Industry News
Optus earmarks $1bn to boost regional mobile coverage
Optus has announced what it says is one of the largest investments in regional mobile infrastructure in Australia's history, with plans to spend $1bn by June next year to build 500 new mobile sites. [ + ]
Third IBM Cloud data centre opens in Sydney
IBM has opened its third IBM Cloud data centre in Sydney and its fourth in Australia as part of a wider expansion of its global data centre footprint. [ + ]
1 in 4 Australians ready for AI and IoT in commerce
More than a quarter of Australians are ready for internet-connected virtual assistants or smart appliances to make purchases on their behalf, up from just 12% less than a year ago, according to Visa. [ + ]
Metronode spending $150m on DC projects in 2017
Data centre operator Metronode is building expansions for its GovDC data centres in Unanderra and Silverwater and its facility in Derrimut, Melbourne. [ + ]
Two-thirds of regional Australians can access nbn
The nbn's fixed wireless rollout is continuing at a fast pace, with an extra 45 towers due to have been deployed across June and July, while retail nbn satellite providers have agreed to raise allocations at little extra cost. [ + ]
Dutton to lead Home Affairs super portfolio
The federal government has announced plans to establish a new Home Affairs super portfolio modelled after the UK's Home Office, as well as a new Office of National Intelligence. [ + ]
WaterGroup to use Sigfox for IoT smart meters
Smart water meter company WaterGroup has announced a partnership to connect its IoT smart meters to the fast-growing Australian Sigfox LPWA network under deployment by Thinxtra. [ + ]
Australian IT spending to grow 3.7% this year
Gartner expects IT spending in Australia to reach $83.1bn this year, driven by strong growth in enterprise software spending. [ + ]
Data61 opens functional programming lab in Qld
CSIRO's Data61 has teamed up with the Queensland government to establish Australia's first functional programming open lab in Brisbane. [ + ]
Equinix to spend $54m to expand SY4 data centre
Data centre operator Equinix will spend $54.3m to double the rack capacity of the SY4, the company's fourth and newest facility in Sydney. [ + ]
Donald Trump threatens net neutrality, says academic
Internet neutrality and freedom of speech are under threat by Donald Trump's administration, according to a QUT academic. [ + ]
NordVPN to fight China on VPN ban
NordVPN says it will do all it can to continue providing access to VPNs for China's users, following reports that a ban will take effect next February. [ + ]
Telecommunications satisfaction slipping
Overall satisfaction has decreased among telecommunications customers, according to a national survey by the Communications Alliance. [ + ]
Morrow accused of telling fibs about satellite plans
Former nbn co CTO Gary McLaren has accused the company's current CEO, Bill Morrow, of falsely claiming that it has only recently decided to use its second satellite as anything other than a backup for the first. [ + ]
Australian CEOs fall behind on mobile tech
According to new SOTI research, around 40% of Australian businesses are not investing in mobile technology. [ + ]