Stories by James Hutchinson

Pacific Fibre loses Pacnet, nabs key personnel

New Zealand submarine cable venture Pacific Fibre will be responsible for finding the full $US400 million funding for a proposed fibre link between Australia, New Zealand and the United States after a memorandum of understanding with Pacnet lapsed earlier this year.

Sound the death knell for IPv4

2011 marks the death of Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) but companies and ISPs are largely yet to deploy its successor, IPv6. James Hutchinson looks at the state of the market and what is holding the new protocol back.

CSC guns for iSoft R&D

CSC Australia’s director of health services this week pinpointed the research and development portfolio of ailing e-health provider iSoft (ASX:ISF) as a key attraction of the company’s $US188 million ($AUD180 million) takeover bid.

Shared services at fore of NSW cabinet

Shared services are likely to play an even greater role in the newly voted NSW Liberal Government as the recently sworn-in premier, Barry O'Farrell, announced his new cabinet this week.

NBN Co begins plan B talks

NBN Co has refused to confirm or deny talks with Leighton Holdings over construction of the National Broadband Network (NBN) on the mainland, but the wholesaler expects any “plan B” partner will not receive the entirety of the fibre build-out budget.

Queensland looks to NBN for service relocation

The Queensland Government has flagged a potential relocation of key state government services to regional centres as a means of maximising the benefits afforded by the National Broadband Network (NBN) rollout.

NBN Co scraps construction tenders

NBN Co this week confirmed it had scrapped bids from a shortlist of construction companies vying to roll out the National Broadband Network (NBN) across Australia.

Satellite players arc up over NBN mission creep

Satellite operators and service providers have followed in the footsteps of the wider ISP sector, issuing a warning about the potential for ‘mission creep’ under the National Broadband Network (NBN).

NBN Co seeks solid satellite speeds

NBN Co intends to clarify the speeds attainable via satellite under the National Broadband Network (NBN) once the interim solution goes live in July this year.

Optus eyes NBN wholesale aggregator role

Optus has flagged plans to aggregate and on-sell wholesale fibre, wireless and satellite services under the National Broadband Network (NBN) as a virtual ISP, as part of an attempt to maintain the viability of its fixed wholesale division into the future.

Telco ombudsman aims to rectify industry opposition

The telecommunications industry ombudsman has signalled increased efforts to change internal processes and structures in an effort to better communicate with telcos and service providers in handling and resolving complaints.

Thodey calls for telco unity on customer service

Telstra chief executive, David Thodey, has issued a call to arms for the telecommunications industry to unite under a single voice, in an attempt to more effectively influence economic and policy influences on the industry.

IBM, Oracle in NBN Co support systems deal

IBM has been selected by NBN Co as prime integrator to deploy a mix of its own, Oracle and systems customised by the National Broadband Network (NBN) wholesaler under a $200 million deal to implement operational and business systems over three years.

Reassurances gained, Optus NBN talks continue

Optus negotiations around a Telstra-style agreement with NBN Co and the government to migrate its Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) customers are expected to progress shortly, now that key legislation has passed the Senate.

Vocus nets Perth DC in $7m deal

Fibre wholesaler, Vocus Communications (ASX:VOC), has made its second major move into the data centre market with an agreement to acquire PerthIX for approximately $7 million.

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