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Final network information instruments released
They provide NBN proponents with certainty over the information that will be provided, the timeline over which this will occur and arrangements to safeguard the information. The Government has already received a significant amount of information from Telstra that it is ready to provide to proponents. This can occur when proponents have certified appropriate security arrangements are in place. The instruments commence on 8 August 2008, with carriers being required to submit the network information by close of business 22 August 2008. Once the information has been reviewed it will be forwarded to proponents. When all required network information has been released to proponents, the Government will announce the final closing date for National Broadband Network proposals. Proponents will have 12 weeks to consider the network information. More information regarding the National Broadband Network project, including copies of the three instruments, is available here.
The Yvonne and John Almgren ATUG Innovation Award 2008 - Celebrating Innovation in Communications
This Award was established in 2006 during ATUG’s 25th anniversary year. The Award recognises that one of the most important outcomes of competition in telecommunications is innovation, and the expansion of choice and improvement of services that innovation drives. The Award is administered by ATUG and will be presented by the ATUG/EVUA Enterprise Conference Cocktail Party. The winner and runner up will receive a trophy, certificate and a cash prize. Prizes will be awarded at the discretion of the judging panel and no correspondence will be entered into. Nominations close on the 27th August. The award will be presented at the ATUG/EVUA Cocktail Party on 16th September.
For more information, please Click Here
To nominate, please Click Here
ATUG/EVUA
2008 Enterprise Conference: Unified Communications and Asia-Pacific Network
Developments
16 - 17 September 2008
Sydney, Australia
ATUG is excited to be working with EVUA to bring an annual Enterprise
Users Conference to the end users in Australia/New Zealand and Asia Pacific.
ATUG has been focused
on business user needs for high quality communications services at reasonable
prices since 1981. ATUG membership includes many of Australia’s
Top 100 companies and Government agencies. The EVUA was formed in 1992 and has
evolved into an effective ICT industry platform for global users and global suppliers.
ATUG/EVUA’s
Enterprise Conference will focus on product and service trends of interest to
large corporate and government users. Topics will range
from the
impact of new technologies such as Next Generation Networks, Mobility and Convergence
up to best in class management for Total Cost of Ownership, Outsourcing and ICT
infrastructure Governance.
For more information, please Click Here
For the program, please Click Here
To register, please Click Here
ATUG Regional Communications Roadshow
ATUG are beginning is Regional Communications Roadshow, "How do I
take advantage of the digital economy?", in Orange on Tuesday 1st July. ATUG
would like to thank:
for their
support of and contribution to the ATUG Regional Communications Roadshow.
For more information, please Click
Here
ATUG
2008 SME Breakfast Series
As this year's ATUG SME Breakfast fast approaches, ATUG would like
to thank Primus and 3 mobile for
their support of the SME series. For information on the SME series please Click
Here
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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
NBN Submission to the Department of Broadband, Communications and the
Digital Economy
All regulatory submissions on the NBN can be found on the Department
of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, here
For a copy of the ATUG Submission on the NBN, please Click
Here
For a copy of the ATUG submission on the rural and remote part of the
NBN, please Click Here
IIA - for a copy of the IIA submission on the NBN, please Click
Here
NBN Updates
Competitive Carriers Coalition response to Telstra NBN submission - “ Australian
communications services prices are a disgrace, among the highest in the world,
and the reason is that there has been too little competition
to Telstra. The idea that taxpayers and consumers should pay to subsidise
Telstra’s
monopoly again and again, and then that they and their children should pay
inflated prices for basic services into the future is obscene."
Click Here
25 JUN 2008: TERRIA: Response from Michael Egan, Chairman,
TERRiA to Telstra Chairman Donald McGauchie's presentation, "It's time
to get serious about Australia's Next Generation Network" - “The
National Broadband Network is the largest infrastructure investment by
the private or public sector in the history of Australia.” “The
decisions we make now will impact Australian society, business and broadband
users for generations to come. We need to approach this rationally and the
debate needs to be based on fact, not fiction.” “Mr McGauchie’s
presentation on Monday was neither rational nor factual. It was no more than
an emotive assertion that Telstra had an automatic right to retain monopoly
rights over infrastructure in perpetuity – and not just over existing
infrastructure, but over all new infrastructure as well.”
Click Here
Telstra Chairman Speech 23 June 2008 - The
debate about Australia’s telecommunications policy is intense and
hard fought. That is as it should be – these are vital issues. They
merit and deserve careful scrutiny. But that scrutiny will not serve its
purpose
if it is built on deceptions, misconceptions and half-truths, rather than
on credible evidence, reputable analysis and widely-shared truths. It is
time
to get serious. It is time for principled decision-making that is based on
facts and data from Australia and around the world.
Click
Here
The table below outlines the planned schedule for the NBN Proposal Process. The schedule is indicative only and may be subject to change at the Commonwealth’s discretion:
| Milestone | Date |
| Submissions invited on regulation and the Australian Broadband Guarantee | 11 April 2008 |
| Closing date for bond and confidentiality deed | 23 May 2008 |
| Bilateral meetings with Proponents | May-June 2008 |
| Proponent access to Network Information | May-June 2008 |
| Regulatory submissions available | 30 June 2008 |
| Closing date for clarification questions | 18 July 2008 |
| Closing Time for Proposals | 25 July 2008 |
| Assessment | August-September 2008 |
| Identification of preferred Proponent(s) by Panel | September 2008 |
| Negotiations | September-October 2008 |
| Government decision | October 2008 |
ATUG 2008
Award Winners
The winners of the 2008 ATUG are listed here. Click
Here for the full media release
ATUG’s Submission to the Expert Taskforce in August 2007 commenting on
the Guidelines for High Speed Broadband Network Infrastructure Proposals – 29
August 2007
Click Here
ATUG 2008 – Axia Presentation on fibre developments in Canada, France
and Singapore
The common attribute
across these three break-through
implementations: “Put
the NGN fibre grid in a no-conflict open access business model by separating
ownership."
Click Here
Summary of the Discussion at ATUG 2008 about the structural arrangements
needed for the NBN
Click Here
ATUG
Broadband Awards
Last year saw the inaugural ATUG Broadband
Awards. The awards scheme was very successful with
many organisations getting the opportunity to
display
their hard work improving business and
the community by using broadband in new and innovative
ways. In 2008, ATUG are looking to expand on the success of the 2007 Awards
and ask everyone
to nominate for the awards. Submissions for the
awards have now closed.
ATUG 2008 Focus Policies
Every year ATUG releases its Focus Policies. For this year's policies
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 Monthly Meetings
- Australia Wide
ATUG has a very active, state based representation which meet every
month to discuss topical issues that are of interest to all who are
in the telecoms industry. These are a free of charge event and are
a great networking opportunity with the leaders of our dynamic industry.
Also, 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 Opinion
Written by Rosemary Sinclair, Managing Director of ATUG, the Opinion highlights
a topical issue in telecommunications. To view the latest ATUG Opinion, 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...
ATUG has moved Offices
Suite 506, Level 5, 815 Pacific Highway, Chatswood NSW 2067
Telephone: 02 9495 8999 Facsimile: 02 9419 3889