Archived News for IT Professionals

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.

The announcement follows several senior appointments to the Optus Business leadership team last year, including the appointment of Paul Mullins as Government Sales Director, Sam Kennedy as General Manager of Queensland and Northern Territory, and the promotion of former Optus SMB Marketing Director Phil Offer as the Director of Mobility and Convergence.

Mr Paitaridis joins Optus from Telstra, where he most recently held the position of Executive Director, Network Products and Services in the enterprise and government space. He also spent nearly a decade working in international markets, including five years as the APAC regional director and three years as head of sales and marketing in Europe.

Telstra wins WA funding for new mobile infrastructure

Telstra has been awarded $39.2million in Royalties for Regions funding under the WA government's Regional Mobile Communications Project (RMCP).

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).

Eye & Ear Hospital tenders for medical photography image management system

The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital has called for tenders for the provision of a Medical Photography Image Management System.

Defence to call for ICT and AV support tender

The Department of Defence will be calling for tenders in February for the provision of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Audio Visual (AV) Support.

Suppliers call for ACCC to declare wholesale ADSL

The ACCC is considering whether to ‘declare’ wholesale ADSL because of concerns that as the NBN is rolled out, Telstra could move to restrict competition.

IBES joins the Green Touch

The University of Melbourne’s Institute for a Broadband-Enabled Society (IBES) has become a member of a new research consortium - the Green Touch™ Initiative - which brings together leading Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry players and researchers to fundamentally re-invent the network and reduce ICT energy consumption up to a factor of 1000.

Telstra to provide open access to fibre in South Brisbane and new developments

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has announced that Telstra will provide an open access wholesale service on fibre networks it is currently deploying in South Brisbane and some new real estate projects.

Hays quarterly report: Information Technology

Recruitment specialist Hays has released its January to March quarterly report into labour and skills demand, examining the ‘current hotspots of recruitment activity and trends’.

Victoria calls for fix for broadband and mobile blackspots

The Victorian Government has submitted its recommendations to the Federal Government’s Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee (RTIRC), calling for a national strategy to ‘fix the significant gaps’ in access to broadband and mobile telecommunications in Victoria’s regional and rural areas.

Optus signs up to NBN

Optus has announced it will sign a wholesale agreement with the National Broadband Network Co (NBN Co) following weeks of dispute between over regulatory agreement, liability and oversight.

Roxon rules out SOPA

The Attorney-General’s Department has announced it will not be looking to introduce anti-piracy legislation similar to the controversial United States’ Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).

In-home telehealth pilot program to begin in July

A new $20.6 million telehealth program utilising the National Broadband Network (NBN) will provide in-home telehealth services to older Australians, people living with cancer and those requiring palliative care.

AIGroup reports on business investment in new technologies

A report released by the Australian Industry Group, Business Investment in New Technologies, has recommended tax breaks and better collaboration between publicly funded research organisations and business to improve public sector take-up of new technologies.

NBN Co to trial fixed wireless in April

The National Broadband Network Co (NBN Co) has announced its fixed-wireless long term evolution (LTE) network will be trialed in April.

Internode rolls out IPv6

Internode has become the first Australian ISP to provide IPv6 to its customers, after the telco announced customers would be provided with an opt-in clause in their contracts, which will provide a ‘gobsmackingly large address space’ for its users after the roll-out of the 128-bit protocol system.