Broadband News
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
NBN Co redirects $200m wireless capex into HFC, FTTC
NBN Co has revealed the discovery of 91,380 non-existent premises in the fixed wireless rollout freed $200m in planned capex, which was diverted to other parts of the network.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mon, 21st Oct 2019
IoT, Virtual ISP: NBN Co details business satellite offerings
NBN Co has released details of ‘Virtual ISP’ (VISP) and Internet of Things (IoT) services for businesses that use the network operator’s Sky Muster satellites.
Source: Computerworld
Telstra, Optus dispute regional 4G crown
New research shows Optus 4G mobile connections are faster and more available in regional and remote Australia, but Telstra says the numbers don't tell the whole story.
Source: SMH
Fri, 18th Oct 2019
Telstra brand spoofed in $500 gift card phishing scam
Telstra’s brand is being employed by scammers in order to launch an email phishing campaign aimed at harvesting confidential details from victims.
Source: ARN
Cutting iiNet staff helps keep TPG steady
TPG has published its 2019 annual report (pdf), revealing frustration at regulatory decisions that impact its business, further staff cuts a surprising rebound in some revenue sources.
Source: iTnews Australia