Broadband News

Wed, 16th Dec 2009

ISP-level filter trial vendor happy with results

The vendor that provided filtering products to six of the nine ISPs participating in the Federal Government's controversial ISP-level content filtering trial says the results show the technology works.

Source: Computerworld

Australia Internet filtering a test case for global clean-feed

Implementation of the Federal Government's ISP-level filtering could spark worldwide adoption of Internet content filtering, according to IDC head telecommunications analyst, David Cannon.

Source: ARN

Google slams 'heavy-handed' filter

Google Australia posted a statement today on its official blog calling the government's ISP filter "heavy handed" and outlining the search giant's concerns about the scope of filtered content.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Lundy: My filter views 'well known'

Labor Senator Kate Lundy has backed away from directly commenting on the government's internet filtering policy, saying her views on the subject are "well known".

Source: ZDNet Australia

Australia's net filter makes world headlines

Senator Stephen Conroy is fast becoming an international name - with the world's technology and political community astounded as much by his plans for an internet filter as the build of the $43 billion national broadband network.

Source: iTnews Australia

Greens, EFA critical of ISP filtering plans

The chorus of voices critiquing the Federal Government’s mandatory ISP-level filtering plans has grown larger with the Greens and Electronic Frontiers Australia joining the likes of the Federal Opposition and Google in opposing the filter.

Source: Computerworld

Net censorship move a smokescreen: expert

One of Australia's top communications experts says the Government's internet censorship trials were designed to succeed from the outset, presented no new information and are now being used by the Government to further its political agenda.

Source: SMH

Senator Conroy, thou knowest not the scorn to be brought down upon thine head

Today, Australia's supposed technology leader announced his Luddite status to the world at large. I ask you Sir; if it is 'one man, one vote,' why is MY vote worth so much less than Senator Fielding's?

Source: iTWire

Internet filter gives mother some peace of mind

Sue Mistos has used an internet filter to protect her four children from the horrors on the web and would welcome any moves to introduce more widespread filtering.

Source: Australian IT

Tue, 15th Dec 2009

Smith calls for independent audit of Internet content filter trial results

The new shadow Communications Minister, Tony Smith, has called for an independent audit of the Federal Government's controversial ISP-level content filtering trial results released today.

Source: Computerworld

Internode: ISP-level filter goals still not clear

The objectives of the Federal Government's mandatory ISP-level filter plan announced today are still unclear, according to one of the companies likely to be directly affected.

Source: Computerworld

Telstra to double Endeavour cable capacity

Telstra's Endeavour submarine cable is ready for its first upgrade, shortly after its first birthday.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra, Optus, Primus all back Conroy's filtering plans

Three of Australia's largest ISPs, Telstra, Optus and Primus - all participants in the Government's filtering trial - have come out in support of the measures announced today to implement mandatory ISP side filtering of Internet content.

Source: iTWire

Welcome to National Censorship Day

Conroy's blind adherence to his net filtering plan will abandon Net neutrality ideals and push ISPs down a slippery slope of unprecedented responsibility for a callously politicised Australian Internet.

Source: ZDNet Australia

ISPs, pollies & activists speak out on internet filter

Electronic Frontiers Australia has expressed concern over the Federal Government's decision to introduce mandatory ISP-level filtering, as several ISPs indicated support contingent on further "consultation".

Source: iTnews Australia

Mandatory ISP filtering to go ahead

The Federal Government plans to implement mandatory ISP filtering for "refused classification" websites, it was announced today.

Source: Whirlpool

Conroy releases Internet filter trial report

The Minister for Broadband, Senator Stephen Conroy, has released the results of the controversial Internet filter trial.

Source: ARN

Cisco CTO Bloch hung out to dry on NBN comments

Cisco Systems' corporate chieftains have disowned comments made by its Australian chief technology officer Kevin Bloch critical of the technical direction being taken in the $43 billion national broadband network rollout.

Source: iTWire

NBN failings exposed on public data, costs

Labor's $43 billion national broadband network will struggle to deliver on the government's promise, industry experts have warned.

Source: Australian IT

Mon, 14th Dec 2009

OptiComm scores Tas NBN deal

NEC Australia looks set for an early National Broadband Network win as greenfield fibre-to-the-home service provider, OptiComm, finalises an early deployment contract with NBN Tasmania.

Source: ZDNet Australia

IIA to hold legal "boot camp" for ISPs on copyright case

The Internet Industry Association (IIA) has scheduled an "exclusive briefing" with internet service providers to discuss the court case between Perth-based ISP iiNet and the film industry.

Source: iTnews Australia

Video: Watchdog says ISP-level filtering works

The managing director of Watchdog International claims that the firm's filtering product, tested in the Federal Government's ISP-level filtering pilot, will be shown to have had no adverse impact on internet performance.

Source: iTnews Australia

Conroy calls NBN costings "bizarre maths"

At a broadband forum last week, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy called the per-house costing of Tasmania's optic fibre network "bizarre maths".

Source: ZDNet Australia

Tassie NBN chooses network vendor

Tasmania NBN, the arm of the NBN Company that will build and operate the state's wholesale fibre telco, has directly contracted a "active network" equipment supplier, but chief Doug Campbell is staying tight-lipped over its identity.

Source: ZDNet Australia

OECD makes the case for a better-than-the-NBN FTTP rollout

In what is perhaps the most detailed cost-benefit analysis of a national FTTH network yet attempted the OECD has concluded that cost savings of between 0.5 and 1.5 percent over 10 years across the four key sectors of an economy: electricity, health, transportation and education could justify the cost of such a network, but it says each house should have a dedicated fibre connection, or possibly two!

Source: iTWire

Govt quiet in NBN debate

The federal government has distanced itself from growing controversy over whether its $43 billion national broadband network will deliver an open, competitive telecommunications market.

Source: Australian IT

Sun, 13th Dec 2009

Infrastructure competition key to broadband price reductions

The Internet Industry Association (IIA) has released its ninth broadband index saying it shows that competition at the infrastructure level is essential to aggressive broadband pricing.

Source: iTWire

Sat, 12th Dec 2009

Wrap up: Realising Our Broadband Future summit

The Federal Government's Realising Our Broadband Future event was held over two days at the University of New South Wales (UNSW).

Source: Computerworld

Fri, 11th Dec 2009

LTE should deliver at least 10-24Mbps in Australia

US telco Verizon Wireless has become the first to give any indication of what bandwidths users on its LTE cellular network should achieve, but thanks to different spectrum allocations, Australian LTE rollouts should deliver rates at least double these, according to Ericsson.

Source: iTWire

Why the NBN is like the iPhone

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has likened the National Broadband Network (NBN) to the Apple iPhone, saying it's impossible to know all the applications that will use the high-speed connectivity engine before it is built.

Source: ARN