NoneSportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78
Telecommunications expert Paul Budde continued to produce must-read analysis during 2024, including this much-read January article on the NBN. ***** While improvements have been made to Australia's fibre broadband network, a study has revealed that users are still relying on slower download speeds. Paul Budde reports. THE GOVERNMENT'S initiative to enhance the National Broadband Network ( NBN ) has expanded eligibility for full-fibre broadband upgrades to over 3 million Australians. An additional 400,000 homes and businesses are set to benefit from this plan, as the latest list of eligible suburbs and towns has been unveiled. These newly eligible premises were previously serviced by the infamous Multi-Technology Mix , based on copper cable connections, a system concocted by the former Coalition Government. The copper network is known for its slower speeds, lower reliability, higher maintenance costs and increased likelihood of prolonged faults. In contrast, the full-fibre broadband – as it was already envisaged nearly 20 years ago – offers world-class performance, ensuring faster upload and download speeds, as well as a more reliable connection for both residents and small businesses. NBN analysis shows Australia's broadband infrastructure advancing New data shows an improvement in Australia's broadband performance while highlighting ongoing challenges for regional customers. The transition to full fibre has contributed to increased productivity savings; this can be translated to NBN users saving over 100 hours and $2,580 annually by utilising higher-speed broadband. According to NBN research , the network has generated a substantial economic uplift of $122 billion by 2022, leading to the creation of approximately 169,000 additional jobs — a 1.3% increase in Australia's labour force. By the end of December 2023, 75% of premises in the NBN fixed-line network will have the opportunity to access fibre directly to their homes, enjoying download speeds of nearly one Gbps through NBN's fastest residential plan. Upgrades will be available on-demand for eligible households or businesses opting for higher-speed plans, with no upfront installation costs. The Government's commitment to invest $2.4 billion, as outlined in the October 2022 Budget , has facilitated these upgrades, aiming to extend full-fibre access to an additional 1.5 million premises by the end of 2025. Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland emphasised the crucial role of affordable, reliable and high-speed broadband, stating that it is no longer a luxury but an essential requirement for work, learning, transactions, government services and telehealth. She highlighted the significant progress in delivering a better NBN, enabling millions of Australians to order full fibre and emphasising the economic benefits of quality broadband, including support for local manufacturing and job creation. NBN Co coming clean on underperforming broadband services NBN Co is taking steps to improve Australia's broadband network to meet consumer demands, as revealed in its latest service plan. Other interesting internet data was published by Cloudflare . Its analysis of internet download speeds in Australia reveals that 50 Mbps and 100 Mbps are dominant connection speeds, with over one-third of connections falling within these ranges. The overall average download speed for Australian users using Cloudflare 's speed test tool is 68Mbps. Cloudflare measures the real speeds that users experience, not the speed package that they purchase. The most common speed used is between 50 and 55 Mbps (close to 10% of users). A relatively low number – just above 5% – use speeds of between 90 and 95 Mbps. Other interesting findings of this study indicate that the measurements taken could indicate that alternative access methods, such as mobile broadband or fixed wireless, are used as well; this is reflected in the fact that 11.24% of results fall between 60 and 90 Mbps. Another conclusion that the study revealed was that legacy connections below 40 Mbps account for 22.33% and that 6.29% of Australian speed tests were below 10 Mbps in 2023. Less than 1% of measurements indicated people using speeds above 100Mbps and less than 0.03% use speeds above one Gbps. Interestingly, globally, Iceland leads Cloudflare 's speed test rankings with an average speed of 282.5 Mbps. In terms of mobile usage, 35.67% of traffic from Australia to Cloudflare 's platform comes from mobile devices, while 64.33% is from desktops, aligning with global trends. NBN finally gets an upgrade and hopefully we can afford it NBN Co revealed its 2024 Corporate Plan, outlining its strategies to enhance its network capabilities and improve user experiences across Australia. Paul Budde is an Independent Australia columnist and managing director of Paul Budde Consulting , an independent telecommunications research and consultancy organisation. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PaulBudde . Related Articles Labor Government promises NBN to remain in public hands NBN market sees smaller telcos gain ground NBN Co rising above challenges as demand for fibre grows NBN lags behind New Zealand in latest OECD broadband rankings It's confirmed: Fibre offers the best NBN infrastructure This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License Support independent journalism Subscribe to IA. POLITICS BUSINESS CONSUMERS TECHNOLOGY NBN NBN Co fibre network download speeds Cloudflare Michelle Rowland Multi-Technology Mix Coalition 2022 Budget internet speed Share Article
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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) witnessed a notable decline in short interest during December. As of mid-month, short interest reached 25.45 million shares, marking a 15.5% drop from late November’s figures. Short-sold shares now make up 0.5% of the total stock, and the days-to-cover ratio stands at 1.9, based on an average daily volume of 13.68 million shares. Institutional Moves Shine Spotlight on TSMC Several hedge funds and institutional investors have been actively adjusting their positions in TSMC. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. expanded its stake by 3.6% in the second quarter, while Rothschild Investment LLC became a new investor with a significant stake. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings by 11.4%, and Commonwealth Equity Services LLC increased its stake by 10.6%, now owning over 309,000 shares valued at approximately $53.8 million. Collectively, institutional investors and hedge funds now control 16.51% of TSMC’s stock. Analyst Opinions and Market Performance Research analysts have weighed in on TSMC, with Barclays raising its target price to $240, maintaining an “overweight” rating. Meanwhile, some firms like StockNews.com have shifted to a “hold” rating. Despite mixed reviews, the overall analyst rating averages to a “Moderate Buy” with a target price near $214. Financial Gains and Dividend Growth Recently, TSMC announced a quarterly dividend increase, with shareholders scheduled to receive $0.5484 per share, an annualized yield of 1.09%. The company’s latest earnings surpassed expectations, reinforcing its strong financial standing, with a remarkable net margin of 39.10%. Given these developments, TSMC continues to be a focal point for investors navigating the semiconductor market. The Rise and Prospects of TSMC in the Semiconductor Market Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) has positioned itself as a leader in cutting-edge semiconductor technologies. With innovations in 3nm and 5nm process nodes, TSMC continues to push the boundaries of efficiency and power in chip manufacturing, appealing to tech giants for the latest computing and mobile applications. The semiconductor market as a whole is witnessing a surge in demand driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, 5G technology, and cloud computing. TSMC is at the forefront, investing heavily in sustainable manufacturing practices. The company aims to reduce its carbon footprint and improve energy efficiency across its fabrication plants, aligning with global sustainability trends. To mitigate risks and enhance its global presence, TSMC is expanding its geographical footprint, including new facilities in the United States and investments in Europe. These strategic moves are designed to bolster supply chain resilience and reduce dependency on any single region. Market analysts predict robust growth for TSMC, supported by its technological advancements and strategic investments. As semiconductor demands soar in various industries, TSMC is well-positioned to capture a significant market share. The focus on addressing chip shortages and geopolitical tensions further strengthens its leadership outlook. Compared to rivals like Intel and Samsung, TSMC maintains a competitive edge with its ability to innovate rapidly and meet the diverse needs of clientele ranging from consumer electronics to automotive sectors. This agility allows TSMC to remain attractive to investors seeking stability and growth potential. For more information about TSMC and its ventures, visit the official TSMC website .Chandigarh: The CBI arrested an alleged middleman on Saturday in connection with a bribery case, in which an assistant director of the ED is under the scanner, officials said. The officer managed to give a slip to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) during a trap operation on Sunday (December 22) and is yet to join the investigation, while his brother has been arrested by the federal agency, the officials added. The CBI arrested “middleman” Neeraj on Saturday and produced him before a special court that sent him to the agency’s custody for a day, they said. The assistant director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) posted at Shimla and his brother, a senior manager in the Punjab National Bank in Delhi, had allegedly gone to a location near Chandigarh to receive bribe money from a businessman, who is facing a case lodged under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the officials said. The businessman filed a complaint with the CBI about alleged extortion, based on which the Chandigarh unit of the agency planned the trap operation where the complainant was asked to give a bribe of Rs 55 lakh in cash to the officer, with CBI sleuths keeping an eye, the officials said. The plan was that the CBI would nab the accused after the bribe was received by him, they said. The ED officer, who is on deputation from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), got alerted during the operation and allegedly fled, the officials said. The agency has been trying to locate him for six days. It has even launched technical surveillance to pin-point his location but to no avail. So far, cash amounting to around Rs 1 crore, including the bribe money, has been recovered during searches, the officials said. The CBI has arrested the officer’s brother, Vikas Deep, in connection with the case and produced him before a court, they added. The agency is questioning him regarding his alleged involvement in the case. Sources in the ED said the accused assistant director of its Shimla sub-zonal office and his supervisory officers — a deputy director and the joint director (based in Chandigarh) — have been transferred to Delhi following the case.