use of and sharing of data by apps and the extent of competition between Apple's and Google's app stores.

Source: iTnews Australia

Fri, 04th Sep 2020

NBN Co extends additional capacity offer for third time

NBN Co has announced the third extension to its offer to provide internet retailers with additional data capacity at no extra cost until the new end date of 30 November.

Source: ARN

NBN reverses course to extend CVC boost until end of November

The National Broadband Network (NBN) has gone back on its claims that its extension until the end of September to its 40% capacity boost at no charge for retailers would be the last.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Internet giants to face hefty fines under Austrian hate speech law

Austria plans to oblige large internet platforms like Facebook and Google to delete illegal content within days and impose fines of up to 10 million euros (A$16.3 million) in case of non-compliance, the government said on Thursday.

Source: iTnews Australia