Broadband News
Wed, 24th Jun 2020
High-speed fibre internet arrives at 500 SA schools
Around 500 public schools across South Australia are now benefiting from high-speed internet after connecting to a Telstra fibre optic network capable of speeds of 1Gbps and up.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tue, 23rd Jun 2020
'Fundamentally flawed': ACCC alleges Dodo and iPrimus misled customers about NBN speeds
The consumer watchdog alleges Dodo and iPrimus used a "fundamentally flawed" testing methodology as the basis for advertising claims about typical evening broadband internet speeds.
Source: ABC News
Vocus to be hauled before Federal Court over NBN speed claims
Vocus is set to have the NBN speed claims of its Dodo and iPrimus brands tested in the federal court after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission filed suit against the company.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mon, 22nd Jun 2020
Australians reported 25,000 phishing scams last year
Australians reported 167,797 scams to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)-controlled Scamwatch in 2019.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Foxtel's soft-look streaming is not the future
As Aussie viewers look far and wide for their entertainment, how long can Foxtel hold out as the only major streaming service to ignore 4K?
Source: SMH
UK telcos told to stockpile Huawei gear
British security officials have told UK telecom operators to ensure they have adequate stockpiles of Huawei equipment due to fears that new US sanctions will disrupt the Chinese firm's ability to maintain critical supplies, according to a letter.
Source: iTnews Australia
With money in sight, ABC changes stance towards Google and Facebook
The ABC has markedly changed its stance towards Google and Facebook, now that the ACCC is pushing for the digital platforms to pay news organisations for using their content.
Source: iTWire
Thu, 18th Jun 2020
NBN broadband data demand continues to peak above pre-COVID-19 levels
Data demand on the National Broadband Network’s main wholesale access service continues to peak above pre-COVID-19 levels as more Australians continue to rely on the network for their work, entertainment and education needs, according to the latest report from NBN Co, the operators of the NBN.
Source: iTWire
Wed, 17th Jun 2020
Qualcomm brings 5G to non-flagship mobiles with Snapdragon 690
Qualcomm is taking 5G beyond flagship devices, with its new Snapdragon 690 chip getting support for the next-gen mobile connectivity, as well as 4K HDR support, and the ability to handle displays capable of a 120Hz refresh rate.
Source: ZDNet Australia
COVID 19 boosts 5G global subcription forecasts
The forecast number of 5G subscriptions worldwide by 2025 has been raised from 2.6 billion to 2.8 billion, with telecommunications equipment maker Ericsson attributing the additional growth to an increasing number of 5G subscriptions as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic.
Source: iTWire
TasmaNet chief sees NBN as critical player in Australia’s ‘return’ to economic growth
Tasmanian communications provider TasmaNet CEO Elizabeth Aris says Australia’s $51 billion investment in the National Broadband Network has never looked so good, but suggests that as the National Cabinet “plots the nation’s return to economic growth”, a wholehearted cross-sector embrace of the NBN’s full potential is essential.
Source: iTWire
Tue, 16th Jun 2020
Australians flock to ‘buy local’ as online shopping increases during COVID 19 crisis
Online shopping activities have increased since the COVID-19 crisis began, with a groundswell of support from consumers wanting to “buy local”, according to a new study by National Broadband Network operators NBN Co.
Source: iTWire
Mon, 15th Jun 2020
Get 100GB for $65 per month with Telstra's latest promo
Telstra has expanded its end of financial year discounts by slashing the prices on its top two SIM-only plans. This brings its 100GB plan down to $65 per month, and its 150GB plan to $85 per month.
Source: WhistleOut
OptiComm snapped up by Uniti for $532m
Private fibre network operator OptiComm will be acquired by Uniti Group for $532 million in cash and shares.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co is testing an online appointment rescheduling tool
NBN Co will test a new online booking tool that allows end users to reschedule inconveniently-timed technician appointments.
Source: iTnews Australia
Optus Sport broadcasts set to resume with return of English Premier League
Optus Sport is set to resume streaming of all 92 remaining live games when the English Premier League provisionally restarts on Thursday 18 June and a full round of fixtures begins on 20 June, after all matches were suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: iTWire
Sun, 14th Jun 2020
The NBN is done. Now the NBN needs to be redone
Barring a major catastrophe, the Coalition Government will be able to announce within a fortnight or so that it has completed the rollout of the national broadband network met its target. One can only hope that, at the same time, there will be an announcement about how the network will be upgraded.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 12th Jun 2020
80pc of kids under 4 'regularly use the internet'. This is what parents need to know
They may not be able to read, write or use a keyboard, but research suggests around 81 per cent of Australian children under four regularly use the internet. But using it, and using it safely are two different things.
Source: ABC News
Thu, 11th Jun 2020
NBN peak broadband data demands 'easing' post-COVID-19, says NBN Co
Peak data demand on the National Broadband Network's main wholesale access service has eased as Australians start returning to schools and workplaces, although peak throughput on the main NBN wholesale access service remains above the pre-COVID-19 baseline.
Source: iTWire
Huawei Australia: ‘There is no plan on the table to deliver truly nationwide 5G’
Huawei Australia has criticised the Federal Government’s 5G roll-out, claiming it will leave rural and regional areas without any coverage.
Source: ARN
Fixed wireless tower opposition and rocks saw 500 premises bumped onto NBN satellite
The company responsible for deploying the National Broadband Network (NBN) across Australia has detailed why 500 premises across the South Australian electorates of Boothby and Mayo were shifted onto satellites and did not get fixed line or fixed wireless service.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra NBN just got more affordable
You’re only a few clicks away from a cheaper Telstra plan for the next year, and because Telstra’s NBN plans are contract free you won’t get stung with any early exit fees if you choose to leave once the discount runs out.
Source: WhistleOut
Wed, 10th Jun 2020
Cheap NBN plans under $50
Looking to get a cheap NBN plan? There are plenty of top quality budget plans on the market to choose from.
Source: WhistleOut
Southern Phone takes title of most complained about telco in Comms Alliance report
After a six-month stint at the top of the Communications Alliance Complaints in Context report, MyRepublic has relinquished its title of Australia's most complained about telco, with Southern Phone picking up the mantle.
Source: ZDNet Australia
How to get speeds faster than NBN 100
NBN 250 and NBN 1000 plans are here. Here's everything you need to know about these new NBN plans with speeds faster than 100Mbps.
Source: WhistleOut
Tue, 09th Jun 2020
Drop in consumer complaints about telcos
Complaints about telco services by telecommunications consumers dropped nearly 14% in the three months of the January to March quarter this year, compared to the same quarter last year, according to the latest report from telecommunications lobby group Communications Alliance.
Source: iTWire
Telstra's Belong moves to fully digital support model
Telstra-owned Belong accelerated plans to switch to a fully digital customer support model after COVID-19 slashed the capacity of its contact centres and caused 11,000 unanswered requests to pile up.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mon, 08th Jun 2020
Facebook unafraid of scrutiny as ACCC probes Giphy deal
Social media giant Facebook says it's ready to work with the Australian competition regulator, which has launched an investigation into its latest acquisition.
Source: SMH
Sun, 07th Jun 2020
National Broadband Network connections reach 11.5 million ‘milestone’
Connections to the National Broadband National Broadband are ahead of schedule - with 11.5 million home and businesses already connected - and the Government announcing that NBN Co, the builders of the network, have already reached their 2019-20 end-of-year target.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 05th Jun 2020
Telco ordered to unmask anonymous writer of negative Google review
A Melbourne dentist who says a bad Google review profoundly affected his teeth-whitening business has a "significant" breakthrough in his court action to unmask the anonymous reviewer.
Source: ABC News