2012-May-25

Friday round-up

NBN users opt for 100Mbps – ZDNet

Customers are picking the top fibre plan that is available on the National Broadband Network (NBN), more than any other plan, CEO Mike Quigley has revealed.

NBN Co expands wireless trials – iTNews

NBN Co has expanded trials of its fixed wireless network to Toowoomba and Tamworth for the first time as it looks to ramp up rollout of the network.

Nationals Leader factually incorrect (again) on NBN – Delimiter

The Federal Leader of the Nationals, Warren Truss, has for the second time this year made a major factually incorrect public statement with regards to Labor’s National Broadband Network project, inaccurately stating that no resident in his electorate would be able to connect to the infrastructure until “at least the latter part of this decade”.

NBN cost-benefit analyses are so 2011 – ZDNet

It wasn't too long ago that one of the rallying cries of the Coalition's NBN opposition was its insistence that Labor conduct a full cost-benefit analysis, comparing the government's fibre-to-the-premise (FttP) strategy with alternatives such as fibre to the node (FttN) and wireless.

You can't slice it up: NBN Co boss – The SMH

NBN Co boss Mike Quigley says an incomplete national broadband network would not attract any buyers.

NBN's Tassie upgrade to cost $1.3 million – ZDNet

NBN Co will spend $1.3 million on replacing outdated network technology in 700 premises in Tasmanian trial sites for the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Coalition NBN better or worse? – Computerworld

While Senator Stephen Conroy and Malcolm Turnbull continue to play tit for tat over the National Broadband Network (NBN), Mark Gregory yesterday asserted a Coalition win in the next election could have long ranging impacts on the network.

Govt urges telcos to team up against NBN Co – ZDNet

The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy has urged Telstra and the other telcos to join forces in their access negotiations with NBN Co.

Libs retreat on NBN battleground – Financial Review

With so much noise and mud-throwing in Canberra at present, it has been hard for the Coalition to squeeze in time for its various diatribes about why every single thing the government does is wrong.

NBN slows over inaccurate address data – iTNews

NBN Co has been forced to invest in new systems to manually double-check inaccurate address data supplied by geospatial data provider PSMA Australia.

NBN falling behind connection targets – ABC Online

NBN Co boss Mike Quigley has admitted to a Senate committee that the rollout to new housing estates is falling behind and connection targets in remote areas are a particular challenge.

2012-May-24

Thursday round-up

NBN build gaining momentum daily: Quigley – Brisbane Times

NBN Co boss Mike Quigley says momentum on the national broadband network is building despite the delays and setbacks in delivering on the government's $36 billion project.

Regional review highlights NBN, mobile – ZDNet

Poor mobile coverage across the nation is the biggest telecommunications concern for regional Australians, an independent review has found.

NBN ISS to pose capacity constraints – Computerworld

Senator Stephen Conroy has been quick to jump on a recommendation by the Regional Telecommunications Review Committee (RTRC) which found the National Broadband Network's (NBN) Interim Satellite Service (ISS) could pose capacity constraints.

Rural Australia wants the NBN as quickly as possible – Delimiter

Rural and regional Australian communities are strongly committed to the Federal Government’s National Broadband Network project, with a focus on maximising the potential of the infrastructure when it arrives in their area, a new independent report has found.

BigPond GameArena hacked, 35,000 passwords reset – The Register

Telstra has taken the unusual – in Australia – step of proactively announcing that a service has been compromised.

2012-May-23

Wednesday round-up

Victorian town knocks back NBN tower – The Age

The Golden Plains Shire has become the first council in the Ballarat region of Victoria to reject an NBN telecommunications tower.

The NBN, service providers and you ... what could go wrong? – theconversation.edu.au

Unless you’ve been boycotting all forms of media in the past five years, you’ll be aware that the National Broadband Network (NBN) is well and truly on its way. For some of us the NBN is already here, and for others it will hopefully arrive in a year or two. But for most Australians, the NBN will not…

NBN Co quashes wireless block claims – iTNews

NBN Co has moved to quash concerns that it would refuse homeowners a wireless connection if speed tests conducted at installation did not reach peak speeds of 25 Mbps.

2012-May-22

Tuesday round-up

BigAir acquires Qld wireless carrier – ZDNet

Wireless-broadband specialist BigAir has acquired Allegro Networks in an effort to bolster its position in the corporate fixed-wireless and tertiary student accommodation internet markets.

Spotify music streaming hits Australian shores – Computerworld

Spotify today launched in Australia, with its base level offering delivering unlimited free music streaming for free. The internet-based service has struck deals with Warner Music Australia, EMI Music Australasia, Universal Music and Sony Music Entertainment to offer tracks from their catalogue of songs.

NBN here to stay under Coalition, says analyst – Delimiter

Labor’s flagship National Broadband Network project is here to stay in one form or another and won’t be discontinued as a whole, telecommunications analyst Paul Budde said this week, even if the Coalition was to take power in the next Federal Election.