Home | Calendar of Events | Contact Us

ATUG 2010 Awards Gala Reception
The ATUG Awards Gala Reception will be held on Thursday 11th March, from 6:00pm until 9:30pm, at the Australian Technology Park, Eveleigh. The reception will see the presentation of the ATUG Broadband and Excellence Awards to winners, with Minister Stephen Conroy joining us for the evening. The ATUG Awards evening is always an enjoyable event where the communications industry comes together to recognise the outstanding contributions and innovations from the past year.
For more information please Click Here
To register please Click Here
ATUG Awards Gala Reception supported by:
Platinum Sponsor -

Gold Sponsor -

ATUG 2010 Update Conference
Registrations for ATUG 2010 are also open. Once again, ATUG will be venturing to the Australian Technology Park on March 11th (the Gala Awards Presentation Evening) and 12th for the annual ATUG Conference. This year's program is already jam-packed, including: Graeme Samuel AO, Chairman, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Mike Quigley, CEO NBN Company, Ernie Newman, CEO, TUANZ and Ric Clark, CIO, Alcatel-Lucent.
For program information, please Click Here
To register for ATUG 2010, please Click Here

ATUG 2010 supported by:

ATUG 2010 National Broadband Awards - judging has been finalised
ATUG appreciates the support of our industry partner for the 2010 National Broadband Awards.

ATUG 2010 Excellence Awards - judging has been finalised
Categories include:
• Charles Todd Medal (Communicator of the Year)
• Innovations in Communications
• Excellence in Communications Management
• Best Communications Initiative - Large Business
• Best Communications Initiative - Regional
• Best Communications Initiative - Small Business
• Carrier of the Year
• Communications Journalist of the Year
• Broadband Awards
• ATUG Chairman's Award
ATUG Excellence Awards supported by:

2 MARCH 2010: NBNCo have announced the location of the first release sites for the high-speed broadband FTTP network. Click Here for the press release. Backgrounder document also available here.

24 FEB 2010: TANNER, CONROY: Draft Legislation Released for NBN Co Operations - The Rudd Govt released exposure drafts of legislation to establish a regulatory framework for the National Broadband Network company, NBN Co Limited.
Click Here for the Exposure Draft

ATUG Forum on Communications Alliance NBN End User Premises Handbook
ATUG are continuing our NBN forum series over the next week with forums in Sydney and in Melbourne.

From Communications Alliance:
“The End User Premises Project Team is developing advice on NBN installation practices for end-user premises, guidelines on in-premises distribution and suggested procedures for testing and provisioning services. The types of end-user premises include business, residential (including multi-dwelling), government, educational, infrastructure and backhaul sites.

The end-user premises includes the lead-in facilities up to the end-user devices within the premises (such as, telephone, computers, AV equipment, medical and security).

The handbook is available here - Draft Comms Alliance NBN End User Premises Handbook

Terms of Engagement agreed between Telstra and NBN Co
The Government today welcomed the update on progress in negotiations between Telstra and NBN Co regarding Telstra’s participation in the rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN).
Click Here

ATUG 2010 NBN Wholesale Services Definition Framework Forums
ATUG are holding forums in Melbourne and Sydney on the NBN Wholesale Services Definition Framework. Sydney will be on January 29 and Melbourne on February 2. ATUG would like to thank Maddocks for their support in these forums.
For the Sydney program Click Here
For the Melbourne program Click Here

Broadband forum ‘Open to Your Ideas’
Realising Our Broadband Future is now open for public contribution and discussion online, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy announced today. “We are inviting the public to be part of shaping our future vision by suggesting ideas and commenting on other contributions to the Realising Our Broadband Future forum this week,” Senator Conroy said. “This forum is an important event to explore how Australia is already planning to maximise the benefits enabled by the National Broadband Network.”
Click Here

6,000km regional broadband backbone for National Broadband Network
The Rudd Government today announced 6,000km of regional fibre broadband backbone links, the first building blocks of the National Broadband Network on mainland Australia.
Click Here

ATUG Regional Roadshow
ATUG has completed its 2009 Regional Communications Roadshow. Thank you to all of those who spoke at the events and thank you to those that attended!

ATUG appreciates the support of , , , , , , , , for the 2009 Regional Communications Roadshow. ATUG’s Roadshow gives local communities an update on communications developments including progress with the National Broadband Network, e-security initiatives, extensions to Optus 3G mobile coverage and the work of the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman. For more information, Click Here

ATUG Letter to Parliament on the Telco Reform Bill
"I am writing to you to let you know that ATUG supports the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2009 and seeks your support for quick passage of this important legislation.

The debate and decisions on this Bill must focus on better outcomes for... end users and not be side-tracked by the interests of any one company in the sector.

Our perspective on the draft legislation comes from our focus on the wider economic and social outcomes that depend on advanced communications. And our concern that competition in regional areas has not developed as well as we had expected."
Click Here

Regional Australians want better telecommunications competition now
October 28, 2009 – Regional Australians are hungry for better competition, a level playing field for competitors and aren’t buying arguments that they should have to wait any longer than necessary, according to a poll released today.

An Auspoll survey of regional New South Wales and Queensland, jointly commissioned by the Competitive Carriers’ Coalition (CCC) and Optus, found consumers overwhelmingly believe the Government should put the interests of telecommunications customers ahead of the interests of Telstra shareholders in deciding how to regulate the industry.
Click Here

ATUG NBN Forums
ATUG held the second Forum on the NBN Reference Model – in Melbourne this week. Again it is important to understand the Reference Model Discussion Paper released by Comms Alliance should be seen as an Options Paper to engage a wider group of stakeholders beyond the telco industry member base of Comms Alliance. ATUG appreciates the importance of ensuring this work reflects the needs of the end users of NBN services.
Presentations are available here

ATUG WA Meeting 29 October
Last week, Professor Craig Valli gave a presentation on internet security to ATUG and Engineers Australia Members. Please follow the links for copies of the slides.
Anti-Whaling
Smartgrids
Encryption

ATUG Media Release - Telecommunications Reforms Package 18 09 09
ATUG’s Board met today to discuss the 2009 Telecommunications Reform Package announced this week.The reform package is the most significant and positive change in telco sector policy in ATUG’s 30 year journey towards effective competition in the long-term interests of end users of communications services. The reforms promise to deliver on the advocacy of ATUG to promote a more competitive telecommunications industry which can deliver new and affordable services that support the long-term interests of end users.
Click Here

CONROY: Statement, Senate Consideration of Legislation relating to National Broadband Network
"On 13 May 2009 the Senate passed a motion preventing consideration of any bill relating to the Government' s National Broadband Network (NBN) until after the Australian
Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) formal report on the National Broadband Network (NBN) proposals to the NBN Panel of Experts and the final report
provided to the Government from the NBN Panel of Experts on submissions to the NBN process were tabled.

Both reports to Government contain extensive commercially sensitive information provided by National Broadband Network proponents in strict confidence, on the
understanding that it would be kept confidential. If disclosed it may also discourage participation in future Government tender processes."
Click Here

26 OCT 2009: SENATE HANSARD: Committees - Environment, Communications & Arts Legislation Committee Report
Treport of the committee on the provisions of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2009, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee.
Click Here

Focus Forum on 2009 Telecommunications Reform Package
Presentations now available:

• Australian Competition and Consumer CommissionAustralia Computer SocietyDepartment of Broadband, Communications and the Digital EconomyInternet Society of Australia
• Primus Telecom

NBN Co. - Initial Steps
Presentation from Mike Quigley, Executive Chairman, NBN Co. to the Communications Alliance.
Click Here

Alcatel-Lucent Video on the NBN
Youtube video outlining the prospects and benefits of the NBN.
Click Here

SENATOR CONROY: Transcript of Speech at Regional Broadband Forum
"The NBN will also form the platform for our future economy, ensuring we are best placed to capitalise in the years ahead.

Australian Local Government Association research highlights just how great the broadband opportunity is for regional Australia. Indeed, it estimates $3.2 billion and 33,000 jobs are lost to regional areas every year due to inadequate broadband infrastructure."
Click Here

Minister for Finance Lindsay Tanner with Barry Cassidy on Insiders ABC
Lindsay Tanner: "...we shouldn't dwell on history too much. I think governments of both persuasions have made mistakes in this area; understandable mistakes in some cases. But it's crucial for the long term productivity of Australia that we get world quality super fast broadband that is accessible by service providers on equal terms. We've got neither of those things at the moment. This is what's needed to give the productivity injection into the Australian economy we so desperately need."
Click Here

Senator Conroy with Alan Kohler on Insiders ABC
Alan Kohler: "After several months to mull over Telstra's snubbing of his original plans for a National Broadband Network. Communication Minister Stephen Conroy's response to Telstra was to the point, a very sharp and uncomfortable point; either cut yourself in half and lose your network and wholesale business or your future in mobiles will be strangled. Telstra is now negotiating with the Government over its role in the national broadband network..."
Click Here

Historic reforms to telecommunications regulation

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy today announced fundamental reforms to existing telecommunications regulations in the interests of Australian consumers and businesses.

These reforms will drive future growth, productivity and innovation across all sectors of the economy by:

• addressing Telstra’s high level of integration to promote greater competition and consumer benefits; streamlining and simplifying the competition regime to provide more certain and quicker outcomes for telecommunications companies; strengthening consumer safeguards to ensure services standards are maintained at a high level; and
• removing redundant and inefficient regulatory red-tape.

“For years industry has been calling for fundamental and historic micro-economic reform in telecommunications. Today we are delivering this outcome in Australia’s long term national interest,” Senator Conroy said.
Click Here

Telstra Media Release: Telstra remains committed to working with Federal Government
Telstra Chief Executive Officer David Thodey today responded to the Federal Government's proposed regulatory reform package.
Click Here

HANSARD: Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2009 - First Reading - Second Reading
Click Here for the transcript

National Broadband Network Appoints Five Key Executives
NBN Co. Limited, the company established to deliver the National Broadband Network, today announced the appointment of five members to its executive team. "These appointments are a critical first step in delivering on this important nationbuilding infrastructure project," said NBN Executive Chairman Mike Quigley.
Click Here

NBN Plan of Action 070409 Updated as at 070909

ATUG 2009 Future Forums - Australia's Digital Economy
ATUG are holding a succession of Future Forums on Australia's Digital Economy in various capital cities over the next month.
ATUG will use the Future Forum discussions to focus attention on the needs of businesses operating in a Digital Australia for policies and programs which:

• reflect new platforms, encourage innovation
• provide a strong integrity and assurance framework

and will support business, government and community organisations working in an information rich, videocomms friendly, interactive, transaction-intensive economy. To find out more, Click Here

Tasmania NBN Co Limited established
The Australian and Tasmanian Governments today announced the establishment of the company to rollout and operate the National Broadband Network in Tasmania and the appointment of its first four Board directors. Tasmania NBN Co Limited (TNBN Co) has been established as a wholly owned subsidiary of NBN Co Limited (NBN Co), the company responsible for rolling out and operating the National Broadband Network nationally.
Click Here

New DBCDE Head
The Federal government has turned to a Victorian state government departmental head with infrastructure credentials to become the new secretary of the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. Peter Harris is currently the Secretary of the Victorian Department of Sustainability and the Environment where he is responsible for what PM Kevin Rudd described as Victoria's largest current public infrastructure project - presumably a reference to that government's water desalination project.
Click Here

Multiple cable cuts impact Asian traffic: again!
Network traffic was severely impacted across Asia as a result of multiple cable cuts on key systems in the region in the early parts of this week. This echoed events that took place on Boxing Day back in 2006, when six out of seven systems was cut as a result of an earthquake off the southern coast of Taiwan. While a complete picture of the situation is still emerging, CommsDay understands that APCN2, APCN, EAC and SMW3 were impacted near Taiwan, adversely impacting traffic flow in and out of the region.
Click Here

Board appointments for National Broadband Network
The Rudd Government today announced the appointment of five new directors to the board of NBN Co Limited – the company established to deliver the National Broadband Network. The directors are Mr Doug Campbell, Mr Peter Hay, Ms Siobhan McKenna, Ms Diane Smith-Gander and Mr Gene Tilbrook.
Click Here

McKinsey-KPMG appointed Lead Advisor for National Broadband Network
McKinsey-KPMG has been appointed as Lead Advisor for the National Broadband Network Implementation Study. “The National Broadband Network is an historic nation-building infrastructure project and the Lead Advisor will provide important input to its implementation,” the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy said.
Click Here

Smithton, Scottdale and Midway Point first towns for National Broadband Network in Tasmania
The Prime Minister today announced the communities of Smithton, Scottsdale and Midway Point will be the first to receive optical fibre broadband connections in the rollout of the National Broadband Network in Tasmania.
Click Here

14 JUL 2009: Senator Conroy: Roadmap for Australia's digital economy future - Click Here

13 JUL 2009: Senator Conroy: Address to Australian Financial Review National Broadband Conference - Click Here

13 JUL 2009: Senator Conroy: Address to Australian Information Industry Association - Click Here

Views sought on legislative framework for NBN
The Minister has asked for submissions on the legislative framework for the NBN:

Click Here for the media release

White Papers from Alcatel Lucent on NBN Issues
1) Architecture is critical in any construction. For the Australian government’s planned Fibre To The Premise (FTTP) National Broadband Network (NBN), decisions made today around the design and architecture of the network will shape the future of broadband and the digital economy in Australia. This paper is provided by Alcatel-Lucent as a contribution to the discussion around the NBN, providing a view on what an FTTP network and services architecture looks like - and how that might be impacted by regulatory and policy decisions. Click Here

2) What is ‘fibre to the premise’ technology? How is it different to the broadband we have today? What can it do? How will it be installed? And what are the exciting new services? These are just a few of the questions Australians are wondering. Click Here

3) Many people in Australia are beginning to wonder about the environmental impact that NBN’s Fibre To The Premises (FTTP) network will have, both on their local community and their individual homes. In particular, discussion is growing about the possibility of overhead distribution and what it might look like. This is in the context of the Government’s announcement that it will introduce “streamlined arrangements” in order to contain costs and facilitate rapid deployment of the National Broadband Network (NBN). In this paper, we will look at how deployment methods used elsewhere might be applied in Australia and what their impacts and advantages might be. In summary, we believe that a mixture of methods can be deployed to suit differing local environments in Australia, balancing cost against visual amenity and other considerations. Click Here

4) While the concept of wholesale services is well understood, the concept of Open Access is a new area for telecoms in Australia. Yet the definition of how Open Access will operate is absolutely critical to the success of the proposed national broadband network. At a basic level, Australia’s definition of Open Access will likely mean that each end-user has the freedom to choose from one, or multiple, providers to receive services. NSPs will connect at an aggregated level at major switching centres. However, there is a multitude of issues to be considered and addressed before technical/commercial relationships can be set up and deployment can commence. Click Here

Senator Conroy: Priority National Broadband Network investment for regional Australia
ATUG is delighted to see progress on the NBN with the Minister’s announcement today about the competitive backhaul tender. ATUG notes many of the initial priority areas have been Regional Roadshow towns over the past 5 years. The Government’s Regional Backbone Blackspots Program is fast-tracking investment of $250 million to improve regional broadband competition and services. A competitive tender to construct, operate and maintain the backbone links was called today – with construction expected to begin by September.The initial priority locations to receive investment are:

• Emerald and Longreach, Queensland.Geraldton, Western Australia.Darwin, Northern Territory.Broken Hill, New South Wales. Victor Harbor, South Australia.
• South West Gippsland, Victoria.

“Backbone links are the broadband highways that connect our cities, towns and rural areas to the wider world,” Senator Conroy said.“Access to competitive backbone infrastructure on an open access, equivalent basis will allow retail broadband providers to expand further into regional areas.”
Click Here

ATUG Submission to NBN: Regulatory Reform for 21st Century Broadband Discussion Paper - Click Here

ATUG Welcomes Fibre National Broadband Network and Telco Sector Reform
Speaking at ATUG’s 7th Annual Regional Communications Conference, Managing Director, Rosemary Sinclair, said the group welcomed the Government’s commitment to a Fibre to the Premises National Broadband Network for Australia. The use of wireless and satellite technologies in difficult terrain and remote areas would mean much faster broadband services for all Australians at affordable prices.
For more information please Click Here

ACCC: Address by Graeme Samuel to ATUG Regional Conference
On 7 April, the Australian government made two announcements that are likely to have a major impact on competition in the telecommunications industry in Australia. The first, of course, is that the government will build a national fibre-to-thepremise broadband network. The government has committed to extending this network to 90 per cent of premises across Australia, reaching regional centres with around 1000 people. The second announcement is that government is considering a number of wide ranging reforms to the structure of Telstra and the existing competition regime, in order to improve the conditions for robust competition in the transition period to a fully operational NBN. I am going to talk about both announcements today and the ramifications of each for the industry and telecommunications regulation.
For more information please Click Here

This will be the 7th annual conference focused on regional communications strategies and services. This year speakers include: Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, the Shadow Minister, Senator Nick Minchin, ACCC Chairman, Graeme Samuel, AO, Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, Deirdre O’Donnell, and Keith Besgrove, First Assistant Secretary DBCDE.

To view the program, please Click Here
To register for the conference, please Click Here

Budget 2009 - DBCDE Outcomes and Programs 2009-2010
Achievement of the Department’s outcome is supported through major new measures within the 2009-10 Budget, together with significant initiatives continuing from previous years. To continue reading, click here.

April 7 2009 - ATUG welcomes the Commonwealth Government's vision for Australia's game changing National Broadband Network. Click Here FOR MORE ARTICLES, PRESS RELEASES AND TRANSCIPTS RELATED TO THE NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK, Click Here

Senator Conroy: Address to the National Press Club
“Just as electricity has changed the way we live over the past one hundred years, digital technologies will have untold influence on our lives for the next century. The Rudd Government is not alone in our recognition of the profound potential of digital technologies.

Digital technologies, or Information and Communications Technologies as they are commonly known, offer massive opportunities:
• to improve quality of life,
• to drive market efficiencies and productivity, and
• to create jobs today – and the jobs of the future”
Click Here

ATUG Roam Fair Campaign Update - Report into international mobile roaming released
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications’ Report into international mobile roaming, Phoning Home has been released. The Report examines the reasons why Australians pay so much for international mobile roaming and makes a number of recommendations to industry, Government and regulators.“Those of us who have travelled overseas will have no doubt about the utility of international mobile roaming, a service that allows you to use your own phone and phone number wherever you are in the world,” Ms Belinda Neal MP (Robertson, NSW), the Chair of the Committee, said. “Many of us also have our own stories of the shock of the mobile phone bill after travelling overseas.”

ATUG supports the recommendations and welcomes the Committee’s Report
ATUG ‘s response is here

ATUG Award Winnners
ATUG would like to congratulate all of the Excellence and National Awards for the Effective Use of Broadband award winners and hghly commended recipients.
For a list of the Excellence Awards winners, please Click Here
For a list of the National Awards for the Effective Use of Broadband winners, please Click Here

ATUG 2009 Conference
Once again, the annual ATUG Update Conference as come and gone. This year was exciting as ever, with all speakers presenting interesting and insightful information.
For presentations from the Conference Click Here
For ATUG Managing Director's, Rosemary Sinclair, speech, please Click Here
ATUG would like to thankand for their support of ATUG 2009.

ATUG 2009 Gala Awards Networking Evening
ATUG's 24th Annual Awards Ceremony was followed by a night of networking – a new format for ATUG which provided a vibrant and exciting pre-cursor to the ATUG 2009 conference. The evening was a great success and enjoyed by all.
For a list of the Excellence Awards winners, please Click Here
For a list of the National Awards for the Effective Use of Broadband winners, please Click Here
ATUG would like to thank for their Media Partnership

ATUG 2009 Excellence Awards - Nominations have closed.
ATUG would like to thank for their support of the ATUG Excellence in Communications Management Award in 2009.
ATUG would like to thank Innovation and Business Skills Australia (IBSA) for their support of the ATUG Innovation in Communications Award in 2009.
ATUG would like to thank for their support of the ATUG Carrier Of The Year Award in 2009.

ATUG 2009 Broadband Awards - Nominations have closed.
ATUG would like to thank for their support of the ATUG Broadband Awards in 2009.

Roadmap to advance Australia’s digital economy
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today released a consultation draft on the future directions of Australia’s digital economy.Click Here

ROAM FAIR Update - Report highlights international mobile roaming concerns
International mobile roaming charges have the potential to confuse consumers and result in expensive phone bills, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, said today. "International roaming charges are the subject of complaints where prices are high, making it very expensive to make mobile phone calls while overseas. This issue deserves attention particularly as mobile data services grow and businesses come to rely even more on cross-border access", Senator Conroy said. Senator Conroy said a KPMG report, commissioned by the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, highlighted concerns about excessive international mobile roaming charges. The report is at http://www.dbcde.gov.au/communications_for_consumers/mobile_services/mobile_roaming

Rosemary Sinclair's comments on International Mobile Roaming from the ATUG Blog
ATUG now has the bill information from our trip to new Zealand - a 2 minute call back to Australia cost $5.280. A 1 minute call from Australia TO New Zealand cost 70cents! The charges seem to ATUG to be completely distance INDEPENDENT!Some ATUG "heart stoppers" - 2 minutes to Australia in Belgium was $11; 4min 30seconds in France $14.849; 1 minute in UK was $3.299; SMS in France, Belgium and UK (9 different operators) was 50 cents everytime; 70 KB of data was $1.40 - that makes 1MB of data, $20!! A 1 minute call from Australia TO the UK by comparison is 70c. Interesting that the charging has to be by the minute but can appear on the bill to the third decimal place!!

ATUG 2009 Focus Policies
Every year ATUG releases its Focus Policies. For this year's policies please Click Here

ATUG Broadband Awards Archive
For an archive of all of the previous ATUG Broadband Award winners, please Click Here

25 Year History of ATUG
ATUG is celebrating its 25th year anniversary in 2006 with the release of the 25 year history of ATUG booklet. Click Here to read on...

ATUG Members Directory
The ATUG Members Directory is a new initiative to help members locate one another when they need help, guidance or advice on telecommunications issues. To participate in the directory, your company needs to be a financial member of ATUG and have filled in the online application form. Click Here for more information.

ATUG Meetings - Australia Wide
ATUG has a very active, state based representation which meet to discuss topical issues that are of interest to all who are in the telecoms industry. These are a great networking opportunity with the leaders of our dynamic industry. These meetings are open to ATUG members and non -members. Click Here for more information, including a events list sign on.

ATUG Events Archive
This is an archive of past ATUG events, which include presentations, photos and event information. Click Here

ATUG Membership Kits
If you would like to receive a membership kit, which includes all information regarding becoming a member of ATUG, Click Here

ATUG Focus
Written by Rosemary Sinclair, Managing Director of ATUG, Focus highlights a topical issue in telecommunications. To read past issues of ATUG Focus, Click Here

ATUG Benchmarking Service
The concept behind benchmarking is to provide participants with an external frame of reference to compare their use of telecommunications services with other like organisations. Take control of your company’s phone costs! Learn more...