Broadband News
Fri, 12th Mar 2010
Filter paves way for censorship: Hockey
Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey yesterday launched an attack on the Federal Government's internet filtering scheme, in one of the first cases of a senior Opposition figure coming out publicly against the controversial policy.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Internode doubles its Southern Cross link capacity
ISP Internode plans to double its share of network capacity between Sydney and the USA before June as part of a five year deal with Southern Cross Cable network.
Source: iTnews Australia
Australia on net censorship blacklist
A top media rights watchdog has listed Australia along with Iran and North Korea in a report on countries that pose a threat of internet censorship.
Source: Australian IT
Thu, 11th Mar 2010
NZ Internet filter goes live
New Zealand's opt-in Internet content filter has gone live today with a least two confirmed participating ISPs. The government-run and operated scheme was quietly turned on early last month as a soft launch.
Source: Computerworld
Oh dear: Optus didn't learn from Telstra's mistake
if there's one thing that we find amusing, it's when history repeats itself. As it so often does in Australia's fickle telecommunications industry.
Source: iTWire
iiNet and Netspace? Finally
I would be surprised if iiNet managing director Michael Malone and Netspace managing director Stuart Marburg haven't been flirting with the idea of a merger on and off for the past decade.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Government considers free filters for small ISPs
Small Internet Service Providers (ISPs) need not spend a cent to meet the national Internet filtering requirements in a move under consideration by the Federal Government.
Source: Computerworld
Exetel mulls unlimited ADSL2 plans
An 11 March email to customers of Internet service provider (ISP) Exetel has revealed the company is considering ADSL2 plans with unlimited uploads and downloads. The email states that the ISP believes "there will be ongoing 'convulsions' in the marketplace and there will be many permutations that will change ADSL2 offerings quite substantially over the coming months."
Source: PC World
Plans afoot for new Sydney-US fibre link
Competition could be looming for the Southern Cross Cable that carries the majority of Australia and New Zealand's Internet traffic, if a group of New Zealand hi-tech business people behind a second fibre-optic link get their way.
Source: iTnews Australia
iiNet confirms Netspace takeover talks
Internet service provider iiNet Ltd says it is in discussions with rival Netspace about a takeover but no decision has been made to proceed with the acquisition.
Source: Computerworld
NBN 'dead' without Telstra: Minchin
The opposition has continued its assault on the federal government's plan to legislatively dismember Telstra as the telco's rivals ramp up efforts to lobby cross-bench senators to vote in favour of the bill.
Source: Australian IT
iiNet to buy Netspace for $75m?
iiNet has requested a trading halt following speculation that it will acquire fellow internet service provider, Netspace.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra split unAustralian: Liberals
The coalition has described Federal Government plans to break up Telstra as among the most draconian pieces of legislation ever put before federal parliament.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra bounces on revival of hope
Telstra shares enjoyed a brief reprieve from their three-month battering yesterday as investors clung to hope that the opposition had the support to scupper the government's plans to cleave the giant telco in two.
Source: The Australian
Wed, 10th Mar 2010
NBN Co setting up shop
NBN Co has announced that it has selected Sydney and Melbourne offices, the latter within shouting distance of key government regulators, the ACMA and ACCC.
Source: Computerworld
Exetel wants Telstra sorry ad
John Linton, chief executive of internet service provider Exetel, has challenged Telstra in court after it allegedly incorrectly listed the ISP as a "bad debtor".
Source: ZDNet Australia
Labor to vote on ISP filter this fortnight
The Federal Labor party is set to vote on whether or not mandatory filter plans become legislation within the next two weeks, according to Government Senator, Kate Lundy.
Source: ARN
Feds fund entire NBN Tassie 'joint-venture'
The Australian Government is carrying the entire cost of the national broadband network roll-out in Tasmania, with negotiations over the planned joint-venture with State-owned utility Aurora Energy put on hold last year and not expected to resume until July.
Source: iTWire
Net filters could put ISPs $1M out of pocket
The Federal Government's Internet content filter scheme could put many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) up to $1 million out of pocket.
Source: Computerworld
Telstra plan hits a wall
Kevin Rudd's bill to force the break-up of Telstra looks doomed to fail, with the Coalition and a key cross-bench senator resolving yesterday to vote against it.
Source: The Australian
Tue, 09th Mar 2010
New TPG ADSL2+ Plans released
Today, TPG have released some amazing new ADLS2+ plans, and we have updated our database to show this.
Source: Oz Broadband Speed Test
Exetel takes Telstra to Federal Court
Exetel has filed legal proceedings against Telstra in the Federal Court of Australia for alleged misleading and deceptive conduct.
Source: Computerworld
ITU launches satellite interface standard for mobiles
The International Telecommunication Union has released a new standard which it claims will boost mobile services in the areas of roaming and compatibility.
Source: iTnews Australia
Hasty call-out for passive NBN kit
NBN Co, the company charged with building Australia's $43 billion National Broadband Network (NBN), today released an expression of interest for companies to provide passive network kit for the national roll-out.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Anti-filter flash mob planned to educate fools
An online activist group will use a flash mob on April Fools Day to raise its concerns about the Internet content filter to the general public.
Source: Computerworld
NBN likely to create skills shortage
As NBN Co begins to hire in earnest, it will shy away from poaching top telco talent and could face a shortage of skilled IT professionals this year.
Source: Australian IT
NBNCo won't dob on job seekers
The National Broadband Network Company (NBNCo) has poured cold water on reports it will contact the employers of prospect executives who attempt to jump ship from other telecommunications providers.
Source: Computerworld
PIPE dream set to come true for TPG
Speculation that TPG Telecom would struggle to garner 75 per cent support from PIPE Networks shareholders for the proposed $373 million acquisition was enough to knock 20ยข off the PIPE share price yesterday, closing at $6, a discount of 5 per cent to the offer of $6.30 a share. The shareholder vote will take place on Friday.
Source: SMH
Mon, 08th Mar 2010
Primus Telecom gears up to offer IPTV
Primus Telecom is putting in place the content and technology to enable it to deliver IPTV services to its ADSL customers, but CEO Ravi Bhatia says he remains unconvinced there will be sufficient demand to merit launching the service.
Source: iTWire
Sydney's anti-filter turnout: Photos
The national day of action to protest the government's internet filter took place last weekend, although only some passionate anti-filter people turned up to the event held in Sydney.
Source: ZDNet Australia