Broadband News
Sun, 17th May 2020
COVID-19: Dodo, NBN Co offer 6 months of discounted access to online education services
Telco Dodo says it is helping school-aged children in low income households access online education services as part of a new offer in partnership with NBN Co, the operators of the National Boadband Network (NBN).
Source: iTWire
Fri, 15th May 2020
Telstra braces for fault ticket backlog
Telstra’s field service team is bracing for a backlog of ‘assurance’ work - and impatient customers - as COVID-19 restrictions are eased, after weeks of not being able to receive jobs.
Source: iTnews Australia
Thu, 14th May 2020
Broadband tax start date delayed to January 2021
Long-delayed legislation for a broadband tax on non-NBN Co operated fixed line services has finally passed parliament, ending an three-year saga that was interrupted by last year’s election.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN broadband tax clears Parliament
Australian fixed broadband users that are on networks capable of 25Mbps or quicker, and not connected to the National Broadband Network (NBN), will soon need to pay an extra AU$7.10 monthly charge to subsidise those connecting to NBN's loss-making fixed wireless and satellite technologies.
Source: ZDNet Australia
DGtek plans national FTTP expansion
Following an investment by Treia Capital, wholesale fibre broadband operator DGtek has expanded its coverage area more than tenfold in the last six months.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co sees Q3 revenue just shy of $3B
NBN Co has seen its revenue increase by 38 per cent to $2.8 billion in its Q3FY results, driven by strong demand in the quarter to reach its FY20 activation milestone two months early.
Source: ARN
NBN reports nine-month revenue up by over a third but EBITDA loss only closes by 9%
The company responsible for rolling out the National Broadband Network (NBN) across Australia has reported its third-quarter earnings, with the company increasing revenue, closing its EBITDA loss, and reporting a wider EBIT loss.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Telstra tries to stop customers 'falling through the cracks'
Telstra believes a new frontline consumer and small business support system will help resolve issues faster and prevent customers from “falling through the cracks like they may have previously”.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co exceeds quarterly revenue, activation targets, wins Government praise
The Federal Government says National Broadband Network operator NBN Co has demonstrated “operational and financial resilience” during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has welcomed the company’s “strong” 2019-20 third quarter results.
Source: iTWire
Broadband demands hit a record high for NBN Co during COVID pandemic
Broadband demand remains high in Australia with the operator of the National Broadband Network NBN Co revealing data demands on its services are well above pre-COVID pandemic baseline levels as Australians continue to observe social distancing and remote working requirements.
Source: iTWire
Wed, 13th May 2020
LTE and 5G router market expecting growth despite COVID-19
The global 5G and LTE router and gateway market is expected to see considerable growth over the next four years even when factoring in the effect of the coronavirus pandemic.
Source: ARN
Govt should consider manufacturing 5G equipment in Aust
The House Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts has put forward its 5G Inquiry Report to Parliament, signalling the government should investigate ways to manufacture 5G infrastructure within Australia.
Source: ARN
Commonwealth claims NBN has capacity to handle IoT and smart transport initiatives
The Australian government has said managing the country's population growth to ensure Australia's cities remain liveable and workable, such as through ensuring the National Broadband Network (NBN) can handle new initiatives including Internet of Things and smart transport, is high on its agenda as part of its response to the Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport, and Cities's inquiry into the Australian government's role in the development of cities.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Tue, 12th May 2020
Fed funnels $37M into telco disaster relief
The federal government has pumped $37.1 million into strengthening Australia’s telecommunications resilience in the wake of the summer bush fires.
Source: ARN
NBN Co sources $6.1 billion from banks
NBN Co has secured access to a total of $6.1 billion from Australian and international banks, well above the $2 billion it had initially sought.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mon, 11th May 2020
Foxtel Begins Beta Testing For New Streaming Service, Binge
Foxtel's new streaming service, expected to be called 'Binge', has entered beta testing, according to AdNews, the upcoming Netflix and Stan competitor is currently being beta tested and due for a release in weeks.
Source: Gizmodo
Australian government releases outline for 5G allocation of 850MHz and 900MHz in 2021
The Australian government has laid out its policy outline to reallocate 850MHz and 900MHz for 5G services.
Source: ZDNet Australia
'Bush' telecoms group calls for bi-partisan political support for telco reforms
Australia’s 'bush' communications group - the Rural Regional and Remote Communications Coalition (RRRCC) - has called for all sides of politics to support the passage through the Senate of The Telecommunications Reform Package legislation.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 08th May 2020
Telstra to take $300M hit thanks to Foxtel woes
Telstra expects to recognise an impairment charge of about $300 million against its investment in a 35 per cent stake in the Foxtel joint venture with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.
Source: ARN
Telstra takes AU$300 million write-down on Foxtel stake
The value of the Foxtel business had a combined AU$1.2 billion wiped from it on Friday morning, following the release of News Corp's third-quarter earnings.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Thu, 07th May 2020
TPG-Vodafone merger passes foreign investment review
TPG and Vodafone have received final regulatory approval for their planned $15 billion merger, with the Foreign Investment Review Board indicating it would not object.
Source: iTnews Australia
Final hurdle cleared for VHA-TPG merger
Vodafone Hutchison Australia and TPG Telecom's $15 billion merger has officially gained the green light to go ahead following its final regularity clearance.
Source: ARN
NBN downloads set new record
NBN Co has revealed that download throughput reached a new high in the week of 27 April 2020.
Source: iTWire
Warning: Scams on the increase, threaten remote workers during COVID 19 crisis
There has been a marked increase in predatory scammers attempting to steal personal details and commit fraud, taking advantage of Australians during the COVID 19 crisis, with National Broadband Network operator NBN Co warning of heightened security threats for remote workers.
Source: iTWire
Wed, 06th May 2020
Telstra steps up DNS filtering to fight malware
Australia's incumbent telco Telstra announced on Wednesday it has stepped up its DNS filtering capabilities in an effort to fight malware passing through its network.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Foxtel 'threatened with extinction' within a few years as streaming services cannibalise revenue
Under siege from much cheaper rivals and with lenders unwilling to support it, pay TV operator Foxtel is increasingly looking like a threatened species.
Source: ABC News
Tue, 05th May 2020
NBN Co must hand over more data on 'impaired' fixed-line services
NBN Co will soon have to hand over much more detailed information to regulators about the number of fixed-line services it operates that are “impaired” by congestion or other technical limitations.
Source: iTnews Australia
Vodafone trials 5G services in 700MHz spectrum in Sydney
Vodafone Hutchison Australia is starting to trial 5G services using 700MHz spectrum at an undisclosed number of 5G sites in and around Parramatta in Sydney’s west.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mon, 04th May 2020
Vocus gets green light to settle $35M class action
Vocus Group has been given the go ahead by the Federal Court of Australia to proceed with the $35 class action million settlement it flagged late last year.
Source: ARN
Vodafone Australia testing 700Mhz spectrum for 5G
Vodafone Australia has teamed up with Nokia to conduct what the pair are calling the first field test of 700Mhz spectrum in Australia and APAC.
Source: ZDNet Australia