Broadband News
Tue, 29th Oct 2019
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
TPG slashes headcount by 5 per cent
In the course of a year TPG cut 280 jobs, reducing its headcount by almost 6 per cent.
Source: ARN
More than half a million metadata disclosures handed to enforcement agencies: ACMA
Over 508,000 disclosures of metadata to law enforcement agencies for criminal law purposes under the controversial Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 (TIA Act) occurred during the 2018-19 fiscal year, an increase from last year's 482,800, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) 2018-19 annual report [PDF] has revealed.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Thu, 17th Oct 2019
NBN Co hits out against claims its enterprise business is 'inequitable'
NBN Co has hit back at criticism suggesting it “overreached” itself by going directly after business consumers with enterprise broadband deals.
Source: ARN
NBN Co downsizes wireless, satellite footprints by 130,000 'premises'
NBN Co has removed 130,449 non-existent “premises” from its fixed wireless and satellite footprints, the latest in a series of culls required as the company has cleaned up national address records it relies on.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co moves goalposts for broadband speed rankings
A report by NBN Co that redefines the metrics typically used to compare broadband speeds to other countries has ranked Australia 17 out of 37 countries.
Source: ARN
NBN rejects speed test reality for one of its own
What do you do if you are a national broadband wholesaler taking the heat for Australia consisting ranking poorly in global speed test surveys? Why, you pay AlphaBeta to come up with a new methodology to make you look better than you are.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Wed, 16th Oct 2019
Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL on sale from October 24 with prices starting at $1,049
The Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL are now official, and cheaper than we expected.
Source: WhistleOut