Networking

Image: Chris Duckett/ZDNet
The company responsible for running the National Broadband Network (NBN) around Australia said on Tuesday it is beefing up the number of hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) lines that are capable of getting speeds over 500Mbps.
In May, the company said it would have all of its HFC customers capable of receiving its 250Mbps superfast tier by June next year, with only an initial 7% of HFC customers able to get its ultrafast tier.
Although nominally a 500-1000Mbps plan, HFC ultrafast is configured to provide 750Mbps with the potential to burst up to 990Mbps, with burst durations to occur “between 1 to 50 seconds at least once a day”.
On Tuesday, NBN said by the end of November, it would have over 25% of its HFC footprint able to get an ultrafast plan.
“The company expects that by June 2021 over two-thirds of premises in the HFC network footprint will be able to order NBN ultrafast broadband, and it forecasts that by the end of 2021 nearly the entire HFC network footprint should be able to order NBN ultrafast broadband,” it said.
At the same time, the company announced the beginning of construction to provide upgrades from fibre-to-the-node to full-fibre connections on demand.
The first 100,000 premises will be situated in Belmont North, Charlestown, and Toronto in the Newcastle suburbs; Carramar, Castle Hill, Holsworthy, Liverpool, and Wetherill Park in Sydney; Osborne in South Australia; Cannington and Double View in Western Australia; Lyndhurst and Narre Warren in Victoria; and Acacia Ridge, Browns Plains, Eight Mile, and Oxenford in Queensland.
“The footprint for the 100,000 eligible premises has been designed by NBN Co where we anticipate strong demand for higher speeds; where NBN Co has established construction and delivery partners with an existing workforce in place following the recent completion of the initial build of the NBN network; where it can deploy with speed and agility; where it is cost-effective to start work now; and in a way that the investment is most likely to spread and multiply economic activity across the nation,” the company said.
“NBN Co will work closely with internet retailers over the coming months to define the process by which eligible customers can express their interest in ordering a higher speed broadband service and acquiring a fibre lead-in to their premises.”
In order complete the upgrades, NBN is building what it calls local fibre networks that take fibre along street frontages.
As expressed last week by NBN representatives at Senate Estimates, when a customer orders a service that their copper connection cannot handle, NBN will at that point build the fibre lead-in to the premise.
The end goal of the network upgrade will be to ensure that for a cost of AU$4.5 billion, 75% of NBN’s fixed-line network will be able to access 1Gbps speeds by the end of 2023, which will also include HFC and fibre-to-the-curb. Fibre-to-the-basement is not part of the upgrade.
The money for the project to upgrade 2 million premises will be sourced from private debt markets.
Speaking to journalists while launching the NBN 2021 corporate plan last month, NBN CEO Stephen Rue said the on-demand upgrade plans were previously planned to begin when NBN became cashflow positive on the other side of 2023, but he would not be drawn on whether it would be to the same scale as its new plan.
It is expected that the first fibre-to-the-node users will be able to order upgrades in the second half of next year.
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The newly-formed TPG Telecom is set to kick off its 5G fixed wireless service in the first half of 2021.
Speaking to the CommsDay Summit on Tuesday, TPG Telecom CEO Iñaki Berroeta said the method of delivery of broadband, whether via fixed line or mobile, is increasingly irrelevant.
“Customers have different speed, usage and budget requirement,” he said.
“For some time now we have been selling 4G fixed wireless services under the Vodafone brand. This has been offered in areas where we have excess 4G capacity, and we have connected thousands of customers on this product.
“5G will take our fixed wireless offering to a new level and provide customers with further choice.”
The entrance of TPG into the 5G fixed wireless space follows the 2019 launch of Optus 5G Home, and the current invite-only service offered by Telstra.
See also: Not in America? Forget about a mmwave 5G handset this year
Following the merger of Vodafone and the former TPG, the new company has been integrating its technology teams and bringing its fixed and mobile networks together.
“This ‘one network’ approach will allow us to enhance the capabilities of our fixed and mobile technologies and deliver the maximum benefits of the merger to our customers and shareholders,” he said.
“We have some fantastic fibre products on our TPG and iiNet brands which we intend to offer to more customers.”
Berroeta said while he welcomed the move from NBN to begin upgrading fibre-to-the-node connections, he laid into the company for its long-pilloried CVC charge.
“To unleash the full potential of the NBN for households, we need a sustainable pricing model,” he said.
“The CVC charge is like driving a lap at Bathurst stuck in second gear.”
Like many others who have criticised the charge, the CEO has pushed for the introduction of a flat rate charge for each speed tier
With the charging of AU$7.10 a month to consumers who can get fast broadband without being on the NBN — who are mostly on TPG lines — to pay for the Regional Broadband Scheme to begin shortly, Berroeta called on NBN to avoid overbuilding existing enterprise fibre.
“It is critical that we have the right environment to support private infrastructure investment,” he said.
“To achieve this, we encourage NBN to partner with operators which already have enterprise fibre and other high-speed networks in place.”
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Special Feature

Corning is betting that a little box can make a big difference in accelerating 5G deployments.
The company rolled out its Evolv Hardened Connectivity Solutions with Pushlok Technology. The building blocks are designed to simplify fiber deployments for networks.
Corning’s bet is that its Evolv boxes can make it easier for wireless carriers and enterprises to stand up 5G terminals and connectors. The goal: More fiber in tighter spaces.
What is 5G? Everything you need to know about the new wireless revolution | Wiring for wireless: 5G and the tower in your backyard | Compared: 5G data plans from Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile
Evolv with Pushlok Technology gives engineers connectors that are half the size of existing offerings and can connect to smaller terminals.

Corning’s Evolv HC Terminals can be mounted on strands, facades, and poles .
Corning
Here’s why it matters: 5G deployments have been held up by permits and tighter spaces. Small cell sites can be placed on light poles, buildings and other that are exposed to the elements. With a smaller footprint, these 5G sites are more likely to save money and get approvals. 
Bob Whitman, vice president of market developer carrier networks at Corning, said 5G requires more radios and access points “in locations that could be novel like congested spaces, streetlamps and facades on buildings.”
Also: FreedomFI: Do-it-yourself open-source 5G networking
To get a feel for how Evolv can make a difference see the following building facade. The red arrow points out the Evolv box and 5G small cell.

Find the 5G-fiber connector. We’ll make it easy for you. 
Corning
In many ways, the Evolv connectors are akin to Lego blocks. Corning developed the smaller connectors as an extension of its gear to run fiber-to-home networks, said Whitman. Ultimately, the Evolv connectors will be part of converged networks that can be used for 5G and other use cases such as edge computing.
Corning estimates that network operators can save up to $500 per terminal location with the smaller connectors and ability to reduce fees to attach them to poles. More

Image: Apple
If there is one thing that 5G does not need, it’s an extra layer of confusion to be added from handset makers.
For the layperson that has heard about the next fastest phone generation — and hopefully doesn’t believe it spreads coronavirus — there is plenty to digest, and pitfalls at every turn.
There are various forms of 5G — which are definitely under the 5G umbrella, but do not provide the blazing fast speeds the next generation is touted to provide — and then there’s a form that will have to be called something like “Full 5G” that actually can deliver over 1Gbps reliably.
The confusion really kicked off when AT&T decided to label its LTE Advanced network as “5GE”.
Then there are the actual 5G definitions, such as using 5G radios with a 4G core, labelled non-standalone 5G, and then replacing the core with a 5G one, called standalone 5G.
Following that, if John Q Citizen wants a new phone, they will also need to know about sub-6Ghz 5G, which is when you use 5G protocols on low and mid-band spectrum that are also used for LTE, which is still proper 5G but just not the blazing fast type.
Above the low and mid-band is the millimetre wave (mmWave) spectrum; this is where the top speeds live. Recent testing has shown Verizon’s network in the US is a global leader, offering just shy of 500Mbps in real-world tests. The problem with millimetre wave, however, is that its coverage footprint is tiny, so in order to take advantage of it, you currently need to track down a small cell and stand under it.
The other problem with mmWave is that many countries haven’t allocated the spectrum for it yet, which brings us back to Mr Citizen looking for a phone. The sad thing is ol’ John has probably seen some telco advertisement pushing the new network.
If Mr Citizen is lucky enough to be in the United States, and in particular, a Verizon customer, then he’s off to the races — as well as spotty coverage in 2020 can allow one to do so, anyways.
But if Mr Citizen lives outside the United States, things are trickier to navigate.
Whether it’s one of the new Samsung S20 devices, the Pixel 5, or any of the new iPhone 12 models, for non-US customers, 5G is more than likely to mean the device only supports sub-6Ghz 5G.

Google makes it easy to see what non-Americans cannot have.
Image: Google
So while the phone uses 5G protocols, it will not deliver all the promises that consumers have been told about. It’s easy to understand why handset makers do this to keep manufacturing costs down a little bit, especially as some countries have yet to make mmWave available, but it’s hardly future-proofing the handsets to any extent.
It’s akin to thinking you’re buying a twin-turbo car, only to find one of the turbos is blown and the car dealer tells you that’s just how they made that particular model this year.
I currently have a Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G on my desk, and after using and enjoying the Pixel 4a a couple of months ago, I can provide the following warning: Don’t bother buying these phones for 5G internationally. The 5 has a massive battery and a cheaper price compared to the 4 which could entice you, but skirt the 4a 5G altogether and just head straight for the 4a if that’s the price point you are at.
As if to reinforce the point that skipping sub-6Ghz 5G phones for this handset cycle was a good idea, Telstra CEO Andy Penn told ZDNet that users who stay on LTE would see a benefit in performance as some people switch to the newer network.
“They’ll get very good speeds on 5G phones, they’ll get two to three times what they’re getting on 4G,” he said.
“What will also happen is that as customers move to 5G, those early customers will be the early adopters; they’ll typically be large data users, they’ll be going onto the 5G network — which [has] relatively not as many customers on it now because it’s relatively new — that takes volume of traffic off the 4G network, that just improves the 4G experience, so all boats rise in this tide.”
On the issue of future-proofing, Penn said it was a standard problem with technology.
“I think it is always the dilemma, isn’t it? In the world of technology, whenever you buy something there’s always something coming around the corner that’s going to have a little bit more enhanced functionality, gonna be a little bit better. 
“But people will see a big change if they come into 5G now partly because of the handsets. We’re on second-generation chipsets now, and also because at least in Telstra’s case, we’re starting to get to the serious end of the coverage that we’re providing,” he said.
Another point against the current crop of handsets is that in the iPhone and Pixel, making use of a second SIM will restrict the phone to LTE only, unless one of the SIMs is disabled — which really defeats the point of both 5G and dual-SIMs.
Unless you are positively pining for in excess of 200Mbps mobile network speeds, and in a pandemic-induced recession have the spare change to pay extra for sub-6Ghz 5G, the most prudent thing would be to skip the handsets late 2020 has on offer and wait to see what the next batch has on offer.
And if you’re in America, enjoy finding the small cells for those superfast downloads.
ZDNET’S MONDAY MORNING OPENER
The Monday Morning Opener is our opening salvo for the week in tech. Since we run a global site, this editorial publishes on Monday at 8:00am AEST in Sydney, Australia, which is 6:00pm Eastern Time on Sunday in the US. It is written by a member of ZDNet’s global editorial board, which is comprised of our lead editors across Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America.
PREVIOUSLY ON MONDAY MORNING OPENER: More

No one asked Microsoft to port its Edge browser to Linux. Indeed, very few people asked for Edge on Windows. But, here it is. So, how good — or not — is it?

Open Source

First, you should know that the experts always knew Edge would run on Linux. Today’s Microsoft Edge isn’t the one that first shipped. This model, which went into beta on Windows last year, is built on the open-source Chromium codebase. Besides being the foundation for Google Chrome, Chromium is the bedrock that almost all web browsers, with the exception of Firefox, are built on these days.  So, bringing Edge over to Linux isn’t anything as difficult as, say, bringing on-premise Microsoft Office to Linux.
Now, the first beta of Edge on Linux is here. The new release comes ready to run on Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and openSUSE Linux distributions. It should run on any Linux using DEB or RPM packaging. Microsoft is planning to release weekly builds, just as it does with the Dev Channel builds for other platforms.
To get started, users can download and install a .deb or .rpm package directly from the Edge Insider site. This also configures a system to get future automatic updates. If you don’t trust Microsoft that much, you can also install Edge via Microsoft’s Linux Software Repository for Microsoft Products. More detailed instructions are available on Microsoft’s Edge-on-Linux blog post. 
This initial release is meant for developers who want to build and test their sites and apps on Linux. It’s not meant for ordinary users. This preview does come with the key web platform and developer tools features. These include core rendering behaviors, extensions, browser DevTools, and test automation features. These should work just as they do with Edge on macOS and Windows.
Some end-user features and services aren’t fully enabled. In particular, the initial release only supports local accounts. It doesn’t support signing in to Microsoft Edge via a Microsoft Account or Azure Active Directory (AAD) account. Therefore, you also can use features such as syncing your settings and bookmarks, which require you to sign in to a Microsoft service. These features will appear in a future beta.
Since I’ve been benchmarking web browsers since Mosaic rolled off the bit assembly line, I benchmarked the first Edge browser and Chrome 86 and Firefox 81 on my main Linux production PC. This is a Dell Precision Tower 3431. It’s powered by an 8-Core 3GHz Intel Core i7-9700. For graphics, it uses a built-in Intel UHD Graphics 630 chipset. On this, I run my favorite Linux desktop distribution, Linux Mint 20. For networking, the system uses a 100Mbps internet connection via a Gigabit Ethernet switch. 
JETSTREAM 2
First up: JetStream 2.0, which is made up of 64 smaller tests. This JavaScript and WebAssembly benchmark suite focuses on advanced web applications. It rewards browsers that start up quickly, execute code quickly, and run smoothly. Higher scores are better on this benchmark.
JetStream’s top-scorer — drumroll please — was Edge with 136.971. But, right behind it within the margin of error, was Chrome with a score of 132.413. This isn’t too surprising. They are, after all, built on the same platform. Back in the back was Firefox with 102.131.
KRAKEN 1.1
Next up: Kraken 1.1. This benchmark, which is based on the long-obsolete SunSpider, measures JavaScript performance. To this basic JavaScript testing, it added typical use-case scenarios. Mozilla, Firefox’s parent organization, created Kraken. With this benchmark, the lower the score, the better the result.
To no great surprise, Firefox took first place here with 810.1 milliseconds (ms). Following it was Chrome with 904.5ms and then Edge with 958.8ms.
OCTANE 2.0
Octane 2.0, Google’s JavaScript benchmark, is no longer supported, but it’s still a useful benchmark thanks to its scenario testing for interactive web applications. Octane is not Chrome-specific. For example, it tests how fast Microsoft’s TypeScript compiles itself. In this benchmark, the higher the score, the better.
On this Google benchmark, Edge took the blue ribbon with a score of 52,149. Right behind it in second place was Chrome with 51,389. Then, way back in last place, you’ll find Firefox at 37,405.
WEBXPRT 3.0
The latest version of WebXPRT is today’s best browser benchmark. It’s produced by the benchmark professionals at Principled Technology This company’s executives were the founders of the Ziff Davis Benchmark Operation, the gold-standard of PC benchmarking.
WebXPRT uses scenarios created to mirror everyday tasks. These include Photo Enhancement, Organize Album, Stock Option Pricing, Local Notes, Sales Graphs, and DNA Sequencing. Here, the higher the score, the better the browser.
On this benchmark, Firefox shines. It was an easy winner with a score of 272. Chrome edges out Edge 233 to 230. 
HTML 5 WEB STANDARD
You’d think by 2020, every browser would comply with the HTML 5 web standard, which became a standard in 2014. Nope. You’d be wrong. This “test” isn’t a benchmark. It just shows how close each browser comes to being in sync with the HTML 5 standard. A perfect score, which none got, would have been 550.
Here, Chrome and Edge tied for first with 528. Firefox scored 511.
FINAL RESULTS
Oddly, Edge, which turned in a poor performance when I recently benchmarked it on Windows, did well on Linux. Who’d have guessed?
That said, I can’t see myself moving to it. No, it’s not because I’m still mad at what Microsoft did to Linux as revealed in the Halloween documents of 1998. It’s that Chrome is more than fast enough for my purposes and I don’t want my information tied into the Microsoft ecosystem. For better or worse, mine’s already locked into the Googleverse and I can live with that. 
Honestly, I don’t see any compelling performance reasons to switch from Chrome or Firefox to Edge on Linux. I’ve been happily using Chrome for years now across platforms, and I won’t be changing. If you’re happy using Firefox or one of the others, go ahead and stick with it. There’s no compelling reason to switch to Edge. 
That said, Edge is a good, fast browser on Linux. If you’re a Windows user coming over to Linux or you’re doing development work aimed at Edge, then by all means try Edge on Linux. It works and it works well. 
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AT&T has reported Q3 2020 earnings driven by an increasing subscriber base for premium services, but the current pandemic has still had a material impact on the balance sheet. 

On Thursday, the Dallas, Texas-based telecoms giant published its third-quarter financial results (statement) (.PDF).
AT&T reported revenues of $42.3 billion, or $0.39 diluted earnings per share (EPS). Adjusted EPS earnings were $0.76 per share.
See also: Verizon, AT&T settle overcharging whistleblower case for $116 million
Analysts expected $0.76 earnings per share on sales of $41.61 billion. The consensus EPS estimate was $0.77. 
The company’s second-quarter earnings were $0.17 per share (adjusted EPS $0.83) on revenues of $41 billion. 
EPS has continued to suffer this year due to COVID-19. AT&T says that the impact of the pandemic is down $0.21; $0.02 associated with business costs and $0.19 due to “estimated revenue impacts.”
However, subscriber growth continues to climb. AT&T said that over Q3 2020, 5.5 million net adds were recorded. In total, over one million postpaid net additions — including 645,000 postpaid phones — 245,000 prepaid net adds, 357,000 fiber net additions, and 158,000 total broadband net additions were added. 
CNET: iPhone 12 deals highlight a renewed battle between wireless carriers
5G rollout efforts and premium services — such as AT&T Unlimited Elite with HBO Max and FirstNet — are considered as drivers for this growth, while service revenues declined by 0.3% as fewer of us are now traveling and require roaming contracts or subscriptions. 
Total domestic and international HBO and HBO Max subscribers have now topped 38 million and 57 million, respectively. 
Operating expenses were $36.2 billion, a reduction from Q3 2019’s operational expenses of $36.7 billion. Operational income was reported as $6.1 billion in comparison to $7.9 billion last quarter, a figure AT&T says has been impacted by COVID-19-associated disruption and costs. 
Free cash flow is now pegged at $8.3 billion. Net debt declined by $2.9 billion.
TechRepublic: AT&T traffic report: Voice calls, IMs, and text messages are up, email and web traffic are down
The company has also adjusted its annual outlook. Over FY 2020, AT&T expects a free cash flow of at least $26 billion, as well as gross capital investment in the $20 billion range, with a focus on expanding and improving fiber, 5G, FirstNet, and HBO Max. 
“We delivered a solid quarter with good subscriber momentum in our market focus areas of connectivity and software-based entertainment,” said John Stankey, AT&T CEO. “Wireless postpaid growth was the strongest that it’s been in years with one million net additions, including 645,000 phones. We added more than 350,000 fiber broadband customers and are on track to grow our fiber base by more than 25% this year. And we continue to grow and scale HBO Max, with total domestic HBO and HBO Max subscribers topping 38 million well ahead of our expectations for the full year.”

Previous and related coverage
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Demand for fast and reliable wi-fi is probably at an all-time high, as millions of people work from home, relying on Zoom and other video conferencing apps to keep in touch with colleagues and clients. Many organisations are also finding that video calls reduce the need for business travel and client visits.
That increased reliance on wi-fi can reveal problems, though — especially in larger offices or homes, where the wi-fi signal may struggle to reach more distant rooms on other floors.

Instead of relying on a conventional wi-fi router and access points or range extenders, an alternative solution is to opt for a ‘mesh’ networking system. Depending on the size of the building, mesh systems typically use a main router with a wired connection to a broadband modem, plus two or more wireless nodes that can be placed in different rooms or locations. The main router and the satellite nodes form their own ‘mesh’ wi-fi network, covering a wider area and delivering greater speed and reliability than a conventional wi-fi router, even with extra access points or range extenders.
Most mesh systems are aimed at home users and marketed as easily-configured solutions for ‘whole home wi-fi’, but some are particularly suitable for business users. These can include features such as multiple Ethernet ports, or the ability to create several networks with different passwords. The latest mesh systems are now adopting the new Wi-Fi 6 standard (a.k.a. IEEE 802.11ax), which is not an essential feature at the moment but is certainly worth considering by businesses wanting to future-proof their wi-fi setups.

Images: Asus
Asus makes a number of ZenWiFi mesh systems for home users, but promotes the RT-AC68U as the main option for businesses. You can buy a single RT-AC68U router on its own for £104.17 (ex. VAT; £125 inc. VAT) or $137, but it’s possible to use this as part of a mesh network with any other Asus router that supports the company’s AiMesh technology. This provides an affordable mix-and-match option for those who already own Asus wi-fi equipment.
If you’re starting from scratch, there’s a two-piece kit, priced at £183.33 (ex. VAT; £220 inc. VAT) or $279.99. Each router provides dual-band 802.11ac wi-fi with a combined top speed of 1900Mbps (600Mbps on 2.4GHz, 1300Mbps on 5GHz), along with four Ethernet ports for wired connections, and a dedicated WAN port for connecting to your existing broadband modem. Unlike many mesh systems aimed at home users, the RT-AC68U allows you to create separate networks using the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, and there’s also a version called the 4G-AC68U which includes a 4G LTE Category 6 modem (300Mbps down/50Mbps up) as well.
£183.33 (ex. VAT; £220 inc. VAT) / $279.99
$280 at B&H Photo-Video

Images: BT
BT is still the dominant force in the UK telecoms market, providing broadband services to millions of businesses and home users. That makes its range of Whole Home Wi-Fi mesh systems an obvious upgrade for many BT customers (BT also points out that the system is compatible with broadband services from other providers too).
The standard Whole Home Wi-Fi is an affordable option, starting at £104.16 (ex. VAT; £124.99 inc. VAT) for a two-piece system using 802.11ac wi-fi. But BT has recently released a high-performance Premium model that steps up to the latest WiFi 6 (802.11ax) standard. It’s still competitively priced, though, starting at £191.67 (ex. VAT; £229.99 inc. VAT) for a mesh system with two of BT’s distinctive ‘disc’ routers. 
The Premium model is a tri-band system (2.4GHz 802.11n, 5GHz 802.11ac, 5GHz 802.11ax/WiFi 6), with a combined top speed of 3700Mbps. Each router also has two Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired connections.
There are three- and four-piece systems also available for larger buildings, and BT’s website has a useful ‘selector’ tool that can help you to choose the best option for your home or office.
From £191.67 (ex. VAT; £229.99 inc. VAT)
$199 at Amazon (UK)

Images: Devolo
Mesh networking systems can be pretty expensive, and if you’re just having trouble with the wi-fi signal in one room then a range extender is an affordable option that can boost the wi-fi signal in just that specific location. Alternatively, you could use a PowerLine adapter to send a wired network connection over your home or office electrical wiring — an ingenious and somewhat magical solution.
Several companies make range extenders and PowerLine adapters, but Devolo specialises in this area with its extensive Magic range of devices. Devolo’s latest Magic 2 adapters combine a wi-fi range extender with PowerLine wired connectivity, and are compatible with existing routers from other manufacturers. Unlike conventional range extenders, Devolo’s Magic adapters also include a ‘mesh’ option that allows you to link two or more devices in different rooms in order to create a more extensive wi-fi network.
Devolo has recently launched the Magic 2 WiFi Next starter kit with two adapters (a Magic 2 LAN adapter that plugs into your broadband modem, and a Magic 2 WiFi Next adapter) priced at £141.67 (ex. VAT; £169.99 inc. VAT) or $216. This supports dual-band 802.11ac wi-fi at up to 2400Mbps, and will boost wi-fi coverage in a room or floor, covering an area up to 120 square metres. Additional WiFi Next adapters cost £91.67 (ex. VAT; £109.99 inc. VAT) or $135; there’s also a three-piece WiFi Next Whole Home Kit, which costs £224.99 (ex. VAT; £269.99 inc. VAT).
from £141.67 (ex. VAT; £169.99 inc. VAT) / $216
View Now at Devolo (International) Devolo (UK)

Images: Google/Nest
The original Google Wifi mesh system got very good reviews when it was first launched in 2016, and it helped to introduce mesh technology to a mainstream audience. The original Google Wifi product has since been discontinued, but its successor emerged at the end of 2019 as part of the Google-owned Nest range of smart home devices. Clearly spotting a marketing opportunity, Google’s US website is currently promoting Nest Wifi as a ‘Workspace Expander’ for working from home.
The two-piece Nest Wifi system shown here consists of a primary Nest Wifi router (110mm diameter, 380g) which plugs into your broadband modem and a secondary Nest Wifi point (102.2mm diameter, 350g). This system, which costs £199.17 (ex. VAT; £239 inc. VAT) or $269, provides dual-band 802.11s wi-fi (a mesh-oriented variation of standard 802.11ac) with the main router running at 2200Mbps. The Wifi point runs at a more modest 1200Mbps, but that should still be more than adequate for streaming video, music, or Zoom calls with colleagues.
The Wifi point also includes a speaker and microphone that support the voice-controlled Google Assistant. The two-piece system should be able to cover homes of up to 3800 square feet (353 square metres), Google says, and you can purchase additional Wifi points for £107.50 (ex. VAT; £129 inc. VAT) or $149 if required, each of which can cover an additional 1600 square feet (149 square metres).
from £199.17 (ex. VAT; £239 inc. VAT) / $269
$349 at Best Buy $349 at Adorama $349 at Crutchfield

Images: Linksys
Linksys has an extensive range of Velop mesh systems, and recently added this new WiFi 6 model that could be suitable both for home and office use. You can buy a single MX5300 on its own for £308.33 (ex. VAT; £369.99 inc. VAT), and there’s a two-piece kit called the MX10600 priced at £583.33 (ex. VAT; £699.99 inc. VAT). In the US these models are referred to as the Velop MX5 and MX10, and cost $399.99 and $699.99 respectively.
Those prices make Velop one of the more expensive mesh systems on the market right now — even when compared with other new WiFi 6 systems — but it works hard to justify that price. A single MX5300 should cover homes of up to 3,000 square feet, while the two-piece MX10600 goes up to 6,000sq.ft, with both models providing tri-band WiFi 6 networking with an imposing combined top speed of 5.3Gbps. 
The Velop could be a good choice for offices too, as each router includes four Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired connections (plus a WAN port for your internet connection). Linksys also claims that the Velop can act as a security system, as it has the ability to detect movement within the area covered by your wi-fi network. This feature — called Linksys Aware — requires an additional subscription fee, but there’s a 90-day free trial available through the Linksys app for iOS and Android. 
from £308.33 (ex. VAT; £369.99 inc. VAT) / $399.99
$400 at Best Buy $475 at Walmart $399 at B&H Photo-Video

Images: Netgear
Netgear’s Orbi mesh systems have traditionally been fairly expensive, but in recent months the company has introduced some less expensive models as well. If you just need to give your wifi a bit of a boost for Zoom calls while you’re working from home then the entry-level Orbi Wifi System will do the trick, starting at just £108.33 (ex. VAT; £129.99 inc. VAT) or $179.99.
That price includes a two-piece mesh system, suitable for homes of up to 2,000 square feet, but there’s also a three-piece kit available that can cover up to 3,250sq.ft. Performance is relatively modest, with the Orbi just offering dual-band 802.11ac wi-fi with a combined top speed of 1200Mbps, but that’s still more than adequate for most home broadband services. Parents concerned about their kids’ safety online will need to take out an additional monthly subscription to Disney’s Circle app.
from £108.33 (ex. VAT; £129.99 inc. VAT) / $179.99
$450 at Amazon $450 at Best Buy $489 at Walmart

Images: Netgear
Netgear’s Orbi range of mesh systems includes a variety of different designs and price points — including the Orbi Voice with a built-in smart-speaker that supports Amazon Alexa. The most recent addition is the Orbi WiFi 6, which, as the name suggests, employs the latest WiFi 6 technology (a.k.a. 802.11ax).
The Orbi WiFi 6 System AX6000 is very much a top-of-the-range mesh system, starting at £591.66 (ex. VAT; £709.99 inc. VAT) or $699.99 for a two-piece system comprising a primary router and a secondary satellite. It offers impressive performance, though, with tri-band wifi capable of a combined top speed of 6Gbps — twice that of even the fastest Orbi systems based on WiFi 5/802.11ac.
It’s fast when it comes to wired connections too, with the primary router including a 2.5Gbps WAN port for a high-speed internet connection for office networks, along with four Gigabit Ethernet ports on both router and satellite for wired connections. 
The two-piece system is designed to cover buildings of up to 5,000 square feet; there’s also a three-piece system that covers up to 7,500 sq.ft, but won’t leave you much change from £1000/$1000.
from £591.66 (ex. VAT; £709.99 inc. VAT) / $699.99
$700 at Amazon $700 at Best Buy $700 at Adorama

Images: Netgear
Netgear has an extensive — some might say confusing — selection of mesh wi-fi systems in its Orbi range, but the Orbi Pro is one that’s specifically aimed at business users.
The hardware side of things is relatively straightforward, with the Orbi Pro offering tri-band 802.11ac wi-fi with a combined top speed of 3000Mbps, along with four Ethernet ports on each router for wired connections. The two-piece SRK60 kit shown here is designed to cover premises of up to 5,000 square feet, and costs £258.33 (ex. VAT; £310 inc. VAT) or $435; three-piece and four-piece systems are also available, as well as ruggedised add-on routers for outdoor locations, and ceiling-mounted routers for warehouses and larger premises.
However, it’s Netgear’s Insight app that really sets the Orbi Pro apart from conventional mesh wi-fi systems. With offices and retail locations in mind, the app allows you to set-up three separate wi-fi networks — each with its own password — that provide different levels of access for IT staff, employees and ‘guests’, such as retail customers or temporary visitors.
from (£258.33 ex. VAT; £310 inc. VAT) / $435
$389 at Amazon (US)

Images: TP-Link
The sheer variety of models, speeds, and differing designs offered by TP-Link’s Deco range of mesh systems is a little confusing, but the Deco M4 is hard to beat in terms of value for money. Prices start at just £91.67 (ex. VAT; £110 inc. VAT) or $110 for a two-piece M4 system that can cover medium size homes of up to 2800 square feet, and there’s a three-piece kit that can cover up to 4000 sq.ft as well.
You won’t get blazing fast wi-fi for that price, with the M4 providing dual-band 802.11ac at the relatively modest combined speed of 1200Mbps. Even so, that will still be perfectly adequate for most home broadband services, and the Deco M4 will provide a very affordable upgrade if you need to boost your wi-fi while working from home.
Each of the identical routers also includes two Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired connections, although one port will be required to connect one of the Deco units to your existing broadband router or modem.
from £91.67 (ex. VAT; £110 inc. VAT) / $110
$149 at Best Buy

Images: Ubiquiti
Ubiquiti’s AmpliFi HD is a neatly designed mesh wi-fi system whose ease of use will appeal to a wide range of users.
Most mesh systems use two or more identical-looking routers, but the AmpliFi HD takes a more imaginative approach — perhaps inspired by founder Robert Pera’s previous job at Apple. The three-piece AmpliFi HD system includes a primary router that consists of a compact 4-inch cube with a touch-sensitive LED display giving quick access to the main network settings. This is backed up by two larger ‘mesh points’ that plug directly into a mains power socket in rooms where your wi-fi needs a boost.
Other aspects of the design are more conventional, utilising dual-band 802.11ac wi-fi with a top combined speed of 1750Mbps. The AmpliFi HD costs a rather hefty £306.67 (ex.VAT; £368.05 inc. VAT) or $340, but its attractive design and simple controls help it to stand out from its many mesh rivals. There’s also a more affordable model, called AmpliFi Instant, although that doesn’t seem to be widely available in the UK at the moment.
£306.67 (ex.VAT; £368.05 inc. VAT) / $340
$185 at Amazon More

Uniti has gained approval to operate on a functionally separate basis after receiving the nod from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
The ACCC made its decision after conducting a public review process, Uniti said.
Since August, following amendments to the Telecommunications Act 1997, network owners have been allowed to apply for an undertaking that enables superfast fixed-line broadband networks serving residential customers to operate on a functionally separated basis. 
Previously, network owners were only allowed to operate on a structurally separated basis.
With the approval, Uniti is the first superfast broadband network owner to operate as both a wholesale and retail provider since the amendments.
The amendment was touted by the Australian government as being an attempt to create new commercial opportunities for providers and encourage them to invest and compete to offer better services for consumers.
According to Uniti, functional separation will enable it to actively promote its retail brands to around 110,000 connected premises nationwide and an additional 44,000 premises that are currently under construction when they become connected. 
“Being able to drive greater activation on its owned networks allows us the opportunity to secure both the retail and wholesale revenues, from each connected port, which is expected to deliver material incremental earnings to Uniti in the future,” Uniti said. 
The terms of the undertaking will be for an initial period of 10 years.
Separately, Uniti is currently in the midst of a bidding war against Aware Super to acquire greenfields fibre company Opticomm.
Uniti currently has the highest bid, with an offer that values Opticomm at AU$6.67 per share. This consists of AU$5.20 cash for each OptiComm shares, including a fully franked special dividend of AU$0.10 per share, and 1.07 Uniti shares per OptiComm share.
Opitcomm’s directors have unanimously recommended that the company’s shareholders vote in favour of Uniti’s latest offer unless a better proposal arises. Shareholders will be able to vote on whether to approve the deal on November 4, and should the plan proceed, it will be implemented on November 20.
Since June, Opticomm has attracted a bevvy of offers from the two bidders. Uniti placed the initial offer, which set Opticomm’s price at AU$5.20 per share or an enterprise value of around AU$560 million.
Two months later, Aware Super put its hat in the ring, placing a takeover offer of AU$5.85 per share.   
Uniti then amended its takeover offer a week later, increasing its bid to AU$5.85 per share for all of Opticomm’s shares other than the ones it already owns. This offer comprised of AU$4.835 in cash per share and 0.8 Uniti shares per Opticomm share.
Aware Super remained at the bidding table, however, sending another proposal that raised the price to AU$6.50 per share on October 12. This was then shortly re-upped by Uniti’s current offer.  
Both Uniti and Opticomm focus primarily on providing fibre broadband connections to greenfields housing developments across Australia.
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