Broadband News

Fri, 10th Jul 2009

ISP's speeds almost dead as dodo, customers say

Dodo's broadband network performance and customer service woes have plumbed new lows, with the ISP's customers reporting cripplingly slow browsing speeds for the past two weeks.

Source: SMH

Thu, 09th Jul 2009

Filter trial report in September: Conroy

A report on the first round of internet filter trials is still up to eight weeks away due to the staggered approval of ISPs, said Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.

Source: iTnews Australia

Net filtering a $33m waste: child groups

Child rights groups have come out in force to criticise the Rudd Labor government's controversial plan to censor the internet.

Source: Australian IT

Bad planning will delay NBN, Huawei warns

The government's plan to construct a national broadband network could face lengthy delays unless hardware providers are able to guarantee supply chain integrity.

Source: Australian IT

Internode trying hard to make broadband easy

Cheap, easy and a large chunk of data allocation is what most people want from broadband and Adelaide-based ISP Internode has come up with a new product that it thinks will tick all the boxes. So what makes Internode Easy Broadband different from what's already out there?

Source: iTWire

FTTH on the rise at ADSL expense globally

The next two years will see a rapid increase in FTTH broadband across Western countries and the big loser will be ADSL. This is the forecast of a leading global telecommunications analyst.

Source: iTWire

Broadband penetration set to hit half a billion

The growth of broadband internet connections is set to top more than 500 million by next year, according to researchers.

Source: iTnews Australia

Country Energy adds NBN to smart grid thinking

Country Energy has foreshadowed a significant body of work ahead between the electricity sector and the Government to work through overlaps between smart grids and the national broadband network.

Source: iTnews Australia

Censordyne: net censoring gets a toothpasting

Toothpaste is the latest weapon mobilised to fight against the Federal Government's plan to censor the internet.

Source: SMH

Wed, 08th Jul 2009

NBN a threat to Telstra competitors says analyst

Despite the widespread ebullience about the announced Australian National Broadband Network, Telstra's competitors actually see it as a threat to their existing businesses - and they're right. This is the belief of a leading global telecommunications analyst.

Source: iTWire

Anderson, Switkowski on NBN shortlist

Former telco chiefs Chris Anderson and Ziggy Switkowski are believed to be on a short list of candidates to chair NBN Co.

Source: Australian IT

Tue, 07th Jul 2009

Funds wrangle hits NBN rollout

The spearhead of the federal government's $43 billion national broadband project appears to have been blunted as the likelihood of construction starting in Tasmania this month slips away while government costing negotiations drag on.

Source: Australian IT

Wanted: Questions for Senator Conroy about the NBN

With the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) holding a lunch this Thursday with Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, to discuss the future of high-speed broadband in Australia and the opportunities for the ICT industry, a rare opportunity to ask direct questions is available.

Source: ARN

NBN mailbag tallies 700 letters

The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) is drafting responses to over 700 letters received by various government ministers from their constituents about the National Broadband Network.

Source: iTnews Australia

Be patient with NBN investment returns: Hackett

Economic contributors to the National Broadband Network should view their return on investment over a 50-year timeframe, Internode managing director Simon Hackett has said.

Source: iTnews Australia

Looking beneath the net neutrality surface

IBRS advisor Guy Cranswick argues that the use of net neutrality is an aggressive manoeuvre to retain market share and withhold change in the telecommunications market.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Minchin expected NBN delays

Shadow Communications Minister Nick Minchin today said that he was not surprised with the lack of progress shown thus far in the roll-out of the first leg of the National Broadband Network in Tasmania.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Mon, 06th Jul 2009

Look, up in the sky! There's an ugly downside to Labor's broadband project

The uproar sparked by the unfettered installation of unsightly aerial pay TV cables in the 1990s was the catalyst for the formation of lobby group Sydney Cables Down Under and others like it.

Source: SMH

Basslink goes live; Aurora, Internode online

The fibre-optic Basslink cable linking Tasmania to the mainland has officially gone live, with two customers, Aurora and Internode, hooked up to receive transmissions.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Vale Internode Unwired customers

Internode is about to close its Unwired service, three years after it withdrew the plans from sale.

Source: iTnews Australia

Sat, 04th Jul 2009

Conroy opens NBNCo regulation debate

Communications minister Stephen Conroy has called for submissions on how to regulate the National Broadband Network company and its access regime.

Source: iTnews Australia

Fri, 03rd Jul 2009

Phone tax not enough for full broadband rollout

BT has said that a proposed 50 pence ($1.03) per month levy on phone landlines will not provide enough funds to cover the entire UK with fibre-optic broadband.

Source: iTnews Australia

A lot is riding on how we choose to take our fibre

If the national broadband network is to succeed, take-up of the service by domestic and business users must be rapid and as close to universal as possible. On that, all industry experts agree.

Source: The Age

Enex net filter lab contract up for grabs

Enex Testlabs' contract with the Department of Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy to provide technical advice on content filtering is up for review next month.

Source: iTnews Australia

Huawei considers Australian 4G lab

Huawei said it will consider building a research centre in Australia to enable carriers to test next-generation telecommunications technology for the National Broadband Network.

Source: iTnews Australia

Conroy wants comments on NBNco legislation

Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, is appealing for comments on the legislative framework for the National Broadband Network company (NBNco). Announced in April, the Government-owned organisation will be tasked with running the $43 billion wholesale fibre infrastructure.

Source: ARN

Blog: Will Rudd's bush backhaul bonanza deliver?

Rural areas will be welcoming the government's decision to put its money where its politicising is, funnelling $250m into a regional fibre upgrade to six rural centres. Remedying over a decade of near-neglect at the hands of telecoms privatisation, the investment could be the firmest step yet for Labor's NBN dream - but with inevitable political questions and a looming election, Rudd and Conroy need to deliver, and quickly, to preserve the NBN's credibility.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Thu, 02nd Jul 2009

Telstra slammed for job cuts plan

More than 160 positions have been cut since David Thodey took over the reins from Sol Trujillo as Telstra's chief.

Source: Australian IT

Department of Broadband to seek filtering help

The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy is set to open a tender seeking technical help to test content filtering products and services in August.

Source: ARN

Optus D3 satellite set for August launch

Optus has announced that it D3 satellite, the ninth in a 24 year history of Australian domestic satellites, will be launched by Arianespace during August.

Source: iTWire