Broadband News
Wed, 03rd Jul 2019
Vocus splits operations into three businesses after two failed takeover bids
Company admits it has underinvested for the past two years as it now seeks to streamline its product set.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Vocus splits into three business units
Vocus Group has revealed it is splitting into a trio of independent business units as it continues to move through its three-year turnaround strategy.
Source: ARN
NBN Co exceeds targets for connected, activated premises
The Australian national broadband network builder NBN Co has exceeded its connection targets for the financial year 2019, connecting more than 1.1 million premises in the three months to 27 June.
Source: iTWire
ACCC tells Optus customers to check for refunds
The Australian consumer watchdog has told customers of telco Singtel Optus to check whether they have been notified by the company about any refunds they may be entitled to in connection with its direct carrier billing third-party billing service.
Source: iTWire
Optus users also claim small number of premium content refunds
Optus customers hit by unwanted premium content charges have mostly not claimed refunds, mirroring a problem seen at Telstra.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tue, 02nd Jul 2019
Govt wants broadband tax passed this year
The federal government has resurrected its heavily-delayed plan to introduce a broadband tax, with the laws expected to be in place before parliament wraps up for the year.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co floats its own 'Netflix tax'
NBN Co has raised the prospect of treating streaming video differently from other traffic types on its network, with users charged extra for the privilege of using Netflix and similar services.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mon, 01st Jul 2019
Telstra upgrades transmission network to 100Gbps minimum
Telco touts the abilities of its software-defined network to automatically handle faults.
Source: ZDNet Australia
ACCC ends SMS wholesale service regulation as need 'disappears'
Australia’s consumer watchdog is to stop regulating the wholesale SMS service market as traditional texts are superseded by the likes of WhatsApp and iMessage.
Source: ARN
Credit, income checks to be run on customers buying a phone plan for more than $45 a month
Telcos will now have to confirm your income and credit rating if you are a new customer looking to buy a phone on a plan, but consumer groups say the changes don't go far enough.
Source: ABC News
NBN Co wireless tower loses power cable to saboteurs
NBN Co has called in the police after a long length of power cabling for a new fixed wireless tower in regional Victoria was allegedly ripped out of the ground and removed from the site.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co's increased CVC for 100Mbps plans offers only small boost
The NBN Co's decision to offer an increase in the CVC included with 100Mbps plans from 2.5Mbps to 3Mbps will not provide a speed boost to the extent that those reading certain media outlets would expect, the head of a small Tasmanian retail service provider says.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 28th Jun 2019
ACCC to stop regulating SMS services due to over-the-top messaging
But it will continue to regulate mobile voice services for another five years.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Thu, 27th Jun 2019
ACCC sues Optus for allegedly misleading customers about NBN
The consumer watchdog is concerned that it has yet again had to file legal action against Optus for alleged misleading conduct.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Audit office casts doubts on NBN Co ability to repay $19.5b govt loan
Doubts have been cast on the NBN Co's financial projections and its ability to repay the $19.5 billion that it has been loaned by the Federal Government, with a report from the Australian National Audit Office putting the chances of its financial statements being incorrect as "high".
Source: iTWire
Ericsson to build 'fully-automated' 5G factory in the US by early 2020
Around 100 people will be employed to run the factory.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Wed, 26th Jun 2019
NBN Co puzzles over what price-sensitive users want
NBN Co is unconvinced price is the main reason it struggles to attract “price-sensitive” users, instead believing its product range and “education” of the market may also be at fault.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tue, 25th Jun 2019
Huawei exec attacks NBN, Ericsson
Huawei Australia’s chief technology officer has claimed the National Broadband Network project has “failed” and that “Australians needs to stop expecting NBN Co to deliver high-speed broadband to all Australians – it is just not going to happen”.
Source: Computerworld
Telstra ditches unlimited data in mobile plan shake-up
Unlimited data axed as telco switches to monthly commitments for connectivity.
Source: ZDNet Australia
'The NBN project has failed': Huawei executive scathing of $51b spend
A senior Australian Huawei executive has launched a scathing attack on the government's management of the National Broadband Network describing the $51 billion infrastructure project as a "catastrophe" that had failed to deliver.
Source: SMH
Mon, 24th Jun 2019
Route leak causes internet problems worldwide
A Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) route leak caused problems for Cloudflare, Amazon Web Services and Google on Monday night, with many websites that rely on these and other large operators either slow or inaccessible.
Source: iTnews Australia
Australian Internet pioneer says future does not look so bright
The first employee of Australia's Academic and Research Network, Geoff Huston, is still very much a nerd and one not inclined to puff up his own achievements – which include playing a pivotal role in setting up the Internet in this country 30 years ago. He believes the Internet has become toxic with inadequate security.
Source: iTWire
Protesters take to streets to fight 5G roll out
The protests were promoted in a number of Facebook groups including Stop5G Australia which claims 5G is "probably the greatest threat to humanity we have ever faced" which is being delivered by the "psychopathic ruling elite".
Source: Computerworld
Sun, 23rd Jun 2019
First packets transmitted on Internet Down Under 30 years ago
Sunday marks 30 years since the first packets were transmitted on the Internet in Australia. The network came to Australia because of a recognition by the Australian Vice Chancellors' Committee, now Universities Australia, that the country was suffering a serious brain drain as many researchers were leaving the country.
Source: iTWire
Thu, 20th Jun 2019
NBN Co set to issue wholesale pricing review paper
The NBN Co, the company rolling out Australia's national broadband network, is set to issue a wholesale pricing review to a number of telecommunications providers on Thursday in a bid to quell disquiet in the industry.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co wants to create a cut-price 100Mbps product
NBN Co is set to give existing 100Mbps users a performance boost from September while exploring ways to introduce a cut-price 100Mbps product.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co backs down on 12Mbps price crunch
NBN Co is calling a temporary halt to a two-year campaign it has waged against over one million users on cheaper plans.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co prepares to roll out more changes to wholesale pricing
NBN Co has launched an industry consultation on wholesale pricing, with the network operator indicating it wants to encourage the uptake of higher speed plans as well as make NBN services more attractive to lower-income households.
Source: ARN
Wed, 19th Jun 2019
Optus, Adelaide Crows agree long-term esports deal
Australia’s second largest telco Optus has further strengthened its ties with AFL club Adelaide Crows, agreeing to a long-term partnership with the club’s esports operations.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co prepares for NPIS transformation
NBN Co has extended technical trials of a new platform meant to transform the way key business transactions with its retail service providers are processed.
Source: iTnews Australia