Broadband News
Thu, 06th May 2010
No iiNet freebies for Netspace users
Unmetered access for Netspace users to iView and the iTunes store via iiNet's free zone will not be happening in the near future, according to the internet service provider's CEO Michael Malone.
Source: ZDNet Australia
FCC moves to curb net provider power
The FCC is to re-regulate internet lines to protect net neutrality, amid concerns that US internet providers have too much power.
Source: Australian IT
Wed, 05th May 2010
Optus pushes for LTE spectrum decision
Optus has promised to keep the Australian Communications and Media Authority "on their toes" over mobile spectrum planning, particularly when it comes to 3G and LTE allocations.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN to cost up to $35bn: study
The cost of building the national broadband network is expected to be much less than the $43 billion initially earmarked for the project.
Source: Australian IT
Time to grill the Coalition on its 'no-NBN' plan
2GB's chief shock-jock Alan Jones this morning had a golden opportunity to grill opposition leader Tony Abbott on the Coalition's alternatives to the National Broadband Network, but he made not the slightest attempt to pursue it.
Source: iTWire
Exetel, is your NBN pricing for real?
When Exetel chief John Linton this week revealed the ISP's projected National Broadband Network pricing for Tasmania, my first thought was: "Is this for real?" After all, the company is expecting to offer 25Mbps fibre connections for zero dollars a month, with downloads being charged at $1 per gigabyte.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra comes to the mountain
Whirlpool users have had some of the biggest fallouts with Telstra over the years. Now, Telstra is making up with them.
Source: APC Magazine
Telstra staff strike over pay parity
Thousands of Telstra workers are expected to go on strike in Melbourne today after reaching yet another stalemate in salary negotiations.
Source: iTnews Australia
Conroy's office confirms delivery of NBN Implementation Study this week
The Minister for Communications, Broadband and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, will release the NBN Implementation Study on the National Broadband Network (NBN) this week.
Source: Computerworld
TransACT takes full ownership of Canberra ISP Grapevine
Canberra-based telecommunications provider, and ActewAGL subsidiary, TransACT, has purchased ActewAGL's 50 percent interest in local ISP Grapevine, taking its ownership to 100 percent.
Source: iTWire
Virgin's wireless broadband speeds might not be great, but the plan values are
Optus' wireless broadband subsidiary runs parallel everywhere except in value... and Darwin.
Source: PC Authority
Stephen Conroy confident of NBN deal
The federal government is confident of reaching an agreement with Telstra for the telco to shift its network traffic to the $43 billion national broadband network. It also plans to reintroduce legislation to split the company in two next week.
Source: The Australian
Tue, 04th May 2010
57 ISPs signed up for filter forum
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy's office has revealed that 57 out of the 687 invited internet service providers (ISPs) signed up to participate in a protected online forum to discuss issues with the government's planned mandatory filter.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Net filter circumvention: it's completely legal
The Federal Government's $23.8m ISP-level internet filtering initiative will not block encrypted content or web applications and can be circumvented legally, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has admitted.
Source: iTnews Australia
Internode sheds light on DNSSEC
Internode network engineer Mark Newton has shed some technical light on so-called "doomsaying" articles suggesting an upgrade to the internet's domain name servers might cause routers around the world to fail. The update will roll-out Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), which aim to authenticate and sign domain names.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Sen. Conroy agrees circumvention makes filter pointless
$24M buys the Government an Internet filter which they can install, but cannot stop people bypassing. Senator Conroy says so.
Source: iTWire
Court adjourns iiNet, AFACT financial fall-out
iiNet and an entourage of movie studios must wait for the verdict on who will foot the bill for their much-publicised legal stoush following an adjournment in the Federal Court of Australia today.
Source: Computerworld
People Telecom to care for customers domestically
Medium-enterprise telecommunications company, People Telecom, is set to establish an Australian-based customer care facility in Hobart by June this year.
Source: Computerworld
Conroy promises filter review at 10,000 URLs
The Federal Government plans to undertake a technical review of its Refused Classification (RC) Content blacklist if and when it reaches 10,000 web addresses.
Source: iTnews Australia
AFACT: We shouldn't have to pay all iiNet legal costs
The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) is seeking to pay only 60 per cent of iiNet's court costs, claiming the verdict handed down by the Federal Court in February was a "mixed result".
Source: ARN
Conroy given filter circumvention demo
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy was shown how to circumvent his mandatory internet service provider level internet filter in a one-hour demonstration.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Internode, Exetel to offer services in Point Cook trial
Internode has cut a deal with Telstra to offer its broadband services to 1,500 homes covered by the incumbent's Point Cook fibre trial after securing favourable contract terms.
Source: iTnews Australia
Coalition rule would stop NBN rollout
They grow some of the best apples in the nation and soon they will be serving the best broadband, and should Tony Abbott gain power at this year's federal election it's likely Tasmania will remain the only state hooked up to the NBN.
Source: Australian IT
Mon, 03rd May 2010
Telstra revamps data browsing pack prices
Heavy data users on Telstra Mobile post-paid plans will now receive more for their money with the telco increasing data amounts on its mobile browsing packs.
Source: iTnews Australia
Exetel unveils NBN pricing
National internet service provider Exetel today outlined projected pricing on its National Broadband Network plans in Tasmania, which was radically different from that offered on traditional ADSL broadband plans - such as a zero cost monthly plan at 25Mbps, with downloads charged at $1 per gigabyte.
Source: ZDNet Australia
5 ways to boost your broadband speed
Wireless broadband speeds can often be hit or miss. We take a look five simple steps that should help improve your broadband speeds.
Source: PC Authority
Telstra takes comb to ACMA 400MHz spectrum plans
Telstra has confirmed its is taking a fine-toothed comb to the ACMA's new 400MHz spectrum regulations to determine whether its previous concerns have been heeded.
Source: Computerworld
ACMA to overhaul 400MHz spectrum
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is touting its new 400 MHz spectrum recommendations as a means to dramatically increase essential and emergency service interoperability within state and federal government agencies.
Source: Computerworld
Sun, 02nd May 2010
More public consultation on internet filter
Government is considering another round of public consultation on its controversial internet filter plans, this time to fine tune the transparency and accountability measures attached the complaints-based blacklist scheme.
Source: iTWire
Sat, 01st May 2010
iiNet completes $40m Netspace buy
ISP iiNet has completed its $40 million acquisition of Netspace courtesy of an extended cash advance facility from Westpac.
Source: iTnews Australia