Broadband News
Fri, 11th Jan 2019
Indigo subsea cables' installation completed
The installations of Indigo Central and West subsea fibre optic cables have been completed, resulting in a optical path between landing stations.
Source: ARN
Thu, 10th Jan 2019
Music labels seek to block unauthorised downloads of YouTube audio
Major music labels are seeking to have Australian telecommunications providers block four online services that allow users to download copies in MP3 format of the audio of YouTube-hosted videos.
Source: Computerworld
Telstra signs 'exclusive' 5G deal with smartphone vendors
Telstra has struck exclusive 5G deals with some of the "world's biggest brands", the telecommunications provider announced at CES.
Source: ARN
Telstra claims it will have 5G handsets before other telcos
Telstra has struck agreements with handset makers for what it says will be “exclusive” access to 5G commercial smartphones in the first half of this year.
Source: iTnews Australia
ANU successfully measures light for quantum internet data transfer
The quantum internet will require fast-moving data and the Australian National University believes it has found a way to measure information stored in light particles which will pave the way for a safe "data superhighway".
Source: ZDNet Australia
Wed, 09th Jan 2019
Are Huawei 4G boxes dangerous, or are we worrying ourselves sick?
Residents are raising concerns as Huawei 4G small cell boxes are installed in suburban Sydney. Studies have shown no evidence that mobile phones make us sick, but the debate rages on. Welcome to the nocebo effect, writes Adam Verrender.
Source: ABC News
Mon, 07th Jan 2019
5G versus 4G: How speed, latency and application support differ
5G wireless network technology is set to boost the bandwidth, capacity and reliability of cellular broadband. Are you ready to leave your 4G world behind?
Source: ARN
Thu, 03rd Jan 2019
NBN Co finds FTTB/C users are its biggest advocates
NBN Co’s fibre-to-the-basement (FTTB) and fibre-to-the-curb FTTC) users are the strongest advocates for the network, with around 7 in 10 recommending others join.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co gives itself until September to cut congested cell numbers
NBN Co has given itself until September this year to bring the proportion of congested cells on its fixed wireless network down to less than one percent.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN gives itself until September to get fixed wireless congestion sorted
By late September 2019, NBN wants less than 1 percent of its fixed wireless towers under its 6Mbps in busy hours threshold.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Wed, 02nd Jan 2019
How Labor and Telstra's NBN ambitions might merge
Labor wants a better national broadband network which needs to be more affordable if Labor's original vision is to be realised. Telstra could help.
Source: SMH
Mon, 31st Dec 2018
New Year's Eve 2018: Telstra predicts 91 million messages and 39 million calls
Telstra has predicted a new New Year's Even record for data usage on its mobile network, with 2300TB to be used.
Source: iTWire
Mon, 24th Dec 2018
Vocus eyes 5G to offset low-margin NBN business
Vocus has renegotiated its existing group-wide mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) agreement with Optus to cover 5G services when they are brought to market.
Source: iTnews Australia
Sat, 22nd Dec 2018
Home Affairs cannot be bothered listing all agencies with access to metadata
With a disclosure notice or court order, government agencies otherwise exempted are able to tap Australia's metadata stores.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Fri, 21st Dec 2018
SpaceX wants to take Starlink broadband Australia-wide
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has urged Australian authorities not to constrain where the company might be able to offer its ambitious Starlink broadband service.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co reveals daily duration of slow fixed wireless speeds
NBN Co has published its first fixed wireless congestion report, breaking down the number of hours a day that users see slow speeds.
Source: iTnews Australia
Payne, Dutton express concern over 'global hacking campaign'
Australia has expressed "serious concern" about what it calls "a global campaign of cyber-enabled commercial intellectual property theft by a group known as APT10, acting on behalf of the Chinese Ministry of State Security".
Source: iTWire
Thu, 20th Dec 2018
Australian court orders blocking of subtitle piracy sites
Roadshow has successfully argued that subtitle files infringe copyright law.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co makes play for mm-wave 5G spectrum
NBN Co is starting to lay the groundwork for a future foray into millimetre-wave 5G, which it revealed in June as a likely future upgrade path for its fixed wireless network.
Source: iTnews Australia
Optus ramps up network for festive season
Optus says it has been busy ramping up its network in time for the festive season, implementing special event parameters across the country to ensure major shopping centres, holiday hotspots and New Year’s destinations are ready to handle the significant increase in traffic over the period.
Source: iTWire
Unauthorised subtitle services to be blocked: Court grants largest anti-piracy injunction
The Federal Court has granted an application for the largest anti-piracy injunction so far, ordering Telstra, TPG, Optus, Vocus and Vodafone, as well as the companies’ subsidiaries, to take steps to block their customers from accessing more than 150 domains.
Source: Computerworld
Court date set for telco 'sham' contractor
The court date has been set for the "largest class action" lawsuit in Australia between Shine Lawyers and workforce management company, ISG Management (now known as Tandem).
Source: ARN
Labor queries HFC cost rise despite drop in homes served
The Australian Labor Party has questioned how the cost of the NBN Co's HFC build has increased by 64% since 2015, despite the fact that the number of premises being served by the technology has fallen by 37.5%.
Source: iTWire
ACMA fines Primus and iSelect for telemarketing breaches
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has fined two telecommunications providers for cold calling customers on the telemarketing ban register.
Source: ARN
Southern Cross Cables CEO Anthony Briscoe exits
Southern Cross Cable Network (SCCN) CEO and president Anthony Briscoe has announced he will step down and retire.
Source: ARN
Wed, 19th Dec 2018
Telco reseller goes into administration owing $500K
Telecommunications reseller Highrise Telecoms has been placed under external administration owing $497,993 to unsecured creditors.
Source: ARN
Doubt cast over whether telcos are ready to deliver 5G: report
Sixty-six percent of organisations have plans to deploy 5G by 2020, but according to a new report users adopting 5G face the lack of readiness of telecommunications providers, with their 5G networks not available or capable enough for the needs of organisations.
Source: iTWire
TPG subsidiary gets warning from ACMA
Pipe Networks has been warned by Australia’s communications watchdog for its handling of local consultations before building mobile phone infrastructure.
Source: ARN
Optus switches on 10 more mobile towers in regional NSW and WA
Telco Singtel Optus has switched on six new mobile towers across the Northern Wheatbelt region, to provide improved 4G coverage for residents.
Source: iTWire
Tue, 18th Dec 2018
Telstra to take quarter-stake in Southern Cross Cable
Telstra is buying into the Southern Cross Cable Network and has agreed to take a 25 percent stake in the trans-Pacific link by "investing in new shares" the Australian carrier said today.
Source: iTnews Australia