Broadband News
Tue, 07th May 2019
NBN speeds up but many FTTN services underperforming, ACCC says
The latest broadband performance data released by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) reveals that NBN speeds have generally improved. However, the ACCC said that a significant proportion of fibre to the node (FTTN) services continue to deliver substandard performance.
Source: Computerworld
Mon, 06th May 2019
NBN Co revenue growth slows as rollout nears completion
NBN Co has reported revenue of $2.04 billion for the first three quarters of its financial year, compared to $1.41 billion for the same nine-month period last year.
Source: Computerworld
NBN pulls in AU$2b revenue so far for FY19
For the first nine months of FY19, NBN has reported AU$2 billion in revenue and negative AU$808 million in EBITDA.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Fri, 03rd May 2019
Qld govt fund bids $494m in swoop on Superloop
No-one could accuse Bevan Slattery of not being able to spin-up a compelling transaction target in the form of specialist ISP and connectivity provider Superloop.
Source: iTnews Australia
Superloop considering takeover offer
An unsolicited offer of AU$1.95 per share has seen Superloop give QIC Private Capital three weeks to conduct due diligence.
Source: ZDNet Australia
QIC makes $494m offer for Superloop
Superloop today revealed that QIC subsidiary QIC Private Capital Pty Ltd had made an unsolicited, non-binding acquisition offer for the ASX-listed network operator.
Source: Computerworld
Over-the-top messaging allows Australia to stop regulating SMS services
Messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, iMessage, and WeChat offer enough competition that SMS regulation is no longer required, the ACCC has said in its draft MTAS report.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Thu, 02nd May 2019
ACCC proposes to extend regulation of mobile call services
The ACCC has proposed to continue regulating Australia’s domestic Mobile Terminating Access Service (MTAS) for voice services for another five years.
Source: ARN
Telstra cable customers given free speed boost as NBN delays continue
In a bid to manage the number of new NBN connections, Telstra will scrap its speed boost fee, delivering around 100Mbps to all its non-NBN cable customers.
Source: SMH
Wed, 01st May 2019
5G ban yet to hit Huawei Australia’s carrier business
Although the Australian government has blocked the company from participating in the rollout of telcos’ 5G networks, Huawei says it has registered strong growth in its local carrier business.
Source: Computerworld
Labor will invest AU$245m in regional telco programs if elected
Labor’s promises have mirrored the Coalition’s, with AU$160 million to go to the mobile blackspots program and AU$60 million to work on Connected Community Plans with state, territory, and local governments.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Tue, 30th Apr 2019
No info-sharing if you use Huawei, US tells UK
The United States says it sees no distinction between the core of a 5G network and its radio access network, and will reconsider sharing information with any ally that uses equipment made by Chinese vendor Huawei Technologies in its next-generation telecommunications network.
Source: iTWire
Vocus served with class action
Vocus has been served with a class action proceeding filed in the Federal Court of Australia.
Source: ARN
Telstra 4G speeds put it in global elite class: Opensignal
Telstra won on both download speeds and upload speeds while Optus has the best 4G availability, according to Opensignal.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Wed, 24th Apr 2019
UK allows Huawei for 5G: Report
According to a report, Huawei will be allowed to provide antennas and non-core infrastructure for the 5G network build-outs across the United Kingdom.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra strike suspended after ‘promising breakthrough’
Union bosses have suspended further strike action by Telstra employees due to a ‘promising breakthrough’ in negotiations.
Source: ARN
Tue, 23rd Apr 2019
Optus switches on four new mobile towers in Mackay, Bowen Basin
Singtel Optus is continuing its quest to provide a better mobile signal with the switching on of four new mobile towers that will boost coverage in Mackay and Bowen Basin.
Source: iTWire
Thu, 18th Apr 2019
Vocus calls for backhaul component to mobile black spot program
Network operator Vocus says that the government should consider funding carrier-neutral backhaul as part of its mobile black spot program.
Source: Computerworld
Fall in telco complaints for January-March quarter
There has been a year-on-year reduction in the ratio of telecommunications consumer complaints in the first three months of 2019, compared to the same three month period in 2018.
Source: iTWire
Telstra and Optus complaints jump: Comms Alliance
A quarterly complaints report from Comms Alliance and the TIO has found that complaints jumped across Optus and Telstra, and rose slightly for Vodafone during the first three months of the year.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Vodafone makes aggressive play for 100Mbps NBN users
Vodafone has launched aggressive promotional NBN pricing that cuts its top-tier 100Mbps product by $20 a month for six months.
Source: iTnews Australia
Wed, 17th Apr 2019
NBN Co board urged to resign over competition ‘failures’
Commpete has called for the resignation of the NBN Co’s board for allegedly “failing" to create a level playing field” for smaller players.
Source: ARN
Call for NBN Co board resignation over ‘failure to deliver’ on core mission
Commpete, the former Competitive Carriers Coalition, has called for the resignation of the board of NBN Co, the company rolling out the Australian national broadband network, accusing it of comprehensively failing in its core mission, including driving a more competitive telecommunications sector.
Source: iTWire
Tue, 16th Apr 2019
Foxtel's GOT Game: season premiere up 17% on 2017
With the biggest daily VPM or "video player measurement" audience for 2019 across Australian television, with Foxtel's linear viewing smashing previous season openers, GOT isn't just coming but has arrived at long last.
Source: iTWire
Gympie gets a new mobile tower as Optus continues blackspot program
Optus has switched on a new mobile tower in the Queensland town of Gympie as it continues work on undertaking its mobile blackspot program.
Source: iTWire
US to press allies to keep Huawei out of 5G in Prague meeting - sources
The United States will push its allies at a meeting in Prague next month to adopt shared security and policy measures that will make it more difficult for China's Huawei to dominate 5G telecommunications networks, according to people familiar with the matter and documents seen by Reuters.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mon, 15th Apr 2019
Optus launches NBN plans ahead of ‘new customer initiatives’
Optus has launched three new NBN plans promising more speed for selected home users, and with unlimited data for “data hungry” streamers.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 12th Apr 2019
Telcos wary of ACCC push for scrutiny of dark fibre, NBN wholesale markets
Network operators have called for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to back away from proposed rules that would allow the ACCC to collect a range of new data about the state of Australia’s dark fibre and NBN wholesale aggregation markets.
Source: Computerworld
Telstra, TPG, Vocus and Optus say they aren't an NBN bottleneck
Telstra and Vocus, who are among a handful of telcos that supply dark fibre or backhaul services to and from NBN points of interconnect, say their services are not a bottleneck to the NBN user experience, and that any bottleneck sits with NBN Co itself.
Source: iTnews Australia
Thu, 11th Apr 2019
New wi-fi security standard broken already
Security researchers have discovered multiple bugs in the wi-fi protected access version 3 (WPA3) protocol used to secure wireless local area networks, which allow attackers to intercept and steal sensitive information.
Source: iTnews Australia