Broadband News
Mon, 03rd Jun 2019
Telstra offered 272,397 refunds for premium content charges
Telstra made refund offers to 272,397 customers as a result of the third-party content subscription billing scandal of 2018, though only a quarter actually claimed them.
Source: iTnews Australia
TPG reiterates claim of needing Vodafone merger post-Huawei ban
It also argued that it has insufficient spectrum to roll out mobile networks the same way as Optus and Telstra.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra makes big cuts in payphone call rates
Telstra has announced that it would be sharply reducing the rates for calls placed from its 15,500 public payphones across the country.
Source: iTWire
Telstra to allow its payphones to receive calls
Telstra is set to allow publicly-accessible payphones to receive incoming calls under changes to the way the phones operate and are priced.
Source: iTnews Australia
Vodafone Group brings ex-Telstra CEO onto board
Telco conglomerate Vodafone Group has named former Telstra CEO David Thodey as a non-executive director.
Source: iTnews Australia
Fri, 31st May 2019
Amaysim gets more out of Optus wholesale agreement
ASX-listed telco provider Amaysim Australia has updated its wholesale agreement with Optus signed when the company launched in 2010.
Source: ARN
AGL confirms it considered Vocus acquisition
Energy company AGL has confirmed that it considered a foray into the telco sector through the acquisition of Vocus, but said it has withdrawn a non-binding, indicative offer for the company.
Source: Computerworld
Employees not the target of encryption laws: Home Affairs
Australian developers really do need to relax. Cops and spooks are being told very clearly that the Assistance and Access Act isn't for dragooning you into deceiving your bosses.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Thu, 30th May 2019
Indigo subsea cable linking Australia with South East Asia commissioned
The INDIGO subsea cable system linking Australia with the Southeast Asian region has been commissioned and is ready for use by consortium members, following completion of the Singapore to Perth to Sydney cables.
Source: iTWire
Optus and WA to deliver 4G coverage to 11 remote locations
The locations to receive 4G coverage are either Indigenous communities or tourist destinations.
Source: ZDNet Australia
INDIGO subsea cable system ready to be lit up
The INDIGO cable system, which stretches from Sydney to Singapore, via Perth, has been commissioned and is ready for use by the six consortium members that funded it.
Source: Computerworld
Optus cuts 200 roles, expands Agile program
An Optus spokesperson has confirmed that it expects to around 200 redundancies from changes to its consumer business.
Source: ARN
TPG channel boss departs
Kyle Bunting has vacated his role of head of channel, alliances and dealers at TPG Telecom.
Source: ARN
Wed, 29th May 2019
ACCC sues Sony for refusing refunds on faulty PlayStation games
Global video game company Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe broke Australian consumer law by telling customers they could not get a refund for faulty PlayStation games, Australia's consumer watchdog said in a lawsuit.
Source: iTnews Australia
ACMA warns telcos over lack of info for disability consumers
Australia’s three largest telcos have been warned by the telecommunications regulator over breaches of safeguards for consumers with disabilities.
Source: iTWire
Telstra accelerates 6000 job cuts, junks $500m in legacy IT
Telstra’s massive purge of staff and legacy applications and infrastructure has accelerated sharply, saying it will have 6000 of 8000 slated job cuts “announced” by the end of the financial year, six months earlier than outlined in previous guidance.
Source: iTnews Australia
Australian 5G market to generate $45 billion in annual revenues: report
The enterprise 5G market in Australia is predicted to generate around $45 billion in revenue a year by the mid 20s, according to a newly released research report.
Source: iTWire
Telstra to axe 6,000 roles by the end of FY19
Telstra is expecting to cut up to 6,000 roles by the end of the 2019 financial year, putting it "on track" to reach the previously announced net cost out target of $2.5 billion by the end of 2022.
Source: ARN
Tue, 28th May 2019
Optus strikes WA Govt deal for regional network upgrade
Optus has struck an agreement with the Western Australia Government in a co-investment deal worth more than $3.8 million to upgrade 11 satellite small cells across regional areas.
Source: ARN
Mon, 27th May 2019
Vodafone flags mobile congestion, inability to compete if TPG merger doesn't go through
Vodafone Hutchinson Australia has filed a statement of claim in the Federal Court of Australia in order to bypass the ACCC’s decision to block the merger with TPG.
Source: ARN
NBN Co to trial its first FTTN upgrade paths from June
NBN Co will begin a trial next month that will see 50 fibre-to-the-node users receive an upgrade to either fibre-to-the-curb (FTTC) or fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) technology.
Source: iTnews Australia
ACCC ponders merger law revamp to stay relevant in the digital era
The watchdog has highlighted challenges in implementing merger law in situations where tech giants are scooping up startups and potentially closing room for competition.
Source: ZDNet Australia
ACCC on TPG-Vodafone: Consumers need the benefits of vigorous competition
As the two telcos head to the Federal Court of Australia to push for their merger to be given the green light.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Vocus gets A$3.3b takeover offer from Swedish equity firm
Australia's fourth largest telecommunications company Vocus Communications has advised the ASX that it has received an indicative takeover offer from Swedish private equity firm EQT Infrastructure for A$5.25 per share, valuing the company at A$3.3 billion.
Source: iTWire
Telstra warned for breaking rules on mobile base stations
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has formally warned Telstra over non-compliance with the rules governing the deployment of mobile base stations.
Source: iTWire
Vocus receives $3.2B takeover offer
Vocus has received an acquisition proposal from EQT Infrastructure in a deal valued at $5.25 per share in cash, worth $3.26 billion, via a scheme of arrangement.
Source: ARN
Vocus is up for sale again
Vocus is courting potential buyers for the second time in three years, revealing Swedish private equity group EQT Infrastructure as a possible suitor.
Source: iTnews Australia
ACMA puts Telstra on notice after breaching base station code
Telco giant, Telstra has been slapped with a formal warning from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), after failing to consult with the public over mobile phone base station installations.
Source: ARN
ACCC banks on TPG restarting its $2bn mobile build
Australian consumers are more likely to see “high and stable” prices for mobile services if TPG and Vodafone are allowed to merge compared to if they stayed separate, the competition watchdog says.
Source: iTnews Australia
Sun, 26th May 2019
New comms minister Fletcher says completing NBN rollout a priority
Newly appointed Communications Minister Paul Fletcher says one of his key priorities will be completing the rollout of the national broadband network.
Source: iTWire