CommsXpressAustralia
Telstra’s Destructive Stalemate
Business Spectator
Telstra’s update on its negotiations with NBN Co today confirms what was increasingly suspected and points to a destructive stalemate unless the framework for the negotiations is restructured. As discussed earlier this week, Telstra and NBN Co are poles apart on the value of the compensation and incentives NBN Co is prepared to pay [...]
Feds Arrive at $2,500 to Connect Fibre to New Homes
CRN Australia
Developers should expect to pay some $2,500 on average to connect a new home with fibre for the National Broadband Network, and between $400,000 to $700,000 for backhaul connections, the Federal Government revealed today.
Topics: Australia, broadband, carrier, government, legislation, NBN, networking, telecom, United States, wireless
New Copper Lines All But Banned Under Government Legislation
ARNnet
The Federal Government has introduced legislation to ban the installation of fixed-line copper from every new house built in greenfield estates in an effort to push fibre connectivity.
Topics: Australia, government, legislation, NBN, telecom, Telstra, United States
Telstra Unveils Futuristic Video Phone
BigPond News
The phone runs on the telco’s IP telephony Next IP network, and is high-definition voice ready, allowing for clearer overall sound quality. It features a seven-inch touch screen display, six lines, a Gigabit Ethernet switch and an integrated camera in a sleek package.
Topics: Australia, BigPond, Polycom, telecom, Telstra, United States, video phone
Telstra Split Bill Put On Hold
The Australian
THE legislative axe to split Telstra in two will be put away today as the opposition succeeds in its attempt to filibuster the bill designed to level the playing field for the $43 billion national broadband network. A 10-strong column of opposition senators is due to speak today, erasing any hope there will be [...]
Australia Officially Names NBN Retail Providers for Tasmania
Total Telecom
Primus Telecom, Internode and iiNet were on Monday named by the Australian government as the first retail providers to offer services on leg one of a planned A$43 billion national high-speed Internet network, currently being rolled out in Tasmania state.
Topics: Australia, BigPond, broadband, iiNet, Internode, NBN, networking, Primus, Tasmania, telecom, wireless
Watchdog Agency To Decide On Optus/Pivotel Row
The Australian
THE federal government has asked the competition regulator to help resolve the telecommunications dispute that erupted after Optus blocked calls from its network to that of satellite phone provider Pivotel.
Topics: ACCC, Australia, blocked, government, ISP, Optus, telecom, telecommunications
The Australian: Broadband Network Will Be $43 Billion White Elephant
The Australian
THE present federal budget describes the Rudd government’s $43 billion national broadband network as the single largest building infrastructure project in Australian history. What has emerged from these multi-billion-dollar spending splurges is an absence of good governance. Political rhetoric and spin have taken precedence over economic common sense.
Topics: Australia, BigPond, broadband, carrier, [...]
Filter Is Perfect for Conspiracy Theories
ZDNet, Australia
No wonder people get suspicious of governments monitoring the internet and develop all kinds of conspiracy theories. Just look at how secretively the New Zealand Government has behaved with its planned filter to block child porn.
Topics: Australia, blacklist, blocked, government, ISP, Parliament, piracy, Sydney
Internet Shake-Up Possible After PIPE Networks Takeover
Ninemsn
The takeover could herald moves by TPG to offer unlimited internet download packages and other companies may be pressured to follow suit, said Ovum telecommunications research company analyst Nathan Burley. PIPE owns so-called “dark fibre” that connects major cities and owns Australia’s largest internet exchange.
Topics: Australia, carrier, dark fiber, Pipe Networks, Sydney, telecom, telecoms
SingTel to be Part of Funding For Bharti/Zain Deal
Economic Times
Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) may help with the funding for Bharti Airtel’s $9 billion acquisition of Zain’s African assets, a senior SingTel executive said on Friday.
Topics: Asia, Australia, Bharti, SingTel, telecom, telecoms
PIPE Shareholders Vote to Accept TPG Offer
The Australian
SHAREHOLDERS in PIPE Networks have voted to accept a $373.09 million takeover by TPG Telecom. PIPE, a telecommunications network infrastructure owner, held a meeting today to consider the bid, which was for $6.30 per share.
Topics: Australia, broadband, Pipe Networks, telecom, telecommunications, TPG Telecom
Internode To Boost Southern Cross Capacity
ZDNet, Australia
Internet service provider Internode has signed up for 2.5 gigabits per second more international capacity from Southern Cross Cable’s Network and says it has plans to buy another 12.5 gigabits.
Topics: 3G, Australia, Exetel, Internode, ISP, Optus, Pipe Networks, Southern Cross Cable
Quigley Says NBN Will Deliver 1Gbps
ZDNet, Australia
Moments after shadow Minister for Communications Tony Smith criticised the government and NBN Co for proceeding without a business plan, NBN Co chief outlined his plan for business: ubiquitous 1Gbps services.
Topics: ATUG, Australia, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, broadband, government, NBN, Sydney, telecom, telecommunications
Telstra Unveils New SatCOW Mobile Base Station
iTWire
Telstra has unveiled a new transportable mobile network base station called a Satellite Cell on Wheels (SatCOW) using satellite transmission to fuel a Next G mobile network connection. The telco says it can be packed in cases and transported in a station wagon, shipped as air freight, or carried in light aircraft.
Topics: Australia, SatCOW, [...]
Is Optus pushing the limits of ‘unlimited’?
iTWire
With VHA making much of its new ‘post paid plans with ‘unlimited’ on-net calling and with Virgin Mobile countering by pointing out that it has offered the same ‘for years’ it seems that Virgin’s parent, Optus, it seems, couldn’t resist getting in on the act by announcing new prepaid offerings that it claims are ‘virtually [...]
NBN ‘dead’ without Telstra: Minchin
The Australian
THE opposition has continued its assault on the federal government’s plan to legislatively dismember Telstra as the telco’s rivals ramp up efforts to lobby cross-bench senators to vote in favour of the bill.
Topics: Australia, broadband, NBN, telecom, telecommunications, Telstra
Telstra shares hit all-time low after CEO says ‘very concerned’ over draft NBN powers
The Australian
TELSTRA said today it was “very concerned” by draft legislation released by the government last week that could give Canberra the power to allow the planned $43 billion national broadband network to become a retailer in some circumstances.
Topics: Australia, BigPond, broadband, Canberra, government, legislation, NBN, networking, Sydney, telecom, Telstra, wireless
LTE Set To Transform Wireless Industry, But Not Just Yet
Total Telecom
Others in the industry warn, though, that the clue is in the name: they say the shift will be a more gradual evolution, given the huge expense of setting up LTE networks, and the solution to boosting speed and easing network congestion may also have to include other technologies, such as the WiMax wireless [...]
Ministers Savage ‘Just Say No’ Abbott
ABC Online
The Federal Government has attacked Tony Abbott for heading “the most obstructionist Opposition in 30 years”, accusing him of economic sabotage and threatening payments to families.
Topics: 4G, Australia, carrier, government, Senate, Stephen Conroy, Sydney, Tony Abbott
