Broadband News
Tue, 05th Mar 2019
Google rejects ACCC's calls to have tougher scrutiny over Australian operations
The search giant believes that if the consumer watchdog holds any particular concerns, it is welcome to investigate under existing Australian law.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Sat, 02nd Mar 2019
Coles snubs Telstra, cuts $100m NBN deal with Optus
Retail giant Coles has unveiled a multi-year $100 million partnership with the business division of Singtel Optus to move its outlets to the national broadband network.
Source: iTWire
ACCC final word on TPG-Vodafone merger delayed again
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has extended the date for giving its final verdict on the proposed merger between Vodafone Hutchison Australia and TPG Telecom, with the watchdog saying on Thursday that the timeline was now suspended.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 01st Mar 2019
TPG-Vodafone merger provisional decision put off again
New provisional date to be set once information from telcos is received by the ACCC.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co Sky Muster knocked offline by software update
NBN Co is suffering a lengthy nationwide outage of its Sky Muster satellite service after a software update gone bad, with full recovery not expected until this afternoon.
Source: iTnews Australia
Software update takes out NBN satellite users
Remedy offered to users still affected is to power cycle modem and NBN network termination device.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Thu, 28th Feb 2019
Govt leaves call on Layer 3 wireless intervention to NBN Co
The government has lent “in principle” support to the idea of traffic management on the NBN fixed wireless network, but will leave the final call to NBN Co.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra allows eSIM Windows 10 devices to use mobile plans
Telstra says it will allow consumers who have Windows 10-based devices with an eSIM to connect to its mobile network without any other hardware.
Source: iTWire
Telcos bet on connecting everything to recoup 5G costs
For the telecoms industry, the task of launching 5G services is a lot like going the wrong way on the moving walkways at Mobile World Congress.
Source: ARN
Vodafone criticises Telstra call for lower NBN prices
Vodafone Hutchison Australia chief executive Iñaki Berroeta has criticised Telstra for seeking a drop in NBN prices at a time when it is receiving $2.5 billion from NBN Co for use of its infrastructure and for customers who have been transferred over.
Source: iTWire
Wed, 27th Feb 2019
Vodafone posts $124M loss after 30 per cent improvement
VHA has reported a loss of $124 million for the full year ended 31 December 2018, which is a 30 per cent improvement from last year's $178 million loss.
Source: ARN
Vocus getting out of NBN land grab to focus on fibre links and wireless
NBN is complex and economically unattractive, and retail will shift towards fixed wireless and mobile, the company has said.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Vocus won't actively pursue more consumer NBN services
Vocus will step out of the NBN ‘land grab’ for new residential connections and focus instead on more profitable wireless and mobile services.
Source: iTnews Australia
Vocus won’t seek to grow consumer NBN market share, looks to 5G
Vocus Group says that because of the complexity of NBN pricing, a lack of pricing stability and operational complexity it no longer intends to grow its share of the NBN consumer market and instead will “focus on optimising the broadband experience for existing customers.”
Source: ARN
ACMA warns telcos to comply with customer data obligations
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has told 11 telecommunications providers to comply with their obligations that support emergency service across the country.
Source: iTWire
Optus switches on new mobile tower in Napoleon Reef
Telco Singtel Optus has switched on a new mobile site in Napoleon Reef in NSW, as part of the government's Mobile Black Spot Program.
Source: iTWire
Tue, 26th Feb 2019
TPG to cop near AU$230m accounting hit due to mobile network abandonment
Telco to write-down its mobile network and reduce value of spectrum licences pending the merger with Vodafone.
Source: ZDNet Australia
TPG writes down $76 million spent on ditched mobile network rollout
TPG says that following a review it has reduced the value of spectrum licences its holds by $92 million and will write-down $76 million in capital expenditure associated with the now-halted roll out a mobile network.
Source: Computerworld
Vodafone: US needs to share any Huawei evidence
The US needs to share any evidence it has about Huawei with European authorities so they can decide whether to use such tech in their networks.
Source: ARN
Mon, 25th Feb 2019
Telstra faces potential strike over pay row
Telstra workers could be poised to strike after union members voted for the option of industrial action amid an ongoing pay row.
Source: ARN
NBN available to 75% of premises: Fifield
NBN services are available to three-quarters of Australian premises, Communications Minister Mitch Fifield says.
Source: iTWire
ACMA to issue revised rules for international mobile roaming
The Australian Communications and Media Authority will release modified rules for international mobile roaming later this year, based not on the International Mobile Roaming Standard, but one more attuned to service providers with similar, more flexible rules.
Source: iTWire
Telstra announces it is '5G-ready now' plus three 5G smartphones
Telstra has announced at MWC 2019 it has "partnered with some of the world’s leading 5G smartphone manufacturers for exclusive or first to market deals".
Source: iTWire
Telstra reveals Samsung, LG and Oppo as exclusive 5G smartphone partnerships
Telstra has unveiled some of the smartphone vendors it sealed an exclusive partnership to be the first to bring its 5G smartphones to Australian customers.
Source: ARN
MWC 2019: Optus will gain ‘months more’ 5G experience with fixed-wireless launch
By launching 5G fixed-wireless now instead of waiting for a pure mobile solution, Optus will have around five months more experience in running a 5G service than its competitors, according to CEO Allen Lew.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Fri, 22nd Feb 2019
Second NBN supplier scoped for sham contracting class action
A second major telecommunications technical services supplier is being painted up for a class action on behalf of staff who were allegedly dudded on pay and conditions by deliberately classifying them as contractors when they were legally employees.
Source: iTnews Australia
Casa Systems to acquire NBN supplier NetComm
Massachusetts-headquartered Casa Systems is seeking to acquire ASX-listed NetComm Wireless.
Source: Computerworld
Law firm investigates telco technical services provider
Shine Lawyers has launched an investigation of a possible class action on behalf of telecommunication technicians against technical services contracting company BSA Limited.
Source: Computerworld
Thu, 21st Feb 2019
5G needed to ease 4G LTE congestion: OpenSignal
OpenSignal has compared average speeds and fastest hour speeds on 4G LTE networks globally, with Australia pulling in fifth and seventh rankings, respectively.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra says it has first dibs with Samsung S10 5G
Both Telstra and Optus have announced they will be providing their customers with the new Samsung Galaxy models released overnight, with Telstra claiming to have struck an exclusive deal with the South Korean phone-maker that would ensure its customers get their hands on the 5G device first.
Source: iTWire