Welcome to our weekly roundup, where we bring you the latest developments in the telecommunications industry in Australia. As an internet service provider, we recognise the growing importance of robust infrastructure and reliable services for our customers across the nation. Here's what's been happening this week.
nbn Fixed Wireless upgrade program completed for 800k homes and businesses
The $750 million nbn Fixed Wireless and Satellite Upgrade Program has officially concluded, enhancing broadband service for approximately 800,000 homes and businesses across regional and remote Australia. The upgrades involve substantial improvements to more than 2,300 towers, resulting in faster download speeds even during peak usage times. This initiative not only enhances everyday online activities such as streaming and browsing, but also facilitates access to remote healthcare, remote working opportunities and education.
An impressive benefit of this upgrade is the introduction of two new high-speed tier plans, which offer peak wholesale download speeds of up to five times faster than previously available options. More than 120,000 homes previously reliant on the nbn Sky Muster satellite service can now switch to the improved nbn Fixed Wireless service, promising better connectivity for customers in these regions. Read more
NBN Co delivers solid half-year results in line with FY25 guidance
NBN Co has reported total revenue of $2.87 billion for the first half of FY25, an increase of 4 percent on the corresponding period in FY24. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 7 percent, reaching $2.12 billion. The company continues to perform well against its FY25 guidance, which aims for revenue between $5.7 billion and $5.9 billion.
The number of premises connected to the nbn network has grown to 8.62 million, with 594,000 premises upgraded to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) as part of the Fibre Connect Program. This ongoing investment in digital infrastructure not only improves service quality but also supports the government's initiatives to enhance digital capabilities across Australia. Read more
Telstra's CustData portal inaccessible for a week
Telstra's CustData portal, crucial for enterprise and wholesale customers to manage their network settings and usage, experienced a significant outage that left it inaccessible for over a week. The downtime resulted from unplanned maintenance, causing disruption as customers relied on alternative methods to lodge changes.
Telstra reassured customers of ongoing support during the period, guiding them through alternative ways to make service adjustments until full access was restored. The incident highlights the critical need for effective communication and rapid response when managing service portals that customers depend on. Read more
NBN Co's fibre upgrades reach record high
Recent reports indicate that NBN Co upgraded over 217,000 premises to full fibre in the second half of 2024, surpassing previous annual targets and emphasising a shift towards fibre connectivity. This progress reflects growing customer awareness of available services, alongside initiatives aimed at moving homes from outdated copper lines to high-speed fibre connections.
The continued push for fibre upgrades is reflected in competitive offers from retailers, with many customers opting for higher speed tiers even when not strictly required. This trend points to an increasing appetite for faster internet services, in line with modern digital consumption. Read more
TPG Telecom recovers after data centre outage
After a severe outage linked to both mains and backup power failure at one of its Sydney data centres, TPG Telecom has restored services to most of its customers. The incident, worsened by a recent storm that caused localised flooding, affected users nationwide, especially in New South Wales and the ACT, highlighting how vulnerable service providers can be to external environmental factors.
In response, TPG communicated with customers through various channels, emphasising the proactive measures taken to restore services while addressing network stability concerns. The episode illustrates the importance of resilience and contingency planning in maintaining service continuity. Read more
Stay tuned for more updates next week as we continue to monitor the evolving landscape of telecommunications in Australia!