Broadband News
Thu, 07th Nov 2019
New multi-year content agreement between Foxtel and NBCUniversal
Foxtel and NBCUniversal Global Distribution & International (NBCU) have announced completion of "a new, multi-year agreement covering movies, drama, comedy, entertainment, reality and news for the Foxtel Group’s broadcast, on demand and streaming platforms."
Source: iTWire
Dodo and iPrimus singled out for falling short on NBN download speeds
Dodo and iPrimus have been singled out as failing to deliver their advertised peak-time NBN download speeds in the latest broadband performance report.
Source: ARN
NBN’s HFC worst for outages, FTTP best: ACCC report
Hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) is the worst NBN fixed-lined technology when it comes to outages, according to a new report released by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Source: Computerworld
Optus tops ACCC's broadband speed measurements for August
Optus has recorded the highest percentage of plan download speeds during the evening busy period for August, the competition watchdog says.
Source: iTWire
Wed, 06th Nov 2019
ACMA issues formal warning to M2, puts ten other telcos on notice
M2 Commander has been caught out by the Australian Communications and Media Authority for failing to comply with consumer protection rules.
Source: ARN
Eleven telcos in ACMA's sights for breaching consumer protection rules
The Australian Communications and Media Authority watchdog is going after eleven smaller telcos for failing to adhere to strict consumer protection rules.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tue, 05th Nov 2019
Telstra says 5G won't replace NBN
5G has long been hailed as an NBN killer, but not everyone agrees. Australia's two largest mobile providers are almost polar opposites when it comes to their 5G networks. Telstra is taking a mobile-first approach to 5G, pushing the latest handsets and promising blistering download speeds. Optus has made at-home 5G its priority, and is a little more modest in its claims around performance.
Source: WhistleOut
NBN Co's low-end price offers lead to disagreement
NBN Co’s wholesale pricing review has led to disagreement in industry on how best to service “low-bandwidth users”.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co runs into trouble on cheap gigabit plans
NBN Co’s plan to cut the price of 250Mbps and gigabit services looks to be coming unstuck as retailers grapple with the total cost of making them work, and how to market them safely to hybrid-fibre coaxial (HFC) users.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mon, 04th Nov 2019
Optus adds 138K homes to 5G fixed wireless footprint
Optus is opening its 5G fixed wireless service to a footprint of up to 138,000 homes, earmarking a major expansion of the fixed broadband-like service.
Source: iTnews Australia
Optus makes 5G Home fixed wireless generally available
Optus is allowing the 138,000 homes in its 5G footprint to order a fixed wireless service, both online and in store, from today.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Optus switches on 5G mobile services
Optus today launched its 5G push in earnest, with the telco announcing support for mobile services based on the ultra-fast wireless standard as well as the expansion of its 5G home broadband service.
Source: ARN
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