Telecommunications - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• Telstra takes City of Melbourne to court over payphone upgrade program

  Telstra has said it is seeking a Federal Court ruling over whether its upgraded payphones can be considered “low impact facilities” under the Telecommunications Act.

• 5G ban yet to hit Huawei Australia’s carrier business

  Although the Australian government has blocked the company from participating in the rollout of telcos’ 5G networks, Huawei says it has registered strong growth in its local carrier business.

• Class action targets Vocus

  Vocus says it intends to defend a class action filed against it in the Federal Court.

• The 'super easy' way to hack a Swede's email account

  When you forget your Gmail password, and have two factor authentication (2FA) enabled, Google will SMS or call you with a six to eight digit code. You enter the code (Google calls this 2-step verification) and gain access to your account.

• Optus CEO says 5G offers gigabit upgrade path for NBN, pushes new model for last mile

  Optus CEO Allen Lew has called for the government and NBN Co to consider 5G wireless technology as an upgrade path for those parts of the National Broadband Network where performance is limited by the use of copper wiring, and as an alternative to laying additional fibre to households to deliver faster speeds.

• Budget 2019-20: Government revises regional NBN subsidy

  Budget documents reveal the government will revise the cap on its yet-to-be-legislated Regional Broadband Scheme subsidy for the NBN.

• Encryption legislation: Labor’s Husic commits to changing ‘terrible’ laws

  Labor MP Ed Husic says that the opposition has a “crystal clear” commitment to making significant changes to the so-called ‘encryption’ legislation passed last year with the party’s support.

• Huawei calls for common cyber security standards amidst concerns

  Huawei, in the spotlight over the security risks of its telecom equipment gear, urged governments, the telecoms industry and regulators on Tuesday to work together to create a common set of cyber security standards.

• Mobile data usage climbs but fixed-line still king, ACCC says

  Australians’ appetite for data is not abating reveal figures included by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in its latest communications report.

• NBN Co eyes new ways to fend off mobile challenge in apartment blocks

  NBN Co executives say they are examining ways to address challenges faced by short-term renters, including potentially introducing an arrangement for broadband services similar to that offered by utilities for electricity.

• Telstra half year profit takes a hit

  The roll out of the NBN has impacted Telstra's net profit after tax, which dropped 28 per cent to $1.2 billion in the half year ended 31 December 2018.

• GSMA may hold crisis meeting over Huawei

  Mobile communications industry body GSMA has proposed its members discuss the possibility that Chinese network vendor Huawei is excluded from key markets, amid concerns such a development could set operators back by years.

• New Zealand won't discriminate against Huawei: Jacinda Ardern

  New Zealand's prime minister has assured Chinese telecoms equipment group Huawei Technologies Co Ltd of even-handed treatment after the small U.S. ally blocked the sale of some Huawei equipment citing national security concerns.

• Former spy chief calls for Canada to ban Huawei from 5G networks

  Canada should ban Huawei from supplying equipment to Canadian 5G networks because the security risk is too great, a former spy chief said.

• Government gives NBN Co more time to pay off its loan

  NBN Co will have an additional three years to pay off a loan from the government intended to plug the gap between the cost of the NBN rollout and the cap on the total equity contributions from Canberra.