Archived News for IT Professionals
The ACCC has 'declared' the wholesale ADSL service under section 152AL of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, arguing that this will promote the long-term interests of end-users of fixed-line broadband internet services throughout Australia.
Telstra currently retains dominant positions in the markets for both retail and wholesale fixed-line broadband services. Despite the deployment of competitive broadband infrastructure in some areas over the past decade, the ACCC states that competition in the supply of ADSL services is not effective.
Declaration will remove impediments to competitive internet service providers gaining access to Telstra's national ADSL network on efficient terms in order to supply retail services, including to around 11 per cent of premises where Telstra's network architecture has prevented competitors from using their own infrastructure.
Evans to lead SKA charge
Federal Minister for Science and Research, Senator Chris Evans, will lead an Australian delegation to China and Italy to promote Australia’s bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).
NBN selects satellite provider
NBN Co has signed a contract with Space Systems/Loral for the delivery of two Ka-band satellites and associated tracking, telemetry and control systems, as part of the National Broadband Network (NBN) long term satellite service.
ACCC calls for comment on supplementary NBN SAU paper
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has released a supplementary consultation paper inviting further comments on the Special Access Undertaking (SAU) lodged by NBN Co on 5 December 2011.
The SAU sets out a range of regulatory commitments that NBN Co proposes shall apply until 30 June 2040.
“The SAU is a complex document that, if accepted, will be an important part of the telecommunications access regime that applies to NBN Co for a long period of time,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.
This supplementary paper continues the ACCC’s public consultation on the SAU that commenced in December 2011. A number of interested parties provided submissions to that paper and the ACCC has had regard to these submissions in preparing the supplementary paper.
“At this stage of the process, the ACCC is seeking comment on a broad range of issues. Given that this is the first SAU submitted under the new telecommunications access regime, and in light of the proposed term of the SAU and the scale of the NBN investment, this should come as no surprise,” Mr Sims said.
“It is not unusual for the ACCC to seek views on a wide range of matters in its preliminary analysis of an undertaking.”
Key issues on which the ACCC is seeking views include:
Internode blitzes customer satisfaction
Internode and its new parent company iiNet have taken out first and second place respectively in Roy Morgan’s Internet Service Provider Customer Satisfaction survey.
Telstra posts booming results
Telstra has delivered its results for the six months leading to December 2011, showing strong growth in operating revenue, EBITDA and net profit.
IT firms to target Asian markets from Sydney
Two international digital content developers, London-based Lost Boys International (LBi) and Silicon Valley-based ZINFI Technologies, have announced they will open offices in Sydney.
ACMA to impose competition limits on digital spectrum auction
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has directed the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to determine procedures to impose competition limits on the sale of spectrum in the upcoming digital dividend auction.
Queensland Government releases state NBN strategy
The Queensland Minister for Information and Communication Technology Simon Finn has launched the Queensland NBN strategic plan: The Queensland Government’s plan for making the most of the National Broadband Network.
Research shows benefits of lower ICT power useage
New and better ways of measuring high-tech energy consumption could lead to significant environmental and economic gains, a study from The Australian National University has found.
Demand for speed grows
Demand for internet speeds of 20Mbps and higher is continuing to grow according to the latest ZDNet Australia speedtest.
iiNet completes Internode purchase
National ISP iiNet has announced the completion of its purchase of competitor Internode, completing the $105 million buyout a month ahead of schedule.
WA to trial school iPads
The Western Australian Government has announced a $1 million initiative to deliver iPads for the state’s highest potential students to ‘use touch technology to boost their literacy and numeracy skills’.
Exetel's John Linton passes away
Exetel’s chief executive, John Linton, has passed away after suffering a severe stroke.
Darwin to Toowoomba fibre optic backbone link opened
The Darwin fibre optic backbone link that stretches more than 3800km from Darwin to Toowoomba, passing through more than 30 towns to service160,000 people across Queensland and the NT, has been opened, marking the completion of the entire network construction phase of the Government’s $250 million Regional Backbone Blackspots Program (RBBP).
Turnbull calls for updated NBN business plan
The Shadow Minister for Communications and Broadband, Malcolm Turnbull, has demanded that the NBN Co provide updated financial and operational projections that accurately portray NBN Co’s current business plan, and the current expectations of NBN Co’s executives, directors and shareholders.
New MD of Optus Business appointed
Optus has appointed former Telstra executive John Paitaridis as its new Managing Director of Optus Business. Mr Paitaridis leads the Optus enterprise, corporate and government business and is responsible for all aspects of the division’s sales, marketing, products, operations and service delivery, including Optus’ wholly-owned subsidiary Alphawest and its Uecomm business.
Telstra wins WA funding for new mobile infrastructure
WA Science and Innovation Minister John Day and Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said that under the project, the WA Government and Telstra will deliver about $106 million in value to deploy new mobile communications infrastructure at 113 sites along major roads and highways across the State, and in several regional communities.
“This will increase mobile phone coverage in the State by up to 22 per cent while significantly boosting access to next generation broadband services.
“The contribution of $39.2million in Royalties for Regions funding is a significant investment towards improving mobile telecommunication coverage and services that support sustained regional development across the State. It also builds on the $94.5million already invested through the Community Safety Network,” Mr Grylls said.
“The Regional Mobile Communications Project will not only benefit individuals and businesses, it will have a huge impact on the delivery of State Government and emergency services, especially in communities prone to bushfire and road trauma.
“Public safety in the regions will be boosted with enhanced emergency radio and mobile telecommunication coverage, which is a great outcome for regional WA.
“For example, firefighters and emergency medical services can use wireless broadband to download vital information while out in the field and be able to remotely access and transmit information in real time.”
The project will take three years to complete.
For more information visit http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/ScienceInnovation/Content/About_Us/Key_focus_areas/Industry_development.html
Lifehouse cancer centre to use TechnologyOne OneHealth software
Enterprise software solutions provider TechnologyOne has signed an agreement to implement OneHealth - its first preconfigured solution for hospitals and healthcare providers - in the planned $230 million cancer treatment and research facility, The Chris O'Brien Lifehouse at RPA (Lifehouse), which is due to open in Camperdown, NSW in autumn 2013.
Coalition to review online safety for children
The Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, has announced the Coalition will establish an Online Safety Working Group to undertake a review on online safety for children
Submissions on NBN Co SAU call for more control
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released submissions to its December Consultation Paperon the NBN Co Special Access Undertaking (SAU).