Broadband News
Wed, 29th May 2019
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
Paul Fletcher to oversee last leg of NBN rollout after Morrison’s ministerial reshuffle
Paul Fletcher will oversee the rollout of the National Broadband Network as Australia’s new communications minister, ahead of the scheduled completion of the NBN in 2020.
Source: ARN
Fri, 24th May 2019
TPG and Vodafone challenge $15bn merger rejection
TPG and Vodafone have filed a case with an Australian court challenging the competition regulator’s move to block their $15 billion merger.
Source: iTnews Australia
Aussie Broadband retires Wideband, updates enterprise arm
Telecommunications provider Aussie Broadband will retire its Wideband Networks brand due to trademark concerns and because it makes "good commercial sense".
Source: ARN
Thu, 23rd May 2019
ACCC publishes guide for problem-plagued NBN fixed wireless broadband customers
Australia’s competition watchdog, the ACCC, has published a guide for NBN fixed wireless customers, advising them how to seek compensation when they encounter problems with broadband services, including slow speeds.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co upgrades 'vast majority' of packet-dropping backhaul links
NBN Co has performed upgrades on “the vast majority” of 238 backhaul links identified last month as experiencing unacceptable levels of packet loss.
Source: iTnews Australia
Optus apologises for outage, says issues completely fixed
Any Internet issues faced by Optus users on Thursday have been individual service-related issues, the company says, adding that these were not related to the overnight outage reported in these columns.
Source: iTWire
NBN fixed wireless users get ACCC advice on slow speeds
NBN Co is being given fresh motivation to fix congestion in its fixed wireless network as new rules and guidance take effect on how such services are sold, remediated and remedied.
Source: iTnews Australia
Wed, 22nd May 2019
Telstra's 5G add-on for new mobile plans costs AU$15 a month
Customers signing up to yet-to-be-released mobile plans will receive free 5G connectivity for at least 12 months.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra begins selling its first 5G device
Telstra has begun selling its first commercial 5G device, an HTC-manufactured mobile hotspot that also supports 4G. The company's CEO also revealed today that Telstra would charge many of its customers a premium to receive 5G connectivity.
Source: ARN
Telstra launches Australia's first 5G mobile hotspot, also supports 4G but no 3G
The HTC 5G Hub can be ordered today, delivering 5G speeds in active areas, and working as a 4GX modem elsewhere (although no 3G capabilities are within), with Telstra saying it isn't just Australia's first 5G/4GX media hotspot, but the world's, too.
Source: iTWire
Samsung to deliver Galaxy S10 5G, its first 5G device, from May 28
Set to be available via Telstra and Samsung's own Experience Stores from May 28, and a free upgrade for select Telstra S10+ customers earlier this year, the S10 5G will also feature a 6.7-inch screen, bigger battery and the promise of "an incredible camera experience".
Source: iTWire
Optus lures travellers with roaming add-ons
Optus has launched a new suite of international usage and roaming add-ons on selected prepaid plans targeting travellers.
Source: iTWire
Telstra to offer free 5G connectivity for first year
Telstra will offer 5G connectivity free to all customers with a compatible device for at least a year, marking its aggressive entry into the next-generation cellular space.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tue, 21st May 2019
TIO on shakeup path, starting with its own board
The first signs of progress in a proposed shake-up of the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) are emerging, as the ombudsman begins consulting on the removal of alleged industry influence.
Source: iTnews Australia
ACCC starts breaking out Vodafone NBN customer connections
Vodafone Australia is sitting around the level of Aussie Broadband and MyRepublic in the latest ACCC Wholesale Market Indicators Report.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co registers drop in entry-level services
The proportion of households with services at the slowest NBN speed tier decreased during the first quarter of the year, with the number of 12 megabits per second (Mbps) services also dropping in absolute terms, according to figures released today by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Source: Computerworld
NBN Co's 12Mbps user base falls below one million
NBN Co is servicing 166,569 fewer premises on the lowest 12Mbps tier than just three months ago, with Vocus and TPG seeing particularly large falls in their 12Mbps user bases.
Source: iTnews Australia