Archived News for IT Professionals
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced the suspension of the National Broadband Network’s Special Access Undertaking (SAU) in the expectation that the company will soon ledge a revised undertaking.
The NBN lodged it’s the preliminary SAU setting out a proposed framework for access to NBN Co’s fibre, wireless and satellite networks.
The NBN Co recently indicated to the ACCC that it intends to submit an SAU, having outlined the proposed amendments to the ACCC.
Obsolescence spreads in Victorian frontline ICT
Obsolescence in frontline ICT hardware, software and supporting network infrastructure is systemic in the Victorian public service according to a review conducted by the state’s Auditor General.
Optus snatches up 4G bandwidth
Optus has completed its purchase of the Vividwireless Group from Seven Group Holdings, gaining control of the 98MHz 4G spectrum in the 2.3GHz band across key population areas.
Tech companies dominate top Australian employers list
BRW Magazine and the Australian arm of the Great Place to Work Institute have published the list of Australia’s top 50 employers of 2012, with Melbourne based IT services group OBS taking the top gong. The award recognises companies for their outstanding culture, workplace ethos and treatment of their employees.
TPG slapped with $2 million furphy fine
The Federal Court has slapped Internet Service Provider TPG with a $2 million fine for misleading broadband advertising and failing to prominently display the minimum charge in relation to a national ad campaign.
Swinburne launches gSTAR supercomputer
Swinburne University of Technology's new $3 million GPU Supercomputer for Theoretical Astrophysics, 'gSTAR', has been officially launched.
Project funded to help build tradies' ICT awareness
An interdisciplinary Victoria University Faculty of Business and Law research team has been awarded a $30,000 grant to develop a unique information and communications technology (ICT) program for tradespeople in Victoria.
Associate Professor Stephen Burgess (School of Management and Information Systems), Dr Rafael Paguio (School of Accounting and Finance) and Dr Carolyn Woodley (Victoria Law School) were awarded the grant by the Telematics Trust for their project, ‘Enabled Tradie’.
The Telematics Trust grants attract applications from leading educational institutes, government, business and not-for-profit organisations exploring innovative ways of using information and communications technology (ICT) for educational purposes.
‘Enabled Tradie’ will develop an educational program that combines face-to-face, online and work-based teaching approaches to build ICT awareness among Victorian tradespeople and encourage ICT usage. The pilot project will mentor a group of 12 tradespeople, supporting them in the adoption of appropriate ICT tools to help achieve business process efficiency, market effectiveness and work-life balance.
Offering an innovative alternative to the occasional training seminar format, the integrated project will take into account learners’ individual requirements and will provide practical support to successfully adopt and evaluate ICT. It will draw on Victoria University’s expertise in the use of face-to-face as well as online learning technologies. Another distinctive feature is the use of business students to provide dedicated and customised mentoring support to initiate and integrate ICT adoption.
Local councils in the Melbourne West region have been advised of the project and expressions of support have been received by the project team. Beyond this pilot phase, future plans include a wider roll-out across the region in line with VU’s Local Government Areas Engagement framework.
VU Research Grants Manager, Sandy Superina described the award as ‘fantastic news’. Sandy adds, ‘this is a prestigious grant and demonstrates how we can forge productive links between VU expertise and the educational and research needs of Victoria.’
R18+ rating passes Parliament
The Federal Government has passed legislation through the Senate that will enable the creation of a R18+ age restriction for computer games.
SenseT project to create Tasmanian data network
A collaboration between the University of Tasmania, state and Australian governments and a range of industry partners promises to deliver a world-first SenseT data sensor network will utilise the National Broadband Network rollout in Tasmania to mesh together historical, spatial and real-time data and make it available through the web to the community.
Kogan introduces world first IE7 tax
Internet retailer Kogan has announced the introduction of a world first tax on Internet Explorer 7 users. The 6.8 per cent charge came into effect last week and will increase by 0.1 per cent per month.
ANU to host world-leading supercomputer
The Australian National University is set to host a $100 million world-leading supercomputer that will enable data-intensive research into climate change, earch science and national water management.
IBM publishes future ICT snapshot
International computing giant IBM has published a report into the coming four decades of Australia's ICT future, finding that the sector will eventually grow to rival, and even surpass, the resources sector as the country transitions from a 'natural resources' economy to a 'developed resources' economy.
Scroggie takes the helm at NextDC
Cloud computing specialist NextDC has announced the appointment of Craig Scroggie as the company's new Chief Executive Officer, replacing Bevan Slattery who will continue as Executive Director and Chairman.
WLAN team wins inventor award
The CSIRO team that invented a new, faster wireless local area networking method, which went on to form the basis of modern Wi-Fi, has won the European Inventor Award 2012.
A cashless society could be close
The Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) has wrapped up the successful trial of its near field communications (NFC) trial that saw dozens of customers trial technology that enabled them to make payments using their mobile phone.
NBN Co outlines Tasmania rollout
The National Broadband Network Co (NBN Co) has announced it expects to deliver services to 12,800 Tasmanian premises in the coming weeks.
NSW offers $100,000 prize money for ICT start-ups
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Victoria to overhaul ICT procurement
The Victorian Government has announced plans to overhaul the way in which the state procures information and communication technology services through the introduction of a ‘streamlined and transparent process’ that will give companies more opportunities to bid for tenders.
Conroy confident of satellite rollout
Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has visited the California based Space Systems/Loral, where the satellites for the National Broadband Network are being designed and constructed.
Report predicts massive spike in data demand
A report conducted by networking giant Cisco has found that total data used is set to increase by over seven fold by 2016.
Turnbull decries NBN pork barrelling
Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has lashed out at the Federal Government’s National Broadband Network scheme, describing it as evidence of pork barrelling.