Broadband News

Mon, 04th Nov 2019

NBN Co loses security talent to cashed-up banks

NBN Co says some of Australia’s top banks raided its security team for converged physical and information security skills that the network builder cultivated over the past five years.

Source: iTnews Australia

Fri, 01st Nov 2019

Watchdog puts legacy wholesale telco prices on hold

The ACCC has decided to maintain existing pricing terms on a number of legacy fixed line telco services until 30 June 2024.

Source: ARN

ACCC keeps prices flat for legacy non-NBN fixed line services

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has made its final pricing decision for legacy non-NBN services, stating the prices will remain as is until 30 June 2024.

Source: ZDNet Australia

ACCC calls in courts over Fallout 76 refunds

The ACCC have issued a court enforcable order compelling ZeniMax to provide refunds to frustrated Fallout fans.

Source: ARN

Thu, 31st Oct 2019

NBN Co launches regional business unit, pushes enterprise satellite services

A new NBN Co business unit will be solely focused on technologies used to connect regional and remote communities, the company said today.

Source: Computerworld

Wed, 30th Oct 2019

Here's how much the Samsung Galaxy Fold will cost on a plan

You can now grab the Galaxy Fold on a plan from Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone.

Source: WhistleOut

NBN to hire development teacher to mentor youngsters through cyber

The company responsible for rolling out the National Broadband Network (NBN) will hire a development coach, someone who the company's chief security officer Darren Kane said would have the job of bringing in and developing fresh talent. 

Source: ZDNet Australia

Microsoft cops nearly 900 data requests from Aussie law enforcement bodies

Microsoft has revealed that Australian law enforcement agencies sent the company 887 requests for customer data in six months.

Source: ARN

Antenna issue hits Telstra mobile customers around Stawell

Telstra is having an issue with a local antenna which is affecting some 3G and 4G service from its mobile base station in Stawell.

Source: iTWire

Tue, 29th Oct 2019

As the internet turns 50, experts weigh future advances and emerging issues

The next 50 years may bring pervasive connectivity, brain-computer interfaces and walled-off areas of the internet.

Source: ARN

Google Australia sued over collection and use of location data

Google Australia is facing federal court action initiated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission over the way it collects, stores and uses location data.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra on board for $7M Torres Strait 4G upgrade

Telstra, the Queensland government and the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) have announced a $7.32 million project to bring 4G connectivity to the Torres Strait.

Source: ARN

You can now add an Xbox One to your Telstra mobile or NBN plan

Telstra has teamed up with Microsoft to offer the Xbox One on a plan.

Source: WhistleOut

Microsoft, Telstra announce post-paid plans for Xbox consoles

You can now get a new console and access to hundreds of games for a monthly cost that's added to your phone bill.

Source: SMH

Mon, 28th Oct 2019

Optus booted from ACMA complaints report and told to get external audit

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has used its powers to force Optus to get an external audit of the data it provides to the regulator, after multiple amendments were made to its submissions and what was described as "ongoing data anomalies".

Source: ZDNet Australia

Vocus details suppliers for ‘Future State’ network transformation

Vocus Group has revealed details of key partners for its network transformation program, which the telco says will speed up provisioning and offer more self-service options to its business customers.

Source: Computerworld

ACMA excludes Optus from complaints report over 'data accuracy' concerns

A year after introducing strict new complaints-handling requirements, the telecoms regulator ACMA has released data showing telcos received a total of 1.4 million complaints over the full 2018–19 financial year - but concerns over telcos providing "late or inaccurate data" have resulted in the authority excluding the data provided by Optus from its report.

Source: iTWire

Telco complaints ‘still too high’

Consumer complaints about the country’s telecommunications providers are still too high, according to the ACMA chair, Nerida O’Loughlin.

Source: ARN

Home Affairs pushes its face-matching service for porn age verification

The Department of Home Affairs is hoping to use its Face Verification Service and Document Verification Service across the economy, and is backing its use for age verification for Australians to look at pornography.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NSW Education to trial NBN Sky Muster Plus

The NSW Department of Education is set to trial NBN Co’s new Sky Muster Plus service in the first months of 2020.

Source: iTnews Australia

Fri, 25th Oct 2019

Optus snafu prints 50k private mobile numbers in White Pages

Australia’s telecommunications bridesmaid, Optus, has given a leg-up to Australia Post’s struggling letters business after it took to snail mail to tell around 50,000 customers their mobile phone numbers had been wrongly published – in the White Pages printed telephone books.

Source: iTnews Australia

Bevan Slattery-backed cable venture to connect Australia to Oman

A new venture subsea cable venture founded by Bevan Slattery plans to provide a direct connection between Perth and Muscat, Oman.

Source: Computerworld

A 'cloud' in your backyard as The Edge brings the internet closer to home

Data centres containing Netflix content and software are popping up all over Australia as the internet decentralises into a localised network known as 'the edge'.

Source: ABC News

Australia prepares for mmWave spectrum auction in early 2021

The federal government has commenced proceedings to auction 2.4GHz of spectrum in the 26GHz band as part of the national rollout of 5G services.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Thu, 24th Oct 2019

Bevan Slattery to build new Oman-Australia subsea cable

Australia is set to get a new international subsea data cable system called the Oman Australia Cable, which is to be built by a new company founded by telecommunications entrepreneur Bevan Slattery.

Source: iTnews Australia

Tech wholesaler claims ‘hassle-free’ NBN alternative offer for RSPs

Brisbane-based telecommunications and technology company 2SG is now offering what it says is a “hassle-free NBN alternative” for retail service providers with a new plug-and-play solution to access the Optus Home Wireless Broadband.

Source: iTWire

Aussie Broadband prepares for ASX listing

Telecommunications provider Aussie Broadband has appointed Brian Maher as its new CFO as the company prepares to go public next year.

Source: ARN

Wed, 23rd Oct 2019

Enterprise customers allow for fibre to go deeper into NBN: Rue

The company responsible for deploying the National Broadband Network (NBN) across Australia has hit back at criticisms of its targeting of business customers, stating that the move is both unsurprising and has put more fibre deeper into the network.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN Co now insists $200m not cut from wireless budget

NBN Co has backtracked on its own claim that it redirected $200 million in capital expenditure from fixed wireless to other parts of the build, now saying the money will still be spent on wireless upgrades.

Source: iTnews Australia

Tue, 22nd Oct 2019

NBN Co CEO defends enterprise market push

NBN Co’s chief executive has rejected criticism of the company’s efforts to increase its revenue from the business segment, with the network operator defending its direct engagement with major enterprises over the rollout of fibre services.

Source: Computerworld