Cars

NBN gives itself until September to get fixed wireless congestion sorted

Published

4 years ago

January 3, 2019

(Image: Corinne Reichert/ZDNet)

The company responsible for deploying the National Broadband Network (NBN) across Australia has said it wants to have less than 1 percent of its fixed wireless towers suffering from congestion by late September.

Congestion is defined by the company as having a 30-day average busy hour throughput of under 6Mbps.

In its monthly progress report for November, NBN said it had 0.12 percent of its cells below 3Mbps busy hour speeds, and 3.7 percent sitting between 3 and 6Mbps.

Almost half of NBN’s cells, 47 percent, were capable of over 25Mbps at busy periods.

Responding to Senate Estimates Questions on Notice, NBN said at the end of October it had 416 cells below the congestion threshold, a reduction on the 465 counted on July 1.

“There is not only a dedicated program of work in place to ensure the cells that are currently below the engineering threshold are upgraded as a priority, but also a proactive upgrade program to ensure that cells don’t drop below the engineering threshold,” NBN wrote.

To the end of October, NBN said it had upgraded 3855 cells on 452 sites during 2018, with not all cells necessarily below the threshold. The company added that its upgrade program would continue beyond the September 2019 deadline to “maintain the performance” of its fixed wireless network.

Last month, NBN announced it would be shaking up its fixed wireless plans in mid-2019.

The governent-owned broadband wholesaler will drop its top-tier 25-50/5-20 Mbps plan by the end of 2019, and replace it with a best-effort plan called Fixed Wireless Plus. The new plan will initially be capable of 60Mbps download and 20Mbps upload speeds and will cost the same for retailers as part of NBN’s AU$45 a month fixed line 50 bundle.

After spectrum is reallocated in 2020 to conform to an ACMA edict on interference management, NBN said the plan will have the potential to deliver 75/10Mbps speeds.

“The new wholesale Fixed Wireless Plus product is designed to reflect user demand with our insights showing people connected to the Fixed Wireless network are using their service with a ratio of 10:1 downloads compared to uploads,” NBN chief customer officer Brad Whitcomb said at the time.

“We acknowledge there are some users are currently experiencing slower speeds than anticipated in the busy hour on the Fixed Wireless network and want to reassure people that we are working hard alongside the industry to improve network capacity.”

In August, then-incoming NBN CEO Stephen Rue detailed a new wholesale fixed wireless pricing — AU$45 for existing customers and AU$65 for new customers on the 50/20Mbps speed tier — during a joint standing committee hearing; however, after backlash, the company retreated.

A year earlier, NBN had flagged creating a 100/40Mbps fixed wireless tier, but it too was unceremoniously dumped.

Former NBN CEO Bill Morrow told Senate Estimates in May there was no economic case for it.

“We killed it,” Morrow said.

In October, NBN revealed that more than 1,500 fixed-wireless cells had at least one service downloading more than 1TB of data during the month of May.

Despite this, NBN also said it had forecast to have less than 1.4 percent of fixed-wireless users on the dumped 100/40Mbps speed tier by 2022.

Related Coverage

NBN to replace top-tier fixed wireless plan with best-effort service

In mid-next year, NBN will offer a best-effort fixed wireless service that it claims will offer 60/20Mbps in non-busy periods.

NBN says 1.3 percent of FttN lines sit below 25Mbps after co-existence ends

The company has also revealed that it has purchased 27,600 kilometres of copper cable.

17.5k NBN satellite users have no 3G

Around 17,500 Sky Muster satellite users have no 3G coverage, and that’s before obstructions that could also limit mobile coverage are taking into account.

Queensland government moves to improve NBN with state-owned fibre backhaul

FibreCo Qld will use under-utilised backhaul on its existing state-owned fibre network to connect to the NBN in regional areas of Queensland.

NBN and government should co-fund tech choice program: Regional telco review

The regional telecommunications independent review committee has recommended that NBN be clearer about tech upgrades, look into satellite and fixed-wireless issues, and increase data allowances.

Source link

Cars

Two Ways To Use Windows 11 On Your Mac Computer

Published

5 hours ago

March 29, 2023

Francisco Peguero

Evaluating the need to incorporate Windows 11 on a Mac involves multiple considerations, particularly within professional, academic, and entertainment contexts. A primary factor to consider is the significance of Windows 11 for your work, studies, or leisure activities. Many jobs and academic programs rely on specific Windows-exclusive applications. At the same time, certain popular games like Microsoft Flight Simulator are only available on Windows. Having Windows 11 on your Mac could be essential for fulfilling your professional, educational, or gaming needs.

It’s also essential to ensure your Mac is compatible with either Windows 365 Cloud or Parallels Desktop. Check that your device meets the necessary hardware and connectivity requirements, including a reliable internet connection for Windows 365 Cloud. Another aspect to examine is how Windows 11 may affect your Mac’s performance. Review your Mac’s current specifications, including RAM and storage, to ensure it can handle both operating systems efficiently without compromising speed or stability.

Finally, consider the financial implications of running Windows 11 on your Mac. Windows 365 Cloud and Parallels Desktop come with costs, as the first option charges a monthly subscription, and the latter requires a one-time purchase of at least $99.99 or an annual subscription. Assess your budget and the advantages of using Windows 11 on your Mac to make a sound decision.

Cars

The Fastest Car In BMWs Line-Up Might Surprise You

Published

8 hours ago

March 28, 2023

Francisco Peguero

When it comes to the high-performance lineups of brands like BMW, it's easy to assume that the top-end is going to be the fastest. Not always.

Cars

5 Of The Most Underrated Ducati Motorcycles Ever Made

Published

10 hours ago

March 28, 2023

Francisco Peguero

The Ducati 916, produced from 1994 to 1998, sports a masterful body style, and the 999, introduced to the market in 2003, departs sharply from the previous footprint. The 999 is more aerodynamic than its predecessor, but the design was created from scratch and didn’t resemble the much-loved 916. Aesthetics alone can speak to much of the rejection this new model experienced.

In terms of performance, the 999 models opted for a high-speed V-Twin engine, reaching a top speed of 168 miles per hour and weighing just 438 pounds. The 999S variant utilized a new engine build, dubbed the Testasetretta, with a displacement measuring 998cc and producing 136 horsepower alongside a six-speed transmission. The torque rating for the 999 (in a 2005 model, specifically) was 106 Nm and boosted to 111.8 Nm with the racing kit.

These bikes feature a narrower engine than previous models, meaning the bike is slim and minimally profiled by design. Tom Cruise even owns one (a 999R), which has given the model some notoriety. The 999 performance redesign improved on an iconic Ducati, but the 916 continued overshadowing this new addition to the lineup.