Here are a few I have come across the last week or so. Note: Each link is followed by a title and a few paragraphs. For the full article click on the link above title of the article. Note also that full access to some links may require site registration or subscription payment.
General Comment
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Interesting that the feeling on the blog seems to be that the ADHA has reached its use -by date and the time has come to put it out of its misery! Have your say on todays poll!
Otherwise there seems to be a lot of small moves underway – enjoy!
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https://www.afr.com/street-talk/pe-calls-for-pharmacy-software-group-z-software-20211115-p59931
PE calls for pharmacy software group Z Software
Anthony Macdonald, Yolanda Redrup and Kanika Sood
Nov 15, 2021 – 9.33pm
Specialist private equity investor Acclivis Group has recorded its maiden Australian buyout, snapping up pharmacy management software provider Z Software.
Acclivis managing director Geoffrey Sayer, a former Clanwilliam Group and Telstra Health executive, said Z Software was used to run more than 1000 community pharmacies across Australia, giving it about 20 per cent of the market.
Z Software has more than 1000 Australian pharmacies on its books. Virginia Star
He said Z Software, founded in 2013, was the fastest growing pharmacy software company in the country, used by pharmacists to manage strict their regulatory requirements behind the counter and their wider retail operations.
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https://www.hospitalhealth.com.au/content/technology/news/sa-health-to-roll-out-comms-tech-304071636
SA Health to roll out comms tech
Tuesday, 16 November, 2021
SA Health, in partnership with the Australian Digital Health Agency, has trialled secure messaging technology and is now rolling it out in a staged approach in a bid to streamline communication between hospitals and community health providers.
“Secure messaging allows hospitals and healthcare providers, including general practitioners, private specialists and allied health professionals to communicate with each other in a safe and secure manner,” said SA Health Chief Digital Health Officer Bret Morris.
The secure messaging service is active at all Local Health Networks using either the Sunrise Electronic Medical Record (EMR) or the Open Architecture Clinical Information System (OACIS).
To date, it has also been activated for over 300 practices and more than 2000 individual external health professionals in South Australia and surrounding states.
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https://medicalrepublic.com.au/the-new-racgp-gender-and-sex-standards-explained/57824
15 November 2021
The new RACGP gender and sex standards, explained
By Holly Payne
The RACGP has recently updated its standards to recommend that GPs separate the collection of sex and gender information, with hopes that it will not only help practices be more inclusive but also radically improve the available data on sex- and gender-diverse Australians.
This may go some way to make up for a missed opportunity to collect LGBTI+ data: this year’s census contained nothing on sex- and gender diversity, despite a campaign and high-level support for including such questions.
And don’t worry – many clinical information system vendors are already working toward a solution for recording the additional sex and gender variables.
What has changed
The RACGP recently released the Standards for General Practice (5th edition) and it introduces new methods of collecting and recording information about patient sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation.
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Fiona Stanley Hospital ICT restored after hundreds of appointments cancelled
Updated November 17, 2021 — 10.41amfirst published November 16, 2021 — 12.04pm
Between 300 and 400 patients had appointments at Fiona Stanley Hospital cancelled on Tuesday after the organisation’s information and communications technology system failed.
Most were outpatients who required video conferencing services, but other procedures which required ICT systems were also postponed.
The hospital’s system went down at 10pm Monday, with medical staff unable to access online patient records. Ambulances were diverted to other hospitals on Tuesday.
South Metropolitan Health Service chief executive Paul Forden said the issue was with software products that were used.
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South Australia launches two digital tools for assessing travellers as part of opening border
All incoming travellers must use EntryCheck SA, which will assess their vaccination status, departure location, and COVID-19 risk.
By Campbell Kwan | November 19, 2021 | Topic: Innovation
With South Australia set to reopen its borders from this coming Tuesday, the state's Premier Steven Marshall has announced two new digital tools that incoming travellers may be required to use to enter the state.
The first tool is an online border entry process, called EntryCheck SA, that all incoming travellers must use. It will assess an individual's vaccination status, departure location, and COVID-19 risk, and will be available to people on Friday.
Based on the information provided, vaccinated individuals arriving from interstate areas with community transmission and from overseas may also be required to use another digital tool, the new HealthCheck SA mobile app, as part of their entry conditions.
The HealthCheck SA app is an offshoot of the state's home quarantine app, and is intended to help users monitor daily symptoms and guide them through any testing and quarantine requirements.
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Digital health consumer app to launch in 2022
Monday, 15 November, 2021
The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) has teamed up with Adelaide-based Chamonix IT Management Consulting to develop a digital health consumer mobile app starting with My Health Record integration, following a competitive tender process.
The app, to be developed as a part of a $2.1 million contract, will be available in early 2022, with the first iteration to be a read-only interface to My Health Record, followed by upload functionality and future enhancements.
ADHA’s Chief Digital Officer Steve Issa said, “The Agency’s vision is both healthcare providers and consumers having access to the same health information regardless of the type of device or channel they use to access it.”
The Agency’s omni-channel strategy enables the only national electronic health record, allowing access to health information when it is needed. “The first component of this strategic program to drive digital enablement across Australia has been My Health Record, available for both healthcare providers and consumers through desktop environments,” Issa said.
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https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/anz/adha-build-consumer-mobile-app-my-health-record
ADHA to build consumer mobile app for My Health Record
The app is expected to be available in early 2022.
By Adam Ang
November 16, 2021 12:20 AM
The Australian Digital Health Agency has chosen Adelaide-based consultant Chamonix IT Management Consulting to develop a consumer mobile app that integrates with My Health Record.
According to a statement, the first release of the app will be a read-only interface of the national digital health record platform and will later include an upload feature and other enhancements. Chamonix, which won the A$2.1 million ($1.5 million) contract via a competitive tender process, is expected to develop the app by early next year.
WHY IT MATTERS
Over the past year, the ADHA saw more than a 500% jump in the number of consumer views of pathology reports on My Health Record, according to ADHA Chief Digital Officer Steve Issa. Consumers have been accessing their My Health Record on desktops and given this increase in demand, the ADHA is coming up with a mobile solution to enable easier access to health information.
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https://www.ausdoc.com.au/specialist-update/fitbit-can-detect-silent-af-study
Fitbit can detect silent AF: study
A new algorithm for detecting arrhythmia is before the US FDA for approval
18th November 2021
By Medicom
Almost all detections of AF using an algorithm for a Fitbit wearable device are true positives, a large study shows.
US researchers said that 98% of positives for AF were confirmed as correct when an ECG patch was then worn for a week in their study of almost half a million people.
The findings were reported to the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2021 virtual meeting by Dr Steven Lubitz of Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, US.
Dr Lubitz and colleagues developed the algorithm which makes use of the Fitbit’s photoplethysmogram software to detect irregular heart rhythms and report results to a smartphone app.
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https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/anz/sa-health-taps-digital-tech-faster-sharing-patient-info
SA Health taps digital tech for faster sharing of patient info
For now, the service enables the sharing of discharge summaries with health providers across the state.
By Adam Ang
November 15, 2021 11:33 PM
SA Health has piloted a Secure Messaging service to allow clinicians to share patient information faster.
In partnership with the Australian Digital Health Agency, it has rolled out the service in a staged approach across all its local health networks that are either using the Sunrise EMR or the Open Architecture Clinical Information System.
For now, the service allows SA Health to send discharge summaries directly to participating health providers. Around 40,000 of these summaries have been sent out across metro and regional hospitals in South Australia. Later, other documents will be included, such as electronic outpatient referrals, specialist letters and other communications from SA Health.
The messaging technology, said ADHA CEO Amanda Cattermole, has met "rigorous security and privacy requirements, replacing existing manual processes and continuing to improve the interoperability of Australia’s broader digital health system".
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Study introduces new advice for the use of omega-3 supplements in pregnancy
18 November 2021
New technology designed to streamline communication between hospitals and community health providers is allowing clinicians to share important patient information faster and improve patient care.
SA Health Chief Digital Health Officer, Bret Morris, said SA Health, in partnership with the Australian Digital Health Agency, has trialled the secure messaging technology and is now rolling it out in a staged approach.
“Secure Messaging allows hospitals and healthcare providers, including general practitioners, private specialists and allied health professionals to communicate with each other in a safe and secure manner,” Mr Morris said.
“It reduces the use of fax machines and post, improving accuracy, privacy and the speed in which clinical documents can continue to be shared between sites.
“This technology makes the clinician’s work easier and more efficient, while contributing to improved patient care for South Australians.”
Note: The headline is quite bizarre for the contents that follow!
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https://www.miragenews.com/streamlining-health-data-to-improve-patient-care-675887/
18 Nov 2021 10:47 am AEDT
Streamlining health data to improve patient care
New technology designed to streamline communication between hospitals and community health providers is allowing clinicians to share important patient information faster and improve patient care.
SA Health Chief Digital Health Officer, Bret Morris, said SA Health, in partnership with the Australian Digital Health Agency, has trialled the secure messaging technology and is now rolling it out in a staged approach.
“Secure Messaging allows hospitals and healthcare providers, including general practitioners, private specialists and allied health professionals to communicate with each other in a safe and secure manner,” Mr Morris said.
“It reduces the use of fax machines and post, improving accuracy, privacy and the speed in which clinical documents can continue to be shared between sites.
“This technology makes the clinician’s work easier and more efficient, while contributing to improved patient care for South Australians.”
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COVID-19 vaccine certificates coming to Check In Tas app
16 November 2021
New updates are now live on the Check In Tas app. From today, the app will be able to display the user's COVID-19 vaccination Digital Certificate; if they have one. Authorities say the digital vaccination certificate information is not stored by the Department of Health in the Check in TAS app, it is only stored on the user's own phone.
The upgrade has been finalised less than a month out from the border reopening. Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff is encouraging users to update the app. "The Digital Certificate will be able to be used at certain events where vaccination is a requirement and is likely to also be used for border check processes" Rockliff says.
To link your vaccination certificate to your Check In Tas app, there are four steps:
Upgrade your Check in TAS app to the latest version (some devices will do this automatically, others will ask you to upgrade manually);
You will then need to access your COVID-19 Vaccination Digital Certificate through either your Medicare
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https://www.hinz.org.nz/news/587169/My-Vaccine-Pass-live.htm
My Vaccine Pass live
Tuesday, 16 November 2021
NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth
My Vaccine Pass has gone live
allowing people to prove their Covid-19 vaccination status.
The pass includes a person’s name, date of birth and a QR code, enabling them
to access places within New Zealand that require proof of vaccination under the
new Covid-19 Protection Framework, such as large-scale events and hospitality
venues.
A separate International Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate for travel overseas
is also now available on request. New Zealand has chosen to first use the
European standard, called the EU Digital COVID Certificate, which is recognised
by 49 countries, with more expected to come.
Both passes are stored in a QR code that can be downloaded to a phone and
stored in an Apple or Google Wallet, or printed out, and people without access
to a phone can request a paper copy.
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Top 3 COVID-19 vaccine questions – COVID
Professor Alison McMillan, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, answers the top 3 questions across our channels.
7:23
Date published: 18 November 2021
Video type: Presentation
Description:
If I’m travelling over the holiday period, what should I consider to stay COVID Safe.
When will I need to prove that I am vaccinated against COVID-19?
What should I ask my GP if I’m unsure if I need a booster?
Part of a collection:
We answer your top 3 questions
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https://7news.com.au/technology/internet/telstra-targets-scale-in-non-core-segments-c-4574456
Telstra targets scale in non-core segments
Published: 16/11/2021Updated: Tuesday, 16 November 2021 3:23 PM AEDTTelstra is looking to build scale in its non-core health and energy businesses and hopes to deliver profitable growth across its international network, as part of the plan to bolster its financial position.
The telecoms giant has put a spotlight on the new markets and international businesses, which form key pillars of the T25 growth strategy - first unveiled in September - that is designed to sharpen its competitive edge.
"For our new markets, our ambition is very simple. It is to grow our health and energy businesses profitably to scale," chief executive Andy Penn said at the company's second investor day on Tuesday.
"We're very excited by the opportunities for these businesses and their strategic direction. But we also know we need to increase their economic significance to the value of Telstra."
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https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jppr.1774
Standards of practice for clinical pharmacy services – Chapter 16: My Health Record
Michelle Bunte BPharm, LLB, GradCertClinEpid
First published: 14 November 2021
https://doi.org/10.1002/jppr.1774
This chapter was developed as part of the My Health Record Training and Education Program, a partnership between the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) and the Australian Digital Health Agency.
The SHPA acknowledges the authors of the original version of the section in this paper entitled ‘Overview: Standards of Practice for Clinical Pharmacy Services’, namely George Taylor, Anne Leversha, Christopher Archer, Camille Boland, Michael Dooley, Peter Fowler, Sharon Gordon-Croal, Jay Fitch, Sally Marotti, Amy McKenzie, Duncan McKenzie, Natalie Collard, Nicki Burridge, Karen O’Leary, Cameron Randall, Amber Roberts and Suzette Seaton.
This article publishes a new chapter in SHPA’s Standards of Practice for Clinical Pharmacy Services: ‘Chapter 16: My Health Record’. This chapter was approved by the SHPA Board of Directors in July 2021; it will be incorporated into the Standard the next time it is fully updated. The chapter is published here along with the Standard’s ‘Overview’ section, to provide context on the purpose and scope of such chapters; further, references in the ‘Overview’ here have been updated to reflect current practice. Information about all of SHPA’s Standards of Practice can be found at the SHPA website.
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NEWS RELEASE
Global Digital Health Leader Lisa Suennen to Chair Australian-First Digital Health Investment Advisory Committee
ANDHealth is proud to announce the appointment of
its International Investment Advisory Committee (IIAC) which will provide
critical insights and frontline industry experience to the MRFF funded
ANDHealth Digital Health Accelerator Fund and associated ANDHealth+ program.
The IIAC comprises internationally recognised investors, clinicians, founders
and executives with proven track records in identification and growth within
the evidence-based digital health sector, and will be chaired by globally
recognized digital health leader, Lisa Suennen. Lisa, named 2018 Rock Health Digital Health
Evangelist of the Year, has spent more than 30 years in operating and investing
roles at the intersection of technology and health, and has been actively
engaged with ANDHealth for many years. Today she is Leader of Manatt
Phelps & Phillips Digital and Technology Practice, as well as Managing
Partner of the Manatt Venture Fund.
Lisa will be supported by:
- Bronwyn Le Grice, CEO & Managing Director of ANDHealth
- Anand Iyer, Chief Strategy Officer, WellDoc
- Andrew Murphy, Executive Chairman & Co-Founder, Robotify Labs & Partner, Erisbeg Fund
- Aenor Sawyer, Director, University of California Space Health; Director, UCSF Skeletal Health Service
- Bill Lucia, Executive Partner, Consonance Capital and HEP Fund (former Chairman and CEO of HMS, acquired by Gainwell 2021 US$3.4B)
- Drew Schiller, CEO, Validic
- Katherine (Kate) Merton, Principal, Hicks Cohen, former SVP Digital Care Delivery, Anthem Inc
- Ken Cahill, CEO, Silvercloud (acquired by Amwell 2021 US$320M)
ANDHealth CEO Bronwyn Le Grice said, “The IIAC
is an Australian-first expert advisory committee designed specifically to bring
proven commercialisation and growth expertise on a global scale to our
Australian SMEs. Successfully scaling into international markets is critical
for Australian SMEs from both a sustainability and an investability
perspective.
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Acurio Health to deploy Rauland's nurse call system in soon-to-launch The George Centre
It will be able to assist its nursing and clinical teams in providing care.
By Adam Ang
November 18, 2021 05:13 AM
Acurio Health's soon-to-open private paediatric and maternity facility The George Centre in southwest Sydney will be equipped with nurse call solutions by health IT provider Rauland Australia.
Rauland's Responder Nurse Call and Master Clocks, along with associated clinical workflow, design, delivery, and installation services, will be delivered to the A$100 million ($72.5 million) private paediatric facility which is set to open in the middle of 2023.
WHY IT MATTERS
Acurio Health has not said much about its reason for choosing Rauland but through its technology, they will be able to assist nursing and clinical teams in their provision of care.
According to Rauland, its enterprise end-to-end communication offering Concentric Care brings together organisations, departments, buildings, and units in a single platform that is adaptive to the size and specialisation of a specific care environment.
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New analytics tool delivers insights on hospitals' pharmaceutical use and spending in Western Australia
The app assists hospitals to make informed decisions around ordering, dispensing, and distribution.
By Adam Ang
November 16, 2021 12:45 AM
Health Support Services, the shared services centre which supports the WA public health system in Australia, has introduced a new pharmaceutical analytics solution that renders an overview of hospitals' pharmaceutical expenditures and supplies.
WHAT IT DOES
Developed in collaboration with chief pharmacists across WA Health, the Pharmalytics app provides hospitals with up-to-date access to a dashboard showing their pharmaceutical use and spending.
Key insights it provides include revenue and expenditure, reimbursements, stock on hand, backorders and stock held at all WA Health sites.
It also identifies substitute products and stocked quantities and monitors contract compliance, supplier performance, and a critical list of COVID-19 medications. It has a built-in calculator for aseptic compounding products.
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AI-powered glaucoma test takes just 10 seconds
Monday, 15 November, 2021
Researchers from RMIT University have developed an AI-powered rapid screening test that could help advance early detection of glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness. The test uses infrared sensors to monitor eye movement and is said to produce accurate results within seconds. It has been described in the journal IEEE Access.
About 80 million people worldwide have glaucoma, yet 50% do not know they have it as the loss of sight is usually gradual. The disease is currently diagnosed through a 30-minute eye pressure test delivered by an ophthalmologist; by contrast, RMIT’s AI-powered test takes just 10 seconds, differentiating between glaucoma and healthy eyes by analysing changes in pupil size.
In the researchers’ study, pupils were measured 60 times per second using a low-cost commercial eye tracker. Under ambient light conditions, patients looked at a computer screen while custom software measured and analysed specific changes in their pupil size. The software then compared the results against existing samples of glaucoma and healthy eyes to determine the risk of glaucoma.
“Our software can measure how the pupil adjusts to ambient light and capture minuscule changes in the shape and size of the pupil,” said study co-author Dr Quoc Cuong Ngo.
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https://itwire.com/business-it/50-years-since-intel-s-groundbreaking-4004-processor-arrived-wow.html
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 11:52
50 years since Intel's groundbreaking 4004 processor arrived - wow!
The Intel 4004 was "the first commercially available microprocessor," and while it is extremely primitive by today's standards, it "paved the way" for the modern microprocessor computing revolution and changed the world as we know it.
Launched in November 1971, Intel's 4004 was the world’s first commercially available microprocessor, and as Intel puts it, "enabled the convergence of the technology superpowers – ubiquitous computing, pervasive connectivity, cloud-to-edge infrastructure and artificial intelligence – and created a pace of innovation that is moving faster today than ever."
Intel Corporation Historian Elizabeth Jones has also written a great article titled "The Chip that Changed the World" which you should also read for great context and content.
Intel has published a great video with current CEO Pat Gelsinger talking with Intel's famous co-founder, Chairman Emeritus and creator of "Moore's Law", Gordon Moore.
The video is not on YouTube, so I can't embed it here, but you can watch the short video and a second video that discussed how semiconductor technology will continue to shape the world, here.
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Victoria's Cabrini Health and The Alfred adopt The Clinician's PROMs platform
The program will automate the collection and analysis of PROMs data from colorectal cancer patients.
By Adam Ang
November 17, 2021 06:31 AM
Cabrini Health and The Alfred, two of the largest healthcare providers in the state of Victoria, have deployed a patient-reported outcome measures platform by digital health company The Clinician to automate their collection and analysis of health data from colorectal cancer patients.
The rollout of the ZEDOC platform in these two healthcare centres is backed by a grant under the Collie Foundation and the non-profit initiative Let’s Beat Bowel Cancer.
WHAT IT'S FOR
The said program allows colorectal neoplasia patients undergoing surgeries to report their own health-related outcomes via the cloud-based platform on their mobile devices or computers. Their PROMs data are then sent to a centralised portal that is accessible to care teams for their monitoring of patients' progress and understanding of their health profiles.
According to The Clinician, the ZEDOC installations adhere to the colorectal cancer standards outlined by the International Consortium of Health Outcomes Measurement, which incorporates health domains that matter most to patients.
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https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/anz/nsw-ambulance-upgrades-radio-network
NSW Ambulance upgrades radio network
It has tapped Vertel to expand the coverage and improve the performance of its network.
By Adam Ang
November 17, 2021 05:53 AM
NSW Ambulance, provider of emergency medical services in New South Wales, has upgraded its radio network to cover more areas and enhance its critical communications operations.
The government agency delivers emergency healthcare and support, clinical care, and rescue and retrieval services across communities in NSW. It comprises more than 6,000 staff, including paramedics, doctors, nurses, and corporate personnel.
Vertel, an Australian private telecommunications carrier, has won via competitive tender a contract to redesign its Far West Project 25 (P25) radio network.
WHY IT MATTERS
NSW Ambulance, which covers an area spanning over 800,000 square kilometres, said some locations struggled to receive coverage with its old communications network. Vertel helped resolve this limitation, along with the implementation of remote network monitoring.
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TPG Telecom makes fresh play to be a 'more robust competitor to NBN Co'
By Ry Crozier on Nov 19, 2021 12:42AM
Decision expected by early February 2022.
TPG Telecom has set in motion a plan that would release it from rules that curtailed its fixed-line infrastructure ambitions and "likely" make it a “more robust competitor to NBN Co”.
The significant development would result if a fresh functional separation bid that the telco has filed with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is approved.
The ACCC is proposing to make a final call on the proposal in “early February 2022”, creating the potential for a major change in Australia’s broadband infrastructure market.
TPG had at one stage hoped to extend existing fibre assets to create a fibre-to-the-basement (FTTB) network servicing half a million premises in major capital cities.
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/labor-to-give-30000-families-free-nbn-for-a-year-572847
Labor to give 30,000 families free NBN for a year
By Ry Crozier on Nov 18, 2021 1:21PM
While it comes up with a permanent strategy to bridge the digital divide.
Federal Labor has pledged to fund an NBN service for 30,000 families currently without a home internet connection for a year, while a longer-term strategy is created.
The party’s second NBN-related pre-election announcement sought to address an issue that has been present in NBN and regulatory circles for some time: the issue of broadband affordability and universal access.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese said that the party, if elected in 2022, would offer “some 30,000 families with no internet at home ... support for a 12-month period”.
“Then, during that period, we will undertake further work and consultation about how we can make sure that no child is left behind going forward,” he said.
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Thursday, 18 November 2021 09:47
Labor offers 30,000 homes without Internet free service for year
By Sam Varghese
The Australian Labor Party has announced it will provide free broadband for a year to 30,000 homes which have no Internet connections, as part of its broadband policy for the upcoming election.
In a tweet, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said: "Labor will provide a year of free broadband access for up to 30,000 families with no internet at home."
He did not offer any further details. The statement comes a day after Albanese said the party would, if elected, provide $2.4 billion to extend fibre to an additional 1.5 million homes over and above those which the Coalition has promised to wire.
Reaction to Albanese's tweet was mixed, with the very first one being from Labor voter Philip Parker who said: "If that’s the sort of nonsense policy agenda we’re likely to see, then as a Labor voter I’m disillusioned about Labor’s prospects at the next election."
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Wednesday, 17 November 2021 09:29
Analyst puts Labor NBN plan in same basket as govt efforts
By Sam Varghese
Labor's announcement that it would provide $2.4 billion for an additional 1.5 million homes to be provided with fibre if it were elected to office has been dismissed as "a continuation of the muddling-on process seen over the last decade."
Australia's best-known independent telecommunications consultant Paul Budde told iTWire that there was nothing revolutionary in the proposal.
Portions of the Labor proposal were leaked to select media outlets overnight — iTWire was not included — with Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese to make a formal announcement later on Wednesday.
The Labor leak also said the sale of the NBN would be put off for a while, but did not say the network would not end up in private hands.
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Labor shelves NBN sale plans, pledges $2.4b to boost fibre rollout
Phillip CooreyPolitical editor
Nov 16, 2021 – 10.30pm
Federal Labor has shelved plans to privatise the NBN and will turbocharge the government’s network repair job by investing an extra $2.4 billion to ensure 1.5 million more premises receive a full-fibre service by 2025.
The NBN pledge is the latest Labor policy to rely on off-budget spending, taking the total promised so far $47.4 billion.
More than a year after the federal government backflipped and devoted $4.5 billion towards building the NBN as originally envisaged – without copper – Labor leader Anthony Albanese said, if elected, he would accelerate the process of giving people the option of replacing the copper to their premises with fibre.
Of the 1.5 million additional premises which will have faster access to fibre, almost half, or 660,000 homes and businesses, will be in the regions.
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Labor's early election pledge to offer fibre to "nearly 7 in 8" FTTN users
By Ry Crozier on Nov 16, 2021 10:00PM
Not just the lucky half.
Federal Labor has pledged an extra $2.4 billion of NBN upgrades if it wins the 2022 election, enabling 90 percent of Australians in the fixed line footprint to order gigabit speed services by 2025.
The party also said it would keep NBN Co “in public hands” instead of pursuing the sale of the company and its network, which has been on the cards under an LNP government for some time.
But the major commitment is to provide an additional 1.5 million homes and businesses “access to fibre” and gigabit speeds, effectively within a single term of parliament.
A formal announcement will be made on Wednesday morning; however, iTnews was among media outlets to be given advance details.
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/vandals-topple-second-vic-nbn-wireless-tower-in-four-years-572757
Vandals topple second Vic NBN wireless tower in four years
By Ry Crozier on Nov 17, 2021 6:52AM
May have taken up to a fortnight to fall over.
Saboteurs have caused an NBN fixed wireless tower in Victoria’s Gippsland region to collapse, the second such incident in the area in the past four years.
The collapsed tower caused an outage for about 320 premises served by the tower, although an NBN Co spokesperson told iTnews around 220 of those were now being served by other towers in the area.
East Gippsland Police said they are “investigating the circumstances surrounding damage to a communications tower in Mount Taylor”, which is located about 13km from Bairnsdale.
It appears the tower may have been damaged up to a fortnight ago but that the structure only gave way at the beginning of last weekend.
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Telstra distances 5G fixed wireless from being an NBN 'replacement'
By Ry Crozier on Nov 16, 2021 12:07PM
But says it could be useful for people on NBN FTTN or wireless.
Telstra has categorically distanced its 5G fixed wireless service from being an NBN "replacement", but is instead an “alternative” for certain users in the NBN fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) and fixed wireless footprints.
The timing of the commentary coincides with calls by NBN Co aimed at the government to reconsider whether the broadband tax should apply to cellular fixed wireless services, as some are marketed as NBN-equivalent alternatives.
NBN Co has spent much of the year positioning commercial 5G as a competitive offering, something that could draw government and regulatory scrutiny if that position became broadly accepted.
So far, the government and regulators have resisted, arguing that 5G fixed wireless services cannot compete with regular fixed services when it comes to quotas, even if the speeds are similar or better.
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Astronauts shelter after Russian missile test debris threatens space station
By Marcia Dunn
November 16, 2021 — 6.40am
Cape Canaveral: Space junk threatened the seven astronauts aboard the International Space Station on Monday, forcing them to seek shelter in their docked capsules and disrupting their work.
The US Space Command said it was tracking a field of orbiting debris, the result of a satellite breakup.
“Russia’s dangerous and irresponsible behaviour jeopardises the long-term sustainability of ... outer space and clearly demonstrates that Russia’s (claims) to oppose the weaponizations of space are disingenuous and hypocritical,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters, saying the Russian missile generated more than 1,500 pieces of “trackable orbital debris.”
The situation had the debris coming uncomfortably close to the space station on subsequent orbits, and required the astronauts to close and then reopen several compartments, including the European lab, every 1 1/2 hours until bedtime.
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Enjoy!
David.
