Broadband News
Fri, 08th Mar 2019
Vodafone says NBN Co still providing dodgy speed data
Retail internet providers are in no better position to judge the maximum attainable speed of NBN services than a year ago when most were shamed for “overcharging” consumers, Vodafone has claimed.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co argues 'no strong basis' for fixed wireless fines
NBN Co says there is “no strong basis” to make it pay penalties when its fixed wireless network fails to meet minimum busy hour speeds, in part because those speeds aren’t guaranteed.
Source: iTnews Australia
Australia 7th most affordable for broadband, NBN Co claims
A study carried out by AlphaBeta for NBN Co, the company rolling out Australia's national broadband network, has found that this country is the seventh most affordable market for broadband.
Source: iTWire
Thu, 07th Mar 2019
Labor claims govt will miss own NBN speed mandate
The Federal Government's national quality benchmark of 90% of premises being able to obtain speeds of 50Mbps in the fixed line footprint of the NBN will be achieved in only two states and the NT, according to evidence provided to the NBN Joint Standing Committee.
Source: iTWire
Telstra prepares to face strike of 10 per cent of its workforce
Telstra has been informed by the Communications Workers Union (CWU) of a proposed strike and has taken measures to prevent disruption for customers and those not participating in the action.
Source: ARN
NBN says no, actually, Australian internet prices are not too high
NBN Co has commissioned and published research suggesting our country is actually one of the most affordable markets for broadband in the world.
Source: SMH
Wed, 06th Mar 2019
ACMA hits 31 telcos for non-compliance with consumer rules on NBN
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has completed 38 investigations and issued enforcement notices against 31 telcos for non compliance with new rules designed to help consumers moving to the National Broadband Network.
Source: iTWire
Australian mobile data costs rank 50th out of 230 nations
Australia ranks 50th for the average cost of a gigabyte of mobile data among 230 countries which were studied by the British website cable.co.uk. Data from 6313 mobile data plans was collected, prices were computed in US dollars and local currencies and the countries were ranked.
Source: iTWire
Facebook says people, not regulators, should decide what is seen
The social media giant has fired shots at the ACCC for misunderstanding almost all of the conclusions it has drawn, concerned that the regulator's new tough love approach is almost exclusively focusing on protecting certain publishers, rather than consumers.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co reveals uneven spread of 50Mbps-capable premises
NBN Co has revealed that five out of Australia’s eight states and territories are expected to fall short of the promise to have 90 percent of fixed line premises capable of at least 50Mbps peak speeds.
Source: iTnews Australia
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