News
Australia's NBN to cover 93 per cent of nation - more than originally thought, says ALP
Labor says its national broadband network will deliver super-fast fibre optic cable internet access to 300,000 more premises than first thought. Julia Gillard, campaigning in Perth, said the $43 billion network was being rolled out on time and on budget. About half of households and businesses in the only three Tasmanian towns connected to the network have [...]
Mobile use to take off on Australian flights
Australians could soon be able to use their mobile phones in flight after the latest ruling from the national communications watchdog. Phones were banned on board flights because of their potential to interfere with navigational equipment but new technology has changed that. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has now approved phone use after consultation with [...]
iPhone 4's Facetime Inspires Video Sex Chat Services
It’s a maxim of technology: Invent the newest gadget and the porn industry will find a way to cash in. So when Apple Inc. launched the iPhone 4 and its FaceTime videoconference feature, it didn’t take long for adult-entertainment companies to develop video-sex chat services and start hiring workers through Craigslist. To read this AP report in [...]
Pacnet and Pacific Fibre will construct a $450 million fibre optic cable from Australia to the US
Australia’s undersea cable market is set to become more competitive with the construction of a new $450 million link to the US. PacNet and South Pacific-based Pacific Fibre have announced an agreement to jointly fund construction of the 13,600 kilometre cable which will link Sydney, Auckland and Los Angeles from 2013. To read this report in The [...]
TPG and iiNet lock horns in battle for Australia's AAPT
IiNet is locked in a battle with TPG Telecom to acquire Telecom New Zealand’s struggling AAPT unit. The outcome of the fight will determine which emerges as a clear third force in Australian telecommunications. To read this report in The Australian in full, see: www.theaustralian.com.au/business/tpg-and-iinet-lock-horns-in-battle-for-aapt/story-e6frg8zx-1225898192102
Telefonica agrees Vivo deal with Portugal Telecom
Spanish telecom firm Telefonica has agreed to buy Portugal Telecom’s stake in Brazilian mobile company Vivo, ending weeks of strained negotiations. No figure for the deal was announced, but reports say the Spanish company will pay 7.5bn euros ($9.8bn; £6.3bn). To read this BBC News report in full, see: www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10785952 Also see: Telefónica Wins Full Control of Brazil Phone Venture Telefónica [...]
UK mobile broadband spectrum auctions get green light
The long-awaited sell-off of airwaves crucial for next-generation mobile services has finally moved a step closer. The UK government has said auctions will take place late next year, after months of wrangling between the operators. To read this BBC News report in full, see: www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10792404
India tightens telecom rules on security concerns
India on Wednesday said telecom equipment vendors must allow inspection of their gear and made carriers solely responsible for the security of their networks, addressing security worries that had led to restrictions on Chinese manufacturers. Earlier this year, India barred some local mobile phone operators from placing orders with China’s Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp 000063.SZ [...]
Mobile broadband to drive South East Asian growth
The increasing use of mobile broadband applications is expected to drive the growth of telecommunications companies in Southeast Asia, where the market for traditional call and text services is now close to reaching its saturation point. In its latest Southeast Asia Wireless Outlook, research firm Frost & Sullivan said the country's low broadband penetration indicates huge [...]
TUANZ cautiously supports Telecom NZ separation
The Telecommunications Users Association (TUANZ) wants Telecom to be more open about its plans for voluntary structural separation. The call for Telecom to “declare its hand” came as Tuanz gave guarded acceptance of some changes the company is seeking to its undertakings for operational separation. To read this NZPA report in full, see: tvnz.co.nz/business-news/tuanz-cautiously-supports-telecom-separation-3673773