Broadband News
Mon, 09th Mar 2020
SMBs on NBN with wrong broadband plan missing out on full benefits of network
Many small and medium businesses (SMB) on the NBN access network are embracing the cloud to save time and grow, but many think they don’t have the right broadband plan to take full advantage of future opportunities, according to research released by NBN Co and analyst firm Telsyte.
Source: iTWire
Thu, 05th Mar 2020
Telstra wants NBN to take up obligation of supplying voice for fixed wireless
Telstra has said it wants NBN to pick up its obligations to supply voice services within the government-owned wholesaler's fixed wireless network.
Source: ZDNet Australia
TPG's David Teoh urges 5G catch-up as Vodafone merger nears
A combined Vodafone-TPG entity will need to “strengthen and speed up” its 5G rollout to counter the 18-month headstart of competitors Telstra and Optus, TPG Telecom’s executive chairman David Teoh says.
Source: iTnews Australia
TPG still unsure how much broadband tax it could pay
TPG Telecom is still unsure how much broadband tax it could be liable for if the long-delayed legislation is finally passed, owing to the levy’s ill-defined applicability to business services.
Source: iTnews Australia
Vodafone merger plans cost TPG $6M over six months
TPG’s merger plans with Vodafone Hutchison Australia cost the telco $6 million in transaction costs during the six months to 31 January, according to the company’s latest financials.
Source: ARN
TPG reports steady revenue for first half
TPG reported a steady half to January 31 with AU$1.25 billion in revenue reported, up 1% year on year.
Source: ZDNet Australia
ACCC gives up on TPG-Vodafone merger battle
The ACCC has decided against appealing the decision by the Federal Court to allow TPG and Vodafone Hutchison Australia to go ahead with their proposed merger.
Source: ARN
NBN Co wants to set own prices for new home developments
NBN Co has launched a bid to set its own prices to deploy telecommunications infrastructure to new housing developments, a reaction to it being increasingly undercut by rival operators.
Source: iTnews Australia
Wed, 04th Mar 2020
ACCC drops court appeal against TPG-Vodafone merger on legal grounds
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has decided not to appeal a Federal Court decision that the proposed merger between TPG Telecom and Vodafone Hutchison Australia would not substantially lessen competition.
Source: iTWire
Vodafone: no extra charge for 5G
Coinciding with its first 5G sites around Parramatta, Vodafone has announced it will not charge its customers extra for 5G access.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co starts connecting up Australian airports
NBN Co is now deploying infrastructure to three airports - Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney - and negotiating site access to a fourth in Brisbane as part of its work connecting up more complex premises to the network.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co outlines its fear of cheap broadband
NBN Co is continuing to resist pressure to introduce a cheaper entry-level broadband product over fears of the number of users that would wind up using it, eating into long-term revenue and cash flow.
Source: iTnews Australia
Tue, 03rd Mar 2020
Telstra's use of cell on wheels trailers threatened
Telstra is concerned it could be unintentionally barred from deploying its cell on wheels (CoW) portable mobile base stations under new legislative instruments currently being proposed.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co to bring enterprise services into “selected” data centres
NBN Co has revealed plans to roll fibre into the comms rooms of “selected” third party-owned data centres, making it a new connectivity option for enterprise tenants with IT infrastructure hosted in the facility.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mon, 02nd Mar 2020
NBN Co to raise fixed wireless resilience after fiery summer
NBN Co is examining whether to widen environmental exclusion zones and add solar backup options for fixed wireless towers after a particularly devastating bushfire season.
Source: iTnews Australia
The Telstra services still impacted by NSW bushfires
Telstra services in over 20 areas in NSW are still affected by bushfires following the end of summer.
Source: ARN
Sun, 01st Mar 2020
Optus launches ‘world first’ dual band 5G production network
Optus has announced the successful launch of a “world-first’ 2300MHz and 3500MHz spectrum 5G dual-band production network in partnership with Ericsson and Samsung, which it says has the potential to increase 5G capacity and coverage to Optus customers.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 28th Feb 2020
New Telstra 5G WiFi Pro announced as telco pulls back on fastest NBN
Less than a week after dropping the vast majority of NBN 100 plans, Telstra have announced the Telstra 5G WiFi Pro. The device will use the millimeter wave spectrum to deliver the fastest speeds yet.
Source: WhistleOut
New standard means additional ID checks for Aussie telcos
A new industry standard will see telcos required to undertake additional identification checks when transferring mobile phone numbers across from one telco to another or face fines of up to $250,000.
Source: ARN
Microsoft begins blocking 'unwanted applications' like adware and cryptominers, using Edge
The current version of Microsoft Edge adds a new feature that can block PUAs - Potentially Unwanted Applications - like cryptominers and adware.
Source: ARN
Thu, 27th Feb 2020
Labor up in arms over govt plans for a ‘broadband tax' and cuts to regional NBN investment
The Labor Party is pressuring the Federal Government to explain why it is reportedly introducing a $7 per month broadband tax on 1 July, while cutting regional NBN investment at the same time.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co upgrades network gear software after Sky Muster faults skyrocket
NBN Co is upgrading the software on network equipment used for its Sky Muster service following a sharp rise in the number of network faults recorded over the past six months.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra and Ericsson extend 4G range to 200km
Telstra and Ericsson have announced what they claim to be a world-first 200km LTE cell range capability on a commercial mobile broadband network.
Source: iTWire
Telstra starts mmWave 5G trials
Telstra has begun internal testing of millimetre wave 5G, and is planning to provide some customers with trial access.
Source: iTWire
NSW Government kicks off program to deliver broadband boost to regions
The NSW Government's $100 million program aimed at deliverng improved digital connectivity for regional areas of the State is about to kick-off in Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Parkes and a corridor west to Cobar, as well as a fibre solution for residents in Sutton, Bywong and Wamboin.
Source: iTWire
Wed, 26th Feb 2020
Telstra will no longer sell NBN 100 plans to FTTC, FTTB, or FTTN customers
As part of recent plans changes, Telstra will no longer sell NBN 100 plans to customers connecting to the National Broadband Network via Fibre-to-the-Curb (FTTC), Fibre-to-the-Basement (FTTB), or Fibre-to-the-Node (FTTN) technology types.
Source: WhistleOut
Vodafone mobile customer base shrinks, says first 5G site to go live soon
Vodafone Hutchison Australia says it will activate its first 5G site within a few weeks even as it released its full-year results for 2019 showing that it lost 275,000 mobile customers in 2019. The first lot of 5G sites are likely to be in and around Parramatta in NSW.
Source: iTWire
TPG 'uncertainty' sees Vodafone losses soar
Vodafone Hutchison Australia has reported an annual loss of $279.3 million after a year of turbulence surrounding its merger with TPG.
Source: ARN
First Vodafone Australia 5G site to go live 'within weeks'
Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) has seen its revenue decrease by 3%, mobile customer base shrink by 5%, and its net loss blow out from AU$124 million last year to AU$279 million for its 2019 full year.
Source: ZDNet Australia
ACCC to look into competition concerns with 26GHz and 28GHz 5G spectrum lots
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has opened consultation on whether any competition issues are likely to appear with the upcoming allocation of licences in the millimetre wave 26GHz and 28GHz spectrum band set that will be used for 5G deployments.
Source: ZDNet Australia