The federal government has cancelled the contract for Optus and Elders to build a WiMAX broadband network, the companies say.
Optus believes that Communications Minister Stephen Conroy's decision to scrap plans for an AU$1 billion WiMax network, set to be built by Optus-Elders (OPEL), was "flawed" and the telco has left the door open for legal action.
Liberal communications spokesperson Bruce Billson has accused the Rudd government of having an inconsistent stance on its dealings with Telstra and its activation of the ADSL2+ network -- but one analyst claims it could all just be semantics.
Labor leader Kevin Rudd has claimed that a leaked e-mail proves the government's AU$2 billion plan to banish rural broadband blackspots is in fact a ploy to win over key electoral areas.
Labor Communications spokesperson Stephen Conroy has restated the Opposition's commitment to a pan-Australian fibre-to-the-node network, while accusing the government of wasting taxpayers' money with a planned WiMax rollout
One of the real dangers of election season -- for politicians, at least -- is being held to their word.
Post-election adrenaline surging through his veins, one of the first acts performed by new Communications Minister Stephen Conroy was to disband the expert panel that his predecessor Helen Coonan had appointed last June to evaluate tenders for fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) construction.
Much has been made of Telstra's decision to finally stop holding Australia to ransom, and to actually turn on the ADSL2+ equipment it has installed in what is apparently over 900 of its exchanges around the country.
As expected, Senator Stephen Conroy -- who made a career out of picking holes in the actions of his predecessor Helen Coonan -- was named to Kevin Rudd's front bench, bearing the interesting new title of Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (BCDE).
Ahead of the election, with promises for nationwide broadband networks and digital revolutions in schools, the ICT industry could hope the government was on their side. But now the glamour of a sparkling new government has worn off, how ICT-friendly is the Rudd government really?
An analysis by representatives of Australia's two largest IT industry groups shows that neither political party in the federal election has come up with a comprehensive policy around technology.
With only weeks to go to the election, how are the main parties shaping up on their tech promises?
Norton improvements won't happen over night
Software takes a long time to improve, says Symantec's VP of consumer engineering, Rowan Trollope.… Watch it now
Driving Business Growth Through Enterprise IT Management
High availability computing with reliable blade technology
Telstra's BT coat doesn't fit
Australian security: the lucky country 
Storage infrastructure on the tender track
Driving Business Growth Through Enterprise IT Management
Dig deeper by clicking here »
Achieve continuous availability with high performance NonStop blade technology
Security superguide
When chief information officers and other technology managers talk about their priorities, security is always high on the list.
Click here for more.
Superguide: Printers -- all you need to know
Looking to buy a printer? Our superguide rates the latest printers and shines a light into the industry.
Click here for more.
Storage and server superguide
Over the last decade the art of maintaining the datacentre of a large organisation has evolved into an art form.
Click here for more.
