Broadband News

Mon, 01st Jul 2019

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

Telstra outage pulled plug on AusPost, ING, Bendigo, Cuscal payments

Telstra has been identified as the source of an outage that knocked out payments and ATM services for Australia Post, Bendigo Bank, ING Australia, Bank Australia and Cuscal on Tuesday.

Source: iTnews Australia

Tue, 18th Jun 2019

Telstra, Optus want NBN Co's price-setting power reined in

NBN Co’s ability to set prices and withdraw offers with little consultation is set to be tested after the practice drew heavy criticism from Telstra and Optus.

Source: iTnews Australia

Mon, 17th Jun 2019

Reported losses from NBN scams increase by nearly 300% in 2019: ACCC

Consumers lost more than AU$110,000 each month in the January to May period.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Vocus loses another potential suitor as AGL walks away

AGL states it is no longer confident its proposal would create value.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Telstra asks its 30,000 employees what they really think with 'experience pulse'

Telstra has insourced employee engagement data collection and diagnostics activities, setting up a new “experience pulse” that presents the data to 3300 “people leaders” across the telco.

Source: iTnews Australia

Thu, 13th Jun 2019

Auditor sees risks in government management of NBN loan

The Australian National Audit Office has expressed concerns over the handling of a $19.5 billion government loan to NBN Co, with the communications department unable to provide evidence of a suitable governance framework to oversee the company’s compliance with the lending arrangements.

Source: ARN

Wed, 12th Jun 2019

AGL Energy has no plans to break up Vocus

​AGL Energy has no plans to break up its takeover target, Vocus Group, but instead will aim to grow the combined businesses, AGL CEO Brett Redman said.

Source: ARN

Netflix and Stan subscription revenue to jump 13.7pc by 2023, says PwC

Popular streaming services will experience a surge in subscribers and revenue, while Foxtel is falling behind, according to PwC's latest report.

Source: ABC News

Tue, 11th Jun 2019

FibreCo Qld given AU$8.6m to establish state-owned fibre backhaul

The Queensland government will be spending the cash over two years to stand-up the state-owned entity.

Source: ZDNet Australia

AGL launches $3b bid for telco company Vocus

AGL has signalled an aggressive move to broaden its business away from legacy coal-burning infrastructure to data infrastructure with its bid for the telecommunications business Vocus.

Source: ABC News