Broadband News

Wed, 02nd Oct 2019

Aussie Broadband preparing for ASX listing

Aussie Broadband is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) on the ASX in 2020, the telco's managing director Phillip Britt has confirmed.

Source: ARN

Southern Cross NEXT Cable enters construction phase

The trans-Pacific Southern Cross NEXT Cable has now entered the construction phase with the project achieving CIF (Contract in Force).

Source: iTWire

Aussie Broadband wants NBN congestion rebates extended to FttN

Aussie Broadband has called for the company responsible for the National Broadband Network (NBN) to pay retailers a rebate on localised fibre-to-the-node (FttN) congestion, following the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on Tuesday flagging a similar AU$20 charge for congested fixed wireless nodes.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Tue, 01st Oct 2019

Aussie Broadband suggests NBN Co pay $150 for missed appointments

NBN Co should be forced to pay “closer to $150” every time its technicians miss a scheduled appointment, according to Aussie Broadband managing director Phillip Britt.

Source: iTnews Australia

ACCC proposes bigger rebates, new measures to boost NBN standards

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has proposed new terms aimed at improving NBN Co’s wholesale service levels, including a reworked rebate structure increasing the size of rebates for missed appointments, late connections and unresolved faults.

Source: iTWire

NBN Co faces stiffer financial hits for underperformance

The NBN Co will be subjected to bigger financial hits if new proposals tabled by Australia’s consumer watchdog are enforced.

Source: ARN

NBN Co faces $30-a-day fines for unfixed faults

NBN Co is set to be fined $13.50 per business day - capped at $270 - for late or delayed connections to its network, and up to $30 a day - capped at $1150 - for slow fault fixes, under sweeping new service standards proposed today.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra cleared to increase Southern Cross Cable stake

Telstra has signed agreements with Southern Cross Cable Network and received regulatory approval to become a 25 per cent shareholder of the subsea circuit operator, as mooted late last year.

Source: iTnews Australia

Mon, 30th Sep 2019

Telstra’s 4GX service upgrade project commenced for Tasmania’s west coast

Work has commenced on a project to bring Telstra’s 4GX connectivity to the west coast of Tasmania.

Source: ARN

Optus moves ahead with 5G rollout, releases new Samsung, Oppo plans

Optus continues the national rollout of its 5G network and has boosted its 5G plans on offer, announcing the availability of Samsung Galaxy S10 and Oppo Reno 5G handsets, as it prepares to reveal further plans for the rollout in coming weeks.

Source: iTWire

Vocus completes final splice of Coral Sea Cable System

Vocus has completed the final splice of the Coral Sea Cable System which is set to improve connectivity between Australia, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

Source: Computerworld

Fri, 27th Sep 2019

Optus has two more 5G smartphones: Galaxy S10 5G & OPPO Reno 5G

Optus is expanding its range of 5G smartphones, but coverage is still quite limited.

Source: WhistleOut

Thu, 26th Sep 2019

Taronga Zoo improves W-Fi connectivity for visitors

Sydney's Taronga Zoo and Dubbo's Western Plains Zoo have initiated a transformation program in order to enhance Wi-Fi capabilities for guests.

Source: Computerworld

Sunshine Coast International submarine cable landing station build completed

Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is set to get its first direct international data and telecommunications connection to global markets following the completion of a cable landing station at Maroochydore as part of the region’s international broadband network.

Source: iTWire

Wed, 25th Sep 2019

Vocus internet services down in SA, NT

Third party points of interconnect (POI) have failed in Darwin and Adelaide last night affecting some Vocus customers.

Source: ARN

TIO sees an increase in complaints about NBN services

As Australia shifts from its legacy fixed broadband infrastructure onto the National Broadband Network (NBN), it should come as little surprise that the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) is receiving increasing numbers of complaints.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Telstra customer complaints decline to 66,000

Telecommunications giant Telstra has topped the most-complained about carrier rankings this year, amid a wider fall in overall numbers.

Source: ARN

Tue, 24th Sep 2019

Optus offers regional customers three months of free service

Optus is offering customers in over 1,400 regional areas three months of free service.

Source: WhistleOut

Mon, 23rd Sep 2019

Good deal: Get 60GB for $40 from amaysim

If you're looking for a new SIM-only plan right now, this offer from amaysim is hard to go past.

Source: WhistleOut

Telstra, Ericsson bring 5G coverage to AFL Grand final

Telstra is partnering with Ericsson and the Melbourne Cricket Club to install 5G into the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in readiness for the AFL grand final next Saturday.

Source: iTWire

NBN fibre alternative hits hurdle over community legal fears

Residents in Wamboin, near Canberra, fear a plan to replace their NBN satellite connections with high-speed fibre in a NSW Government-backed, community-led project might never be realised.

Source: ABC News

No home broadband for a year: the house the NBN forgot

Martin Bugeja was told he'd have no home phone or broadband for almost a year after a map error resulted in his home being skipped during the NBN rollout.

Source: SMH

Fri, 20th Sep 2019

Govt suggests NBN Co may need competitors

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher says NBN Co may need some competition over the next decade to reduce the risk of Australia’s fixed-line network falling behind.

Source: iTnews Australia

Sydney-based Infinity Telecom nabbed over NBN information rules

Sydney-based NBN reseller Infinity Telecom has been sanctioned for failing to provide proper information on its website.

Source: iTnews Australia

Thu, 19th Sep 2019

NBN blues? Get three months of Optus home wireless for free

Until September 30, Optus is offering customers the chance to get their first three months of its 500GB home wireless plan for free. The plan usually costs $85 per month.

Source: WhistleOut

Govt says NBN Co's Sky Muster inherited an image problem

Take-up of NBN Co’s Sky Muster satellite service is still impacted by a “hangover” brought about by poor user experiences with the now-retired interim satellite service, Communications Minister Paul Fletcher has claimed.

Source: iTnews Australia

Switkowski reappointed as chair of NBN Co

Telecommunications executive Dr Ziggy Switkowski has been reappointed for another three years as Chair of NBN Co, the builders and operators of the National Broadband Network.

Source: iTWire

NBN connectivity expands to ATMs, traffic, transport, and environment infrastructure

Access to the National Broadband Network (NBN) has now been extended to operators of specialised devices such as traffic signals and ATMs.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN Co pitches 100Mbps+ users as a capacity management feature

NBN Co is pitching a new set of 100Mbps-plus plans to internet providers as a way to offset the rising cost to serve all users on the network.

Source: iTnews Australia

Wed, 18th Sep 2019

Oh no! NBN speeds are set to become an even bigger mess

Yesterday, NBN Co proposed a host of changes to its wholesale pricing model, designed to improve speeds, introduce higher speed tier options and keep down costs for both telcos and their customers.

Source: WhistleOut