Broadband News
Mon, 31st Aug 2020
Amaysim goes to market as Optus network deal approaches expiry
Amaysim is testing the market for its next network services agreement as its current wholesale arrangement with Optus comes up for expiry in mid-2022.
Source: iTnews Australia
ALP asks why FttN users still cannot get promised minimum download speed
The Australian Labor Party has questioned why 139,963 household and business users of fibre-to-the-node connections on the NBN still cannot get the mandated speeds of 25Mbps.
Source: iTWire
Sun, 30th Aug 2020
Telstra passes new ‘milestones’ with 5G rollouts in Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania
Telstra has passed new milestones with 400 Queensland 5G sites now on-air and both the 450th Telstra 5G site on-air in Victoria and the 30th Tasmanian 5G site also on air, as the telco’s 5G rollouts continues apace.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 28th Aug 2020
Commander takes its turn as Australia's most complained about telco
The Communications Alliance Complaints in Context report for April to June has a new king to crown in the form of Vocus-owned Commander.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Wed, 26th Aug 2020
Get 40GB for $35 per month on Optus and a whole heap of Flybuys points
Optus has teamed up with Flybuys for a new range of SIM-only plans.
Source: WhistleOut
Optus claims first 2300MHz + 3500MHz 5G carrier aggregation call
Australia's second biggest telco Singtel Optus has teamed up with Swedish telecommunications equipment provider Ericsson to make what it claims is the world's first 2300 + 3500MHz 5G non-standalone carrier aggregation call.
Source: iTWire
Tue, 25th Aug 2020
Telstra completes $5.2 million network upgrade on Tasmania’s west coast
Telstra has completed a $5.2 million upgrade of its network on Tasmania’s west coast, with the project completed more than a year ahead of schedule.
Source: iTWire
Mon, 24th Aug 2020
Optus launches new network status map
Optus has announced the release of a new network status map, called Network Experience Maps (NE-Maps), which it claims transforms customers mobile and website experience by enabling them to raise an issue with the mobile network “when and where” a problem is occurring and opt-in to SMS/email updates about a known or reported issue.
Source: iTWire
Uniti urges broadband tax extension to cellular
Uniti Group has urged the government to expand the application of the broadband tax to high-speed cellular broadband networks, partially in the hope of offsetting the size of its own contribution to the scheme.
Source: iTnews Australia
Fri, 21st Aug 2020
Company formerly known as Vodafone Australia ends first half once again in the red
TPG Telecom -- the renamed Vodafone Hutchinson Australia (VHA) that went on to swallow the former TPG in a merger -- reported its first half results on Friday, and they require some history to effectively dissect.
Source: ZDNet Australia
TPG Telecom adds 550 sites to 5G network rollout plan
TPG Telecom is planning to ramp up its 5G rollout over the next 12 months, with more than 85 percent of the population in the country’s six largest cities expected to be served by the end of 2021.
Source: iTnews Australia
TPG Telecom weathers revenue decline in first financials since merger
TPG Telecom, the new publicly-listed entity combining Vodafone Hutchison Australia and TPG, has flagged year-on-year declines in revenue and earnings for the six months ending 30 June.
Source: ARN
Thu, 20th Aug 2020
ACMA drafting rules to require telcos pass on NBN fault rebates to customers
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has said it will require the rebates paid by NBN for failing to meet its wholesale service levels to be passed onto customers by retailers.
Source: ZDNet Australia
NBN Co agrees to pay up for slow internet, poor service
NBN Co has agreed to pay daily rebates on slow, congested and underperforming services, as well as for missed appointments and service faults, in a drastic U-turn.
Source: iTnews Australia
ACCC restarts inquiry into NBN pricing, service proposals
The competition watchdog, the ACCC, has recommenced its inquiry which is considering a proposal from National Broadband Network operator, NBN Co, that aims to address concerns about service standards for wholesale NBN products and the pricing of entry-level NBN services.
Source: iTWire
Wed, 19th Aug 2020
Vocus bucks downward trend on NBN margins
Vocus has reported an $2.30 increase in the average margin per NBN user across FY20, appearing to buck downward pressure experienced elsewhere in the sector through a combination of NBN price reductions and cost-cutting on its own end.
Source: iTnews Australia
NSW seeking approval to put GPS repeaters in Sydney tunnels
Transport for New South Wales is looking for permission to install GPS repeaters in the tunnels under Sydney to test the impact it would have on emergency services, as well as GPS units and smartphones.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Vocus profit continues to slide
Vocus Group has ended FY20 with a $178.2 million loss after seeing its profits plummet for the past three years.
Source: ARN
Internet Explorer 11's death march starts now
Microsoft's Internet Explorer 11 web browser is headed into the sunset after seven years, with support to be revoked for key online services.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN CO launches community education campaign on scam threats
National Broadband Network operator NNB Co has launched a community education campaign focusing on the threat of scams and warning that scammers are increasing their focus to “deceive Australians”, with new and variations of common NBN themed scams emerging in recent months.
Source: iTWire
Tue, 18th Aug 2020
VoIP phone on NBN: Everything you need to know
Moving to the NBN also means moving your landline to a VoIP phone service. This is a bit confusing for some people, but we're here to the help with the most frequently asked questions about this topic.
Source: WhistleOut
ACCC and Google come to blows over new media bargaining laws
After Google on Monday published an open letter declaring that Australia's proposed media bargaining laws were unfair and put the "way Aussies' search at risk", the consumer watchdog rebutted, labelling the post as misinformation.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Mon, 17th Aug 2020
Google unleashes rebuke on Australian antitrust law
Internet giant Google has criticised proposed Australian antitrust laws, saying its free search service would be "at risk" and users' personal data could be shared if it is made to pay news organisations for their content.
Source: ARN
ACCC accuses Google of seeding media code 'misinformation'
Australia’s competition watchdog has accused Google of spreading ‘misinformation’ after the web giant weaponised its search engine to warn users of so-called risks with the country’s proposed media code.
Source: iTnews Australia
Fri, 14th Aug 2020
Union says NBN Co move to axe 800 jobs now 'a disgrace'
The Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union of Australia, the body that represents workers who are employed by NBN Co, the company that is rolling out the country's national broadband network, has called on the Federal Government to reconsider the axing of 800 jobs at the company in the middle of a pandemic when people are more reliant on the network than ever.
Source: iTWire
Thu, 13th Aug 2020
Bidders unable to buy over 1GHz in Australian 26GHz 5G spectrum auction
Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts Paul Fletcher announced on Thursday he has directed the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to set limits on the upcoming millimetre wave auction due in March.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Newly-merged TPG Telecom reveals leadership team
The newly-combined entity of TPG and Vodafone Australia has unveiled its executive line-up a month after finalising its $15 billion merger.
Source: ARN
Telstra profit falls by 14% after year of bush fires and COVID-19
Telstra has posted another year of tumbling profits as the summer bush fires and COVID-19 pandemic hit its already beleaguered finances.
Source: ARN
Aussie Broadband now has 5080 'up to gigabit' NBN customers
Aussie Broadband has increased customer numbers on NBN Co’s newly-affordable ‘up to gigabit’ speed plans to 5080, a greater than 90 percent share of all signups.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra calls profitability of NBN services 'negligible at best'
Telstra boss Andy Penn has renewed long-running calls for NBN Co to alter its wholesale pricing, saying the profitability of selling NBN services “is negligible at best”.
Source: iTnews Australia