Broadband News

Tue, 11th Aug 2020

NBN Co losses shrink as revenue climbs

The builder of the national broadband network, NBN Co has made a some improvements across its financial metrics for the financial year ending June 30.

Source: ARN

Mon, 10th Aug 2020

Telstra to upgrade Tasmania’s emergency radio network

Telstra is to carry out a massive overhaul of Tasmania’s public radio network for its emergency services over the next three years.

Source: ARN

Telco contractor accused of ripping off up to 2,000 technicians

BSA Ltd, a company whose technicians carry out work on behalf of Foxtel, Optus and NBN Co, is accused of sham contracting in a class action potentially involving more than 2,000 workers.

Source: ABC News

Thu, 06th Aug 2020

ACCC to expand digital battle to online marketplaces and private messaging services

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will be expanding its digital platforms probe beyond the currently targeted Facebook and Google to look at digital marketplaces and private messaging services as well.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Wed, 05th Aug 2020

Telstra sells Vic data centre complex for $416M

Telstra has sold its data centre complex in Clayton, Victoria, for $416.7 million to Centuria Industrial REIT.

Source: ARN

Tue, 04th Aug 2020

Prices going up for Aussie Broadband NBN 100 customers

Aussie Broadband has increased its NBN 100 plan prices, and and existing customers will soon need to pay more.

Source: WhistleOut

NBN Co shows distribution of Sky Muster premises within 25km of Adelaide GPO

NBN Co has provided for the first time the distribution of premises within 25km of the Adelaide GPO that are mapped to receive a Sky Muster satellite service.

Source: iTnews Australia

Govt calls on telco providers for rural voice services trials

​The federal government is calling on telecommunications carriage service providers to get involved in its Alternative Voice Services Trials program

Source: ARN

Australia bucks trend as global broadband speeds plunge with COVID-19 lockdown

Global broadband speeds have dropped significantly during COVID-19 lockdown periods, according to a new report which reveals that Australia bucked the global trend with a small rise in measured speed of +5.38% during its lockdown period.

Source: iTWire

Mon, 03rd Aug 2020

Telstra aiming 5G coverage at 75% of population by June 2021

Telstra CEO Andy Penn said on Monday the telco intends to have 75% of the population covered by its 5G footprint by June 2021.

Source: ZDNet Australia

What is the truth about 5G? Four Corners spoke to leading experts and anti-5G activists to find out

The global rollout of 5G has spawned wild conspiracy theories, and the coronavirus pandemic was the perfect environment for them to spread. Four Corners has investigated these claims and examined the science around whether the technology is a threat to our health.

Source: ABC News

Sun, 02nd Aug 2020

Telstra DNS falls over after denial of service attack

Customers with Telstra's default DNS settings found themselves seemingly unable to access the internet on Sunday morning, as the telco was facing a denial of service attack.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Fri, 31st Jul 2020

Department says 'vast majority' of FttN lines to get 25Mbps speeds in December

With the 18-month period of co-existence -- where fibre-to-the-node (FttN) infrastructure also needs to support legacy services over copper, such as ADSL -- coming to an end across Australia, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications has said it expects the "vasty majority" of FttN connections to hit the minimum 25Mbps speed on the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Source: ZDNet Australia

Thu, 30th Jul 2020

TPG wins again in $20 prepayment stoush with ACCC

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has lost a full federal court appeal over the validity of a $20 “prepayment” charged by TPG Internet.

Source: iTnews Australia

Court dismisses watchdog’s appeal over TPG ‘prepayment’ case

​The Australian competition watchdog has lost its appeal against TPG Internet in relation to the marketing and sale of some prepaid internet, home telephone and mobile plans.

Source: ARN

Wed, 29th Jul 2020

Telstra positions over-provisioned NBN downlink as a speed boost 'freebie'

NBN Co will finish over-provisioning downlinks on most fixed line services by the end of this month, although at least one retailer is already marketing the change to customers as a “freebie” speed boost.

Source: iTnews Australia

Bravo ACCC: Telstra begins flogging NBN overprovisioning as 15% speed boost

Anyone with a passing knowledge of how networking layers work, combined with a tiny amount of experience on how capitalism and marketing operates, could see that NBN overprovisioning would lead to a hell of a lot of spin from Australia's telcos.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Optus shows Sydney its vision of future of shopping

Telco Singtel Optus has demonstrated its vision of what the future of shopping would look like, with an augmented reality technology showcase being demonstrated at Westfield Eastgardens in Sydney's south-east.

Source: iTWire

Telco Call centres hit hard by COVID 19, impacts phone, Internet consumers

The first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic saw Australian telco call centres affected by global lockdowns leading to consumers being unable to contact their provider to report their phone or Internet complaints, according to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO).

Source: iTWire

How Google harvests and uses your data, and what you can do about it

Google is in the news again for its data-collecting practices after being sued by the ACCC. Here's what you should know.

Source: SMH

Tue, 28th Jul 2020

Editor's Pick: Best Satellite NBN Plans July 2020

Looking for the best value Satellite NBN plan? We share our recommendations for great Satellite plans each month.

Source: WhistleOut

Southern Cross Next cable project gets green light for Hermosa Beach landing

​The Southern Cross Cable Network’s Next cable system is set to touch down at Hermosa Beach, California, after the United States’ Federal Communications Commission approved a landing license for the network.

Source: ARN

Mon, 27th Jul 2020

Govt eyes telco-consumer ‘choice and fairness’ rule changes

Rules looking at the level of choice and fairness consumers have when dealing with telecommunication companies are up for consideration with the release of a new set of recommendations.

Source: ARN

Fri, 24th Jul 2020

NBN extends CVC holiday until September 19, claiming AU$80 million in relief so far

The National Broadband Network (NBN) has once again extended its 40% capacity boost at no charge for retailers, this time pushing it out to September 19.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN Co extends additional data capacity offer yet again

NBN Co has once again extended its offer to provide internet providers with additional data capacity at no extra cost until the new end date of 19 September.

Source: ARN

Four telcos warned for not joining TIO scheme

Four telecommunications companies have been formally warned for not joining a mandatory scheme for small business and consumer dispute resolutions.

Source: ARN

Thu, 23rd Jul 2020

NBN residential user consumes 34TB in a month

Aussie Broadband has revealed one of its residential NBN users managed to download 34TB of data in a month, setting a new high mark when it comes to published usage.

Source: iTnews Australia

Aussie Broadband hopes NBN Co will revisit uplink shrinkage on high-tier plans

Aussie Broadband is hoping the recombination of NBN Co’s residential and business arms will prompt the company to review the highly asymmetrical nature of its higher-tier plans.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra joins CSIRO lab 'that invented wi-fi' to test wireless setups in a six-bedroom home

Telstra has spent six months with “the CSIRO team linked to the invention of wi-fi” testing out different wi-fi setups in a sprawling six bedroom house in the ‘burbs, with a small robot that moved from room to room to measure signal strength.

Source: iTnews Australia

Wed, 22nd Jul 2020

Fletcher establishes Australian Broadband Advisory Council

An Australian Broadband Advisory Council has been created to advise the Minister for Communications on the economic and social benefits of ubiquitous connectivity.

Source: ZDNet Australia