Broadband News
Wed, 26th Feb 2020
They see the worst of the internet, so you don't have to, but they pay a price
Moderators see the worst the internet serves up — bloody executions, vitriolic hate speech, sexual abuse. And some people, like Chris Gray, pay a high price for their work.
Source: ABC News
Tue, 25th Feb 2020
Telstra warns future mobile blackspots too costly to fix
Telstra may take a backseat on future rounds of the federal mobile blackspots program, arguing new tower builds don’t make sense even when the government pays half of the upfront costs.
Source: iTnews Australia
Telstra to roll out RPKI routing security from June 2020
Internet routing is a screaming car wreck, as we know, and network operators should use the tools available to make it more secure and reliable.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Kiwis opting for gigabit broadband over 100 Mbps service
ASX-listed network wholesaler Chorus says New Zealand broadband customers are increasingly picking gigabit subscriptions over 100 Mbps offerings, as streaming video services with 4K ultra-high definition with that demand greater bandwidth become commonplace.
Source: iTnews Australia
Mon, 24th Feb 2020
amaysim makes a return to profit in first half of FY20
Mobile virtual network operator amaysim has reported a return to profit in the second half of the 2019-20 year, with the company reporting $3.7 million net profit after tax, compared to a loss of $4.8 million in the corresponding period a year ago.
Source: iTWire
NBN Co pleads for cash to help fixed wireless, satellite refugees
NBN Co has conceded - before its network is even complete - that some businesses, schools and hospitals outside the fixed-line footprint already require network upgrades to meet "emerging" needs.
Source: iTnews Australia
Amaysim sees mobile EBITDA more than halve for 2020 first half
Amaysim has reported a slim first half which saw underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) fall by 59% on a comparable basis from last year.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Sun, 23rd Feb 2020
Telstra delays legacy copper disconnections for more fire-affected areas
Telstra has widened the number of bushfire-affected states and postcodes for which it will delay mandatory disconnection of legacy copper services.
Source: iTnews Australia
Fri, 21st Feb 2020
Super NBN savings with Superloop
Get $21 off your plan prices. every month for six months with this Whistle Out exclusive deal.
Source: WhistleOut
iiNet spoofed in phishing email scam
iiNet has become the latest Australian brand to be hit by phishing scam this week.
Source: ARN
Thu, 20th Feb 2020
MyRepublic Removes Questionable NBN Speed Claims From Its Website [Updated]
Every quarter the ACCC releases a real-world NBN speed report that measures the average evening speeds offered by Australian telcos. Being at the top is a coveted position and one that NBN providers can use to entice customers to sign up to their plans. MyRepublic did this when it topped the chart in the August 2019 report. This wouldn't be a problem if it was still accurate. Six months later MyRepublic has dropped to 7th position, but its advertising has not reflected that.
Source: Gizmodo
Vocus brings NBN satellite service to WA miner
Vocus has worked with NBN Co to deliver a business satellite service to a heavy rare earths producer, resulting in a "dramatic improvement" in connection reliability.
Source: ARN
NBN Co sees 250Mbps take-up rise after price cut
NBN Co saw a 28 percent increase in the take-up of 250Mbps services after reducing the price - and uplink speed - of the tier, with Aussie Broadband leading the gains.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN pricing changes saw ISPs shift wholesale plans from 25Mbps to 12Mbps
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released its latest quarterly Wholesale Market Indicators Report on Thursday and it showed how the reported plans are impacted by price.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Aussie Broadband lets customers 'kick' own connection
When most telco customers need more than a router reset to fix a connection problem, they usually have to ring up a call centre and go through the standard IT Crowd questionnaire before a technician reboots things on their end - Aussie Broadband’s app lets you do it yourself.
Source: iTnews Australia
NBN Co won't reveal individual profit and loss for wireless, satellite
NBN Co has backed away from revealing just how much its fixed wireless and satellite networks lose each year, information that could bolster - or undermine - the case for the broadband tax.
Source: iTnews Australia
Wed, 19th Feb 2020
Vocus legacy brings down profit, revenue
Publicly listed Vocus has seen its net profit after tax take a 22 per cent hit down to $12.8 million for the first half of FY20 ending December 31.
Source: ARN
Vocus singing different tune on NBN
The telco that previously got out of a land grab now sees growth opportunities with NBN.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Tue, 18th Feb 2020
Vocus scores AU$15.7m BoM contract utilising NBN business satellite services
Vocus announced on Monday that it had picked up a four-year AU$15.7 million contract to provide the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) with network connectivity from its own fibre footprint and NBN's business satellite services.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Committee leaves door open for expanding broadband tax to mobiles in future
Just over two months after they were referred to a Senate committee, the Australian government's Telecommunications (Regional Broadband Scheme) Charge Bill 2019 and Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer) Bill 2019 have received the approval of the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee.
Source: ZDNet Australia
Mon, 17th Feb 2020
Broadband tax bill gets senate committee green light
The federal government’s proposed broadband tax on non-NBN operated fixed line services looks set to begin on 1 July 2020 after the senate committee examining the bill recommended it pass through parliament.
Source: iTnews Australia
Optus brings mobile, Internet coverage to Kyneton as blackspot program rolls on
Optus has switched on a new tower in Kyneton in regional Victoria to provide coverage and connectivity to the Macedon Ranges by partnering with the Victorian Government to eliminate a mobile blackspot in the area.
Source: iTWire
Sun, 16th Feb 2020
Rights body calls for scaling back of metadata retention laws
A parliamentary panel, that is reviewing the mandatory data retention laws introduced in 2017, has been told that the legislation goes too far and should be scaled back.
Source: iTWire
Fri, 14th Feb 2020
Australian consumers may never see a fourth player in Australia's mobile market, so are we worse off?
By mid this year Australia's mobile market is expected to be left with just three main players: Telstra, Optus, and a merged Vodafone-TPG. Experts warn consumers could lose out.
Source: ABC News
Thu, 13th Feb 2020
Telcos have to be big to survive: Budde on TPG-Vodafone outcome
Well-known telecommunications consultant Paul Budde has underlined a fundamental truth about the market in his reaction to the Federal Court's decision to clear the Vodafone-TPG merger: "You have to be big in the telecoms market to survive."
Source: iTWire
Fletcher further distances govt from ACCC view on TPG-Vodafone merger
Communications Minister Paul Fletcher has further isolated the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on its view that Australia’s telco market would be better with TPG as a fourth mobile operator, saying he “never thought” that would work.
Source: iTnews Australia
Vodafone to bring 5G to 650 sites Australia-wide
Vodafone will still build a standalone 5G network with an initial 650 sites in seven Australian cities and regions, a proposition it says will be considerably strengthened once its $15 billion merger with TPG is finalised.
Source: iTnews Australia
Optus net profit declines 24 per cent in Q3
Singtel subsidiary, Optus has reported a decline across its earnings and net profit for the third quarter ending December 31.
Source: ARN
ACCC bemoans TPG-Vodafone merger decision as ‘lost opportunity for stronger competition’
The ACCC has called a decision to allow the merger between TPG and Vodafone Hutchison Australia a “lost once-in-a-generation opportunity for stronger competition”.
Source: ARN
Belong drives Telstra network additions in lean first half
Telstra's pitch to price-sensitive consumers, Belong, is bringing customers into the Australian telco's orbit, the company's half year results show.
Source: ZDNet Australia