Broadband News

Thu, 25th Feb 2010

Conroy sticks with porn filter plan

Federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is set to reject a Labor backbench push to soften the government's internet porn filter plan.

Source: Australian IT

Analysis: Five ways AFACT lost the iiNet case

The film industry has until 4.30pm today to consider whether to appeal Justice Dennis Cowdroy's historic decision in the Federal Court earlier this month to absolve ISP iiNet of the illegal file-sharing occurring among users of its network.

Source: iTnews Australia

Conroy's NBN threat to Telstra

The Rudd government has backflipped on the operation of the NBN to bolster the project and to enforce Telstra's co-operation.

Source: Australian IT

Wed, 24th Feb 2010

Conroy doesn't have NBN study yet

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has not yet received the National Broadband Network implementation study being put together by consulting firms McKinsey and KPMG.

Source: ZDNet Australia

TransACT & Neighbourhood Cable to offer Google Apps

ACT based broadband network operator, TransACT and its Neighbourhood Cable subsidiary have announced plans to offer the Google Apps range of cloud-based communication, collaboration and security products to their customers.

Source: iTWire

AFACT v iiNet: D-day for AFACT appeal against iiNet copyright ruling

The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) has yet to make an announcement regarding a possible appeal to the Federal Court decision in the landmark copyright case against iiNet. The deadline for the appeal is Thursday 25 February.

Source: Computerworld

Government to keep a leash on NBN Co

NBN Co is to remain Government property until Minister Conroy sees fit, according to an exposure draft of legislation enshrining the National Broadband Network (NBN) introduced to Parliament today.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN Co draft legislation unveiled

The Federal Government has unveiled draft legislation for the regulatory framework for the operation of NBN Co.

Source: Computerworld

Tasmanian Greens plan $300,000 WiFi enabled buses trial

The Tasmanian Greens party is to fund the installation of WiFi devices on Launceston's Metro bus fleet for an 18 month trial in a bid to drive widespread deployment of the technology on Tasmania's public transport systems.

Source: iTWire

Tue, 23rd Feb 2010

Internode ranked best ISP, again

For the second time in as many days Internode has been ranked top in surveys designed to assess users' perceptions of ISPs.

Source: iTWire

iiNet: AFACT wasted time and money

iiNet has slammed the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) for squandering time and money that could have been spent exploring legitimate online content distribution solutions.

Source: ARN

Dept NBN head retires

Stephen Conroy's Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) is about to lose another one of its most senior staffers, with its long-serving deputy secretary Colin Lyons set to retire from the public sector at the end of the month.

Source: ZDNet Australia

NBN: Will it turn Tassie criminal?

The NBN in Tasmania will not be used to its full capacity, and those that do will likely end up copyright criminals in their efforts to justify the cost of 100Mbps.

Source: ZDNet Australia

TV and the internet tipped for growth

Seven Network is bullish about growth for its television and internet interests, according to detailed projections contained in documents relating to the proposed merger of Seven and WesTrac.

Source: The Australian

iiNet: Looking to buy east coast ISPs

iiNet has flagged efforts to buy up ISPs on the east coast to expand its business.

Source: ARN

Analysis: ISPs play wait and see game after iiTrial

In the heady days after iiNet won its landmark court battle against a coalition of film and TV studios earlier this month, it would have been easy to assume Australian internet users could say goodbye forever to the creeping paranoia so many have felt after receiving a forwarded copyright infringement notice by email.

Source: iTnews Australia

iiNet on the brink of launching Pay TV over ADSL2+

It's due to launch commercially next month, and a group of home-users are already trialling iiNet's IPTV service.

Source: APC Magazine

Mon, 22nd Feb 2010

Malone to AFACT: You lose, you pay

iiNet managing director Michael Malone said today that the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) shouldn't be able to get out of paying for its failed attempt to sue the provider over copyright breach.

Source: ZDNet Australia

iiNet selling 4,000 BoBs per month

Tier two ISP iiNet today revealed it was selling about 4,000 units per month of its flagship BoB combination ADSL router and internet telephony handset since it launched the device in mid-August 2009.

Source: iTWire

Telstra increases wireless broadband allowances

Telstra has increased the data allowances of its pre-paid wireless broadband offerings.

Source: iTnews Australia

iiNet revenues and profits up

iiNet has posted a revenue gain of 11.3 per cent for the half year to 31 December, 2009 over the same period in 2008.

Source: Computerworld

Govt open to Telstra Bill changes

The government has indicated for the first time that it is "open to amendments" on the Telstra separation Bill due for debate this Thursday.

Source: ZDNet Australia

AFACT v iiNet: Film studios seeking to recoup costs

The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) will take Perth-based Internet Service Provider (ISP) iiNet back to court this Thursday to recoup costs.

Source: Computerworld

92% of Whirlpool users against filter

Out of 21,755 people that responded to the survey, an overwhelming majority said they didn't want Senator Conroy's internet filter.

Source: APC Magazine

Sun, 21st Feb 2010

Photos: Sydney's anti- internet censorship protest

Project Freeweb - aka Anonymous - hits Sydney as part of a day of nationwide protests against the Federal Government's plan to filter the internet for refused classification content.

Source: iTnews Australia

Conroy set to announce key spectrum decisions

Communications minister senator Stephen Conroy is expected to announce important policy decisions on the future of mobile spectrum when he addresses members of the mobile industry early next month.

Source: iTWire

Sat, 20th Feb 2010

Conroy can still regulate the internet

Communications Minister Senator Stephen Conroy has played down comments made on ABC radio that it wasn't possible to regulate the internet, saying the comment did not apply to content types other than internet television.

Source: iTnews Australia

Fri, 19th Feb 2010

VHA gained 500k customers after merger

Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Ltd (HTA) has posted a $467.7 million annual net profit due to gains realised through its merger with Vodafone Australia, and says it is pleased with the progress of the new company.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Tassie election internet law sparks protests

A number of civil liberties, privacy, consumer groups and individuals have started to express displeasure at what they claim are out-of-date laws regarding disclosure of personal information when Tasmanian residents comment online about the upcoming state election.

Source: iTWire

iiNet takes only ISP spot on internet board

iiNet chief technology officer Greg Bader was the sole ISP representative appointed to the Internet Industry Association board yesterday.

Source: iTnews Australia