Optus’ HFC network gets eaten up by NBN Co as Australia slips further down the global broadband rankings. Here’s what happened with the NBN this week!
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission this week approved the deal between Optus and NBN Co that sees the nation’s number two telco shutter its hybrid-fibre coaxial (HFC) network in exchange for an $800 million payday. [The Australian]
Shadow communications minister Malcolm Turnbull panned the ACCC’s approval of the deal, saying that it was a “dark day” for the regulator and for competition in the Australian telco industry. Is he being dramatic? [Sydney Morning Herald]
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development ranked Australia 21st out of 24 nations for number of fixed broadband penetration, placing us behind Israel but ahead of Spain. Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said that it “re-enforces the need for the NBN”. [Department for Broadband, Communications and The Digital Economy]