Broadband News

Wed, 30th Sep 2009

Green light for Kordia's new trans-Tasman cable

The board of New Zealand company, Kordia Solutions, has given the green light - subject to customer signups - to the company's plans to build a new trans-Tasman submarine cable, dubbed OptiKor.

Source: iTWire

Film studios drop more of iiNet case

The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft's (AFACT) legal action over iiNet's alleged breach of copyright took a further watering down today as the film studios removed the "primary" copyright infringement claim.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Gartner: Early NBN to add complications for enterprise customers

The early years of the Federal Government's National Broadband Network may spell chaos for enterprise network buyers unaware of the commercial models and capabilities, a new report claims.

Source: ARN

Pirate Party reaches critical mass

A pressure group that hoped to set Australia's copyright law on its head has reached a milestone 500 members it needs to register as a political party.

Source: iTnews Australia

Foxtel tackles telcos on movies

Foxtel chief Kim Williams is challenging Australia's major telecommunications companies -- including Foxtel's major shareholder Telstra -- to drop internet download limits for subscribers downloading movies.

Source: Australian IT

Australian spaces may be ranked by NBN places

The public spaces digitised and connected to the proposed National Broadband Network NBN will rise in social prominence above those that remain analogue, according to a Melbourne University academic.

Source: Computerworld

Tue, 29th Sep 2009

Telstra between a rock and the ACCC?

The proposed regulatory reforms ahead of the roll-out of the National Broadband Network rely on a finely balanced carrot and stick approach. But will Telstra cooperate with the government's ultimatum?

Source: ZDNet Australia

Behind the scenes: Sydney CBD cable cut

Telstra has shown off its ability to quickly repair a fibre optic and copper cable cut in Sydney's central business district that was damaged by an Energy Australia contractor less that two weeks ago, leaving thousands without services.

Source: iTnews Australia

Australia to hit 69% household broadband penetration by 2013:Gartner

Australia is expected to add about 1.7 million household broadband connections between 2008 and 2013, lifting its penetration rate from about 55 per cent in 2008 to 69 per cent, according to new research from Gartner.

Source: Computerworld

Telstra seeks to ease investor fears

Telstra chief David Thodey has reassured shareholders that their interests are his main priority as separation discussions move into full gear with the federal government.

Source: Australian IT

Unwired: Good old fashioned broadband access will drive 4G

Unwired claims the need for traditional Internet access will provide the driving force behind uptake of its forthcoming 4G services.

Source: ARN

Unwired reveals key suppliers & plans for national WiMAX rollout

Unwired has named the remaining key suppliers for the Vividwireless mobile WiMax network rollout in Perth and says networks in the major capitals will follow in short order.

Source: iTWire

IBM services wins role in Perth WiMAX rollout

IBM's global technology services division has picked up work from Perth WiMAX operator vividwireless and ISP iiNet as part of a global alliance with Juniper Networks.

Source: iTnews Australia

Providers could strangle zombies

Internet service providers hope to boost the fight against armies of compromised computers -- known as botnets -- through a voluntary code that could shut down zombies one by one.

Source: Australian IT

ISPs force rewrite of law

The federal government has substantially rewritten a bill intended to protect computer networks before its tabling in parliament by Attorney-General Robert McClelland.

Source: Australian IT

Mon, 28th Sep 2009

Internode cuts 3G modem prices

Internode has cut $50 from the price of its range of 3G modems for use with its a NodeMobile Data wireless broadband service and has introduced an antenna to boost reception.

Source: iTWire

AFACT calls Carson in copyright case

The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft has confirmed Ferrier Hodgson IT forensics executive Nigel Carson as its expert witness in the court case against ISP iiNet.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra takes ADSL2+ to 88 percent of Tasmanians

Telstra says it has upgraded its 100th telephone exchange in Tasmania, in Richmond, to ADSL2+, extending ADSL2+ coverage to 88 percent of Tasmanian homes and businesses.

Source: iTWire

NBN brings up fixed broadband figures

Australia was expected to gain five places in fixed line broadband penetration globally by 2013 with Gartner predicting a 14 percent rise in the number of households connected in that time.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra shareholders demand break-up vote

Telstra's big shareholders have again gone on the attack over federal government plans to break up the telco, warning such actions may go against the company's constitution.

Source: ZDNet Australia

All eyes on NBN

The sheer scale of the national broadband network (NBN)project has drawn interest from foreign governments including the US, where President Barack Obama has outlined similar plans.

Source: Australian IT

Operational NBN model to be ready within two months

Researchers and vendors will be able to test their applications and equipment on a fully operational model of the National Broadband Network within two months.

Source: Computerworld

Sun, 27th Sep 2009

Australia embarks on great broadband adventure

From snowy mountains and sun-baked deserts to the steamy tropical north, Australia has begun wiring its vast expanse with a high-tech broadband network in a giant project being closely followed abroad.

Source: SMH

Sat, 26th Sep 2009

Broadband plan smacks of the 1950s

The government's move to force Telstra, its infrastructure and its all-important customers into the $43 billion -- give or take $10-$20bn -- National Broadband Network has "focused" debate on precisely, if not quite the wrong questions, the smaller ones.

Source: The Australian

Fri, 25th Sep 2009

Sydney-wide iPhone test: which carrier has best speed and coverage?

Four networks, 150 locations and one sprawling city - Sydney's most thorough testing of iPhone carriers reveals the winners and sinners for speed and coverage.

Source: APC Magazine

ISPs cozy up to Federal Court

The association that represented the interests of internet service providers sought to model itself as a disinterested party advising the Federal Court deciding whether iiNet aided illicit downloads of copyright material as alleged by the film industry.

Source: iTnews Australia

The NBN spells the end of the ISP as we know it

The ISP has one foot in the grave. Or at least once the Federal Government's National Broadband Network (NBN is rolled out, the term Internet Service Provider (ISP) may become an endangered species, according to the director of the recently-established Institute for a Broadband Enabled Society (IBES).

Source: ARN

Photos: Digging Tasmania's National Broadband Network trench

Engineers from French and Australian joint venture Marais-Lucas Technology have begun cutting up a thin trench across the Tasmanian landscape north of Hobart for the first fibre cable of the National Broadband Network to be laid.

Source: iTnews Australia

AFACT raises concern over unlimited ISP plans

The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft has voiced concerns that AAPT's unlimited off-peak broadband plans could promote illegal movie downloads.

Source: iTnews Australia

Thu, 24th Sep 2009

Exetel hunts for staff

ISP Exetel has earmarked the recruitment of 36 staff in Australia over the next year, most of which are corporate sales and sales engineering support roles.

Source: iTnews Australia