Broadband News
Mon, 26th Oct 2009
Lift your game or we act, warns Conroy
The Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, has threatened telecommunications companies with a legislative crackdown unless they dramatically improve customer service.
Source: SMH
Sat, 24th Oct 2009
NBN expert panellist wants more talk on wireless
Former NBN expert panellist Reginald Coutts has called on the Government and NBN Co to state a clear position on how they expect to serve the 10 percent of Australians not receiving a fibre-to-the-home connection under the NBN plan.
Source: iTnews Australia
Minchin's madness
I'm in a bind. I can't work out whether Senator Nick Minchin is plain mad, or there is method to his madness.
Source: Computerworld
Optus pulls a swifty with new mobile broadband plans
Lower prices, more data and cheaper modems – Optus' revised wireless broadband plans are all good, until your monthly data allowance is halved after 12 months...
Source: APC Magazine
Fri, 23rd Oct 2009
Telcos still ignore customer complaints, says TIO
More Australians are complaining about the levels of service provided by ISPs and mobile phone companies than ever before, according to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO), which has told the industry to improve customer experience.
Source: iTnews Australia
Complain about your telco, and have them pay you $50
The telecomms consumers lobby group - ACCAN, has ramped up its assault on the telecoms industry with demands that telcos compensate consumers who have to resort to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman to resolve issues with telcos.
Source: iTWire
Tanner: Telstra split not a Labor back flip
Despite icing a 2002 plan to pursue Telstra's structural separation due to concerns Labor had for its private shareholders, Minister for Finance Lindsay Tanner today said its current position was no different.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Bartlett making the most of Tassie's NBN
Tasmanian Greens leader, Nick McKim, is, according to ABC News "predicting a drip-feed of announcements over the Tasmanian roll-out of the National Broadband Network, to maximise the State Government's re-election chances," but there's plenty to suggest this has been going on for some time.
Source: iTWire
Telstra records highest telco complaints
More than half of 230,065 complaints lodged with the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman were attributed to Telstra.
Source: Australian IT
Telcos push for Telstra break-up laws
A group of telecommunications companies have urged federal politicians to pass legislative reforms that would lead to a break up of Telstra business.
Source: Computerworld
Minister welcomes Telstra productivity report
Lindsay Tanner, Federal Minister for Finance and Deregulation, has welcomed a report on government productivity commissioned by Telstra. It contains some very useful insights, he said.
Source: iTWire
Telco complaints jump 54 per cent
Complaints against the telecommunications industry rose a whopping 54 per cent in the 2008/09 financial year, prompting the industry ombudsman to issue a warning to business and consumers.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Murray coy on Telstra split
Future Fund chairman David Murray has refused to be drawn into the debate about a forced split of Telstra, arguing that it would be counterproductive for a declared seller of the telco's stock to comment.
Source: Australian IT
Telstra in a tizz over the irate hum of its parts
Despite attempts by the Opposition to delay the legislation to split Telstra, negotiations between the company and the Federal Government on the nature and amount of compensation to be paid to the telco are still due to be settled within eight weeks.
Source: SMH
Thu, 22nd Oct 2009
Draft laws to split Telstra pass lower house
Draft laws paving the way for the break-up of Telstra have passed the lower house of Federal Parliament, with Labor using its numbers to defeat a coalition move to delay its reform agenda.
Source: ZDNet Australia
ACMA restructures for NBN, digital broadcasting and empowered consumers
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is to revamp its internal structure to give a sharper focus on issues thrown up by the National Broadband Network and the transition to digital TV and radio; and "to give appropriate new weighting to the role of...individuals as citizens, as consumers and as audiences for content."
Source: iTWire
Telstra should have been split earlier: Joyce
Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce will toe the coalition line on delaying government legislation that aims to force a structural break-up of Telstra.
Source: Australian IT
'Truss clueless': Conroy
Another day, another insult. That's life in the capital city for Australia's Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy.
Source: iTWire
Optus cuts wireless broadband excess usage charges
Optus has more than halved excess usage costs for a new range of 3G wireless broadband plans from 15c to six cents per MB.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN should be free, says economist
Why the National Broadband Network should be free, and other stories from another day of the Senate Select Committee on the Rudd Government's telco infrastructure baby.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Prime Minister avoids questions on Internet filtering
Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has largely avoided the debate on Internet filtering during a live Web chat, despite several direct questions and comments by participants.
Source: ARN
Value for Telstra in network sale
The proposed dismemberment of Telstra has become the issue du jour, and understandably, given the telecommunications colossus has 1.4 million direct shareholders and many millions more through superannuation funds and other investment vehicles.
Source: SMH
NBN 'won't be derailed'
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said opposition attempts to block his reforms, including a plan to force Telstra to separate, would be a blow to consumers but would not derail the government's $43 billion broadband network.
Source: Australian IT
Wed, 21st Oct 2009
Turnbull lacks leadership on Telstra debate: Conroy
Opposition plans to delay the passage of the telco regulatory reform package would be disastrous for the Australian economy and for consumers, and Malcolm Turnbull should assert his leadership on the issue, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said.
Source: iTWire
Rage against the Coalition: Industry lashes out as Opposition fights against Telstra separation
The Coalition's attempt to delay the Government's proposed legislation to separate Telstra has been denounced by the industry.
Source: ARN
Upgrade halt puts Telstra in for NBN role
Telstra has put on ice an extension to the upgrade of a high-speed cable network that was touted as an alternative to the $43 billion national broadband network.
Source: The Age
Smartphone downloads can cost a bundle
Consumers signing up for smart phones are finding their bills can blow out alarmingly.
Source: SMH
Exetel adds its two cents on aaNet price rises
Exetel chief John Linton has entered the fray on ISP aaNet's ADSL1 price rises announced Monday, launching a stinging attack against the company.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tassie NBN stage 2 announced
The Tasmanian and Federal governments have jointly announced the locations for stage two of the NBN rollout.
Source: Whirlpool
Photos: Telstra unveils Queensland headquarters
Telstra CEO David Thodey and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh officially opened Telstra's new multi-million dollar Queensland headquarters yesterday.
Source: iTnews Australia