Archived News for IT Professionals

Vodafone has announced it has switched on its 3G+ service in the countries major capital cities, forming a major part of the company’s planned roll out of its 4G LTE service in 2013.

Gold Coast to scale back ICT program following cost blowout

The Gold Coast City Council Governance and Finance Committee has recommended that Council approve a scaled back ICT program, following a blowout in its cost from an initial $40 million to over $100 million.

NBN pulls Special Access Undertaking

NBN Co has withdrawn the Special Access Undertaking that it lodged with the ACCC last year, removing the need for the ACCC to make a decision on the undertaking by 17 September 2012.

NeCTAR funding awarded for UTAS e-facilities

The University of Tasmania has been awarded two projects worth more than $2 million to establish new computing and modelling facilities that will revolutionise the capability of scientists to undertake computational studies.

Southern Cross Computer Systems opens new facility

Southern Cross Computer Systems has opened a new $6 million office and innovation laboratory established in Melbourne that will create 60 new jobs over the next three years.

Australian uptake of internet explodes: report

Five out of every six Australians are now online and regard the internet as a central part of their lives – but people who don’t have access are at a deepening disadvantage as the digital gap widens, researchers at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation have warned.

KPMG releases Technology Innovation Survey

KPMG has released its Technology Innovation Survey, identifying disruptive technologies in consumer and enterprise markets over the next four years and highlighting leading innovation markets and innovation management trends in the technology industry.

Optus launches 4G network

Optus has launched its 4G network for Sydney, Perth and Newcastle with 4G services to follow in Melbourne from 15th September, 2012.

Ovum predicts PON ONTs/ONUs and VDSL2 grow strongly in 2Q12, while other market segments lag

Preliminary results for the FTTx, DSL and CMTS markets show a mix of growth and declines in 2Q12 as multiple transitions in fixed access technologies and products continued, according to telecoms analyst Ovum.

Nowra company wins contract with NBN Co

Nowra company Benchmark Estimating has been chosen by NBN Co to provide estimating software and services for projects undertaken throughout the NBN rollout.

Vodaphone signed up for national emergency warning system

Federal Attorney-General and Minister for Emergency Management Nicola Roxon and Victorian Deputy Premier Peter Ryan have announced an agreement with Vodafone Hutchison Australia to provide location-based emergency warnings during disasters.

New Victorian program to support technology uptake

The Victorian Government has launched a new $8 million Technology Voucher funding program that will encourage the uptake of new technologies.

Victoria opens access to government data

The Victorian Government has announced two new policies, the DataVic Access and Intellectual Property policies, that will enable unprecedented access to the state's data.

Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Technology Gordon Rich-Phillips, who announced the new policies at the 8th Annual Victorian Spatial Excellence Awards, said that Victorian Government data was one of the state's most important public assets.

"Each year the Victorian Coalition Government invests millions of dollars in producing and acquiring high-quality data about our state", Mr Rich-Phillips said.

"Giving recurrent and reliable access to this data is a long overdue stimulus that Victorian businesses and the community will be able to finally harness in developing innovative applications that create new services or improve existing ones.

"These new, comprehensive policies place Victoria at the head of the pack in Australia on mandating access to state government data.

"In driving the release of useable, high-quality data, these new policies will stimulate significant innovation and economic activity, creating a platform on which to develop new technologies, new services and ultimately, new jobs."

"Under the Victorian Coalition Government's DataVic Access and IP Policies, it will be significantly easier to identify Victorian Government data and to access it, in most cases, at no cost," Mr Rich-Phillips said.

Mr Rich-Phillips said access to certain types of data would be restricted on the grounds of privacy, public safety, security and law enforcement, public health, pre-existing contractual arrangements or to comply with other laws.

Data will be available to users online through the re-developed Victorian Government data directory at www.data.vic.gov.au

AGIMO reviews ICT multi use lists

The Federal Department of Finance and Deregulation is undertaking a review of the ICT Management Consultants Multi Use List (MCL) and the ICT Multi Use List (MUL) to understand further the effectiveness and patronage of these two ICT-based multi use lists.

Government agencies advance on FOI reforms

Research released by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) confirms that Australian Government agencies are moving closer to an open access and proactive disclosure culture.

Perpetual outsources IT to Fujitsu

Wealth management company, Perpetual Limited, has signed a five-year $68 million ourtsourcing agreement for its IT functions with Fujitsu Australia Limited.

Rackspace to open data centre in Sydney

Cloud service provider, Rackspace Hosting has announced it will open its new data centre in Sydney, creating an expected 50 jobs in Western Sydney over the next three years.

ICT job market facing uncertainty

“In the second quarter of 2012, we saw the number of ICT contractor placements increase. However we also saw a trend towards shorter contract durations of 1-3 months, which we believe may be a strategic move in response to prospective cost cutting,” she said.