Broadband News
Thu, 09th Apr 2020
Vodafone chief flags co-investment option to upgrade NBN FTTN users to full fibre
The merged Vodafone-TPG entity is hoping to have a hand in bringing full fibre connections to more Australians, potentially via a co-investment arrangement with NBN Co.
Source: iTnews Australia
Wed, 08th Apr 2020
Vodafone launches $10 mobile plan for customers in financial hardship
For just $10 per month, for the next 3 months, existing Vodafone customers can apply for the Stay Connected Cap Plan which includes 3GB of mobile data, and unlimited standard calls and SMS in Australia.
Source: WhistleOut
Tue, 07th Apr 2020
Mobile industry group slams rumours linking 5G and COVID-19
The head of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association, a lobby group for the mobile industry, has described claims being spread that there is a connection between 5G and COVID-19 as "false" and "the worst kind of fake-news misinformation".
Source: iTWire
NBN congestion, outages during COVID-19 at low levels, says Rue
Congestion, and outages across the national broadband network have remained at low levels, with no material increase compared to previous months due to increased usage across the network during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to NBN Co chief executive Stephen Rue.
Source: iTWire
Mon, 06th Apr 2020
COVID-19: GPs get free telehealth services from NBNCo
Australian doctors in general practice clinics will get free delivery of enhanced telehealth services with upgrades to the system delivered by NBN Co in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: iTWire
Daytime NBN speeds are as good or bad as usual: ACCC
Although the amount of data going through NBN's network has increased by 70% during the day and is still sitting below the pre-coronavirus 9 pm peak, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has said speeds on the network have remained where they were before the pandemic.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Zoom concedes custom encryption is substandard as Citizen Lab pokes holes in it
Citizen Lab, a research group within the University of Toronto, has been able to drive a proverbial truck through the encryption used by video conferencing app Zoom.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Sun, 05th Apr 2020
Zoom meetings weakly encrypted and get keys from China
Technical analysis of how the very popular video conferencing app encrypts meeting data has found significant weaknesses and dubious practices, leading researchers to warn governments and others who need confidentiality to be protected not to use the software.
Source: iTnews Australia
'No certainty' to Optus telco tower sale
Optus parent company Singtel has said there is no certainty of a deal to sell its telecom towers in Australia following a media report that the telco operator was preparing to put the assets, estimated at $2 billion, on the block.
Source: ARN
Mobile phone tracking should be used to stop virus
Mobile technology, used with appropriate judicial oversight, should be deployed as an efficient and cost-effective tool in the fight against COVID-19.
Source: SMH
Mobile phone location data used to track Australians' movements during coronavirus crisis
Vodafone has provided mobile phone location data to the federal and NSW governments to monitor whether Australians are following social distancing restrictions.
Source: SMH
Sat, 04th Apr 2020
Google location data shows Australia grinding to halt
Google has published a set of reports using the location data it collects from users via its services and software such as Maps to provide insights into how COVID-19 movement restrictions worldwide are affecting communities' mobility.
Source: iTnews Australia
Bandwidth usage increases by 25%, says Aussie Broadband
Evening peak broadband usage has increased by 25%, with millions of Australians now isolated at home because of COVID-19, according to telcommunications and broadband services provider Aussie Broadband.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 03rd Apr 2020
Vodafone and Optus offer healthcare workers free mobile service
In an initiative homogeneous to that for volunteer firefighters earlier this year, both Vodafone and Optus will pay registered health care professionals postpaid bills for the next two and three months, respectively.
Source: WhistleOut
Thu, 02nd Apr 2020
Optus offers free three-month postpaid mobile services to health workers
Australian telco Singtel Optus has said it will waive postpaid mobile access charges for health workers for the next three months, in recognition of their efforts to prevent spread of the coronavirus in the community.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co records highest ever peak throughput of 13.8Tbps
NBN Co has revealed that data flowing through its access network peaked at 13.8Tbps last Friday at 9.15pm AEDT, about 25 percent above levels a month ago.
Source: iTnews Australia
ACCC stands by rebate hike for missed NBN appointments
The ACCC has indicated it intends to push on with its efforts to raise the rebate paid by NBN Co for missed appointments from its current rate of $25 to $75, as it presses pause on two NBN-related inquiries.
Source: ARN
ACCC pauses NBN inquires until coronavirus pandemic stabilises
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced it would pause its NBN entry-level access pricing and wholesale service standards inquiries to allow the industry to deal with the coronavirus pandemic that is sweeping the planet.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Broadband services drive up NBN data demand to record weekly high
Video conferencing, video streaming and accessing cloud-based office applications have driven a large increase in data demand on the NBN access network as more Australians turn to their broadband services for work, education and entertainment, according to a new report.
Source: iTWire
Telstra says COVID-19 leads customers to cancel technician visits
Telstra has revealed current and prospective NBN customers are cancelling technician appointments or blocking site entry over COVID-19 concerns.
Source: iTnews Australia
Wed, 01st Apr 2020
Coronavirus and the internet — new data shows which cities are winning and losing
As millions of Australians turn to their home internet connections for work because of COVID-19, data shows some cities' internet is more clogged than others.
Source: ABC News
NBN satellite complaints spike over back end of 2019
The number of complaints received by Australian telcos over the past 12 months has dropped by almost one quarter, according to figures released by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) on Wednesday.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co authorised to join forces with top telcos to maintain Australia’s connectivity
The ACCC has temporarily granted NBN Co and Australia's five largest telcos authorisation to form a special working group to keep businesses and consumers connected and supported during the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Source: ARN
Labor calls for free NBN broadband access for families, children
The Australian Labor Party has called for an NBN rebate — and free NBN broadband access for a period of at least 12 months — to help connect families and children with no Internet at home, ensuring access to broadband for children it says are potentially missing out on the benefits of connectivity.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co, telcos get ACCC authorisation to co-operate during COVID-19 crisis
National Broadband Network operator NBN Co and five retail service providers have been authorised by the competition regulator the ACCC to work together on measures to keep telecommunications networks operating effectively during the COVID-19 crisis.
Source: iTWire
Tue, 31st Mar 2020
Sharp drop in consumer complaints to telcos: ACMA
Complaints about services by telecommunications consumers to telecoms providers dropped sharply in volume in the 2019 December quarter, declining by 25.9% compared to the same period in 2018.
Source: iTWire
Mon, 30th Mar 2020
You know it's bad when even Telstra is telling you to stay home
We should all be staying home as much as possible right now, but just in case, that wasn't clear enough, Telstra is offering up another reminder.
Source: WhistleOut
Australia 86th of 159 countries when it comes to cost per Mbps
Australia stands 86th in the world when it comes to the cost of an Mbps of broadband data, according to a study by vouchercloud, a company that belongs to the global e-commerce marketplace Groupon. The data showed that Australians pay US$1.15 (A$1.86) per Mbps.
Source: iTWire
No large files during day and evening, Comms Alliance pleads
Australia's telecommunications industry body the Communications Alliance is asking broadband subscribers to consider ways to lower data traffic during peak hours to mitigate network overloading caused by an increasing number of people self-isolating and working from home.
Source: iTnews Australia
Aussie Broadband rallies industry behind NBN Co
Aussie Broadband managing director Phillip Britt is rallying internet providers to get behind NBN Co and its team as they put in “insane hours” and alter work practices “to keep everything running” for internet users.
Source: iTnews Australia