Networking

Looking ahead to the NFL 2021 season, I fear my Pittsburgh Steelers have a long, hard row to hoe. But, at least, with a lot of luck, we’ll have a full season with minimal Covid-19 interruptions. Still, you’d be wise to stay home and watch your games by streaming them.  We’ll have more regular-season games than ever since the NFL is going to a 17-game season. In total, we’ll have an 18-week, 272-game regular season. It kicks off on Thursday night, September 9, in Tampa Bay and concludes with 16 division games in Week 18 – two games on Saturday, January 8, and 14 games on Sunday, January 9, 2022. It used to be a real pain to stream NFL football games. Now, it’s easier than ever, but there are still some problems to avoid to make sure you’ll get to enjoy your game instead of wanting to throw your TV on the street. These days most of the services will work with any streaming device. That said, before putting your money down for any streaming service, make sure it will work with your device of choice. The prices of streaming services vary wildly depending on how you subscribe to them. Be sure to shop around. If you don’t, you can waste a lot of money. But, if you do, you can find some real deals. First, the easiest way to get most games is by subscribing to a live TV streaming service. Of these, you want services that carry local CBS, NBC, and Fox channels. Not all of them do. For example, Philo doesn’t have any local stations. Others only have local stations for some areas. Before subscribing to any service, check the fine print and make sure you get your local stations.  You’ll also want the NFL Network and ESPN’s national feeds. Again, not all packages include these by default. Make sure the one you buy includes these networks.

By and large, Sunday NFC games are on Fox, AFC games are on CBS, and Sunday night football is on NBC. Monday night football is only on ESPN. Fox has the most Thursday night games, with some streamed on Amazon Prime Video, but a few games are only available on the NFL Network.  Live TV Streaming Services For your best live streaming services, which include NFL games, check out:

Four tiers, multiple streams

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(Formerly AT&T TV, AT&T TV Now, and DirecTV Now) Despite the confusing name changes, the service and offerings remain largely the same. That means, unfortunately, it tends to be expensive. DIRECTV Stream has four tiers:  Entertainment comes with 65+ channels and 40,000 Video on Demand (VoD) titles for $70 Choice with 90+ channels and 45,000 VoD selections for $85 Ultimate with 130+ channels and 55,000 VoD selections for $95Premier with 140+ channels and 65,000 VoD shows for $140. All offer your local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC channels in most, but not all, areas. Except for the bottom-tier Entertainment offering, all packages come with the NFL Network, regional sports networks, and HBO Max.  DIRECTV Stream used to offer a generous 500 hours of cloud DVR storage. Now, it offers a mere 20 hours of video storage. You can get unlimited DVR storage for an additional $10 a month. You can also get limitless storage if you elect to get the Premier package. In either case, if you want to skip or fast-forward through commercials on recorded shows, that will cost you another $15  a month.   On the other hand, you can stream up to 20 — yes 20 — devices simultaneously on your home network. There is one quirk for pro football watchers, you can only stream local Fox NFL games to three devices.  The NFL RedZone Channel, which shows you every touchdown from every game, every Sunday afternoon, is available in the Sports Plus add-on package for $11/month. You cannot, I’m sorry to say, get NFL Sunday Ticket, which shows all live out-of-market Sunday games, but is not available on DIRECTV Stream. To watch those games, you still need a DirecTV satellite TV account, to be able to show you can’t get DirecTV satellite TV, or be a student at an approved college or university.  The two-year contract offers the same services for $10 less a month per package. It’s not a great deal. It also, shades of old-style cable companies, comes with a penalty charge if you decide DirecTV isn’t for you

For serious sports fans

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Are you a serious sports fan? And when I say “serious,” I mean besides watching the US holy trilogy of football, basketball, and baseball. Do you want to watch the English Premier League, F1 Racing, and cricket? Yes? Then, you should check out FuboTV. That said, FuboTV does cover, in many areas, CBS, Fox, and NBC. Besides sports, FuboTV is a full-fledged streaming service with all the usual stations. It comes with three English-language plans. The first, Starter, has 108 channels and 250 hours of video DVR storage, and you can stream to up to three screens at once for $65 a month. This comes with a free trial. Pro currently offers 108 channels, 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage, and up to 10 screens for $80 a month. The top tier, Elite, offers over 170 channels, 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage, and up to 10 simultaneous screens, for $80 a month. All tiers include ESPN and The NFL Network.  Another nice feature is you can fast-forward or skip commercials on your recorded shows.  If you want NFL Redzone, however, that will cost you $11 for the Sports Plus package. 

Easy to use

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Hulu with Live TV’s big selling point is it’s the one service, which combines both live TV and a video-on-demand (VoD). It’s a powerful package. Besides great original content, like exclusive titles such as Only Murders in the Building, it also has a large catalog of other on-demand shows and movies. On top of that, you get over 75+ live and on-demand channels. Basic sports are well covered with the ESPN and Fox sports networks. Like most of the other services, it gives you access to local CBS, Fox, and NBC channels in most areas. If you want NFL RedZone, it’s available now with its new Sports Add-on.Hulu with Live TV’s interface and performance has been consistently improving over time. I find it the easiest live TV service to use. Hulu with Live TV’s combination of on-demand video and live TV is nice, but it now costs $65 a month. For that, you can also stream two sessions at once and get 50 hours of cloud DVR storage. If you want more, for $10 a month you get 200 hours of cloud storage. With this Enhanced Cloud DVR, you can also record multiple shows at the same time, and fast-forward through any content in your DVR. For another $10 a month, you can play as many streams at once. But, unlike the other services, you can’t easily stream outside your home. As Hulu puts it, “Our Live TV plans are intended for single-home use.” Now, you can stream away from home on your smartphone, but if you try to stream on say your dad’s Roku, it won’t work. 

Channels ala carte

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Sling TV’s ala carte approach to channels separates it from its competitors. While the others tend to offer only one or two packages, Sling TV offers two basic packages — Blue, with 43-channels, and Orange, with 32-channels. For other channels, you subscribe to a package, which bundles up to a dozen related channels.  This is a mixed blessing. I like it because it lets me get only the channels I want while it’s also a tad confusing. It starts with two $35-per-month channel packages. Some channels are available on both Sling Orange, over 30 channels, and Sling Blue, over 45 channels. Orange is basically an ESPN/Disney package, while Blue offers a Fox/NBC package. Blue also includes The NFL Network. Your best deal, if you want a broad selection of channels, is to combine them for $50.What you won’t get though is your local CBS affiliate. For that, Sling TV urges you to use an over-the-air (OTA) antenna. Sling TV offers its own streaming device, AirTV 2. This lets you watch both Sling TV and your local channels. I’ve used and liked them both. If you need an antenna, Sling TV offers the AIRTV2 as a bundle with an indoor HD antenna. This currently costs $49. Sling TV’s packages, besides such common offerings as Showtime channels, cost from $6 or $10 monthly. For pro ball fans, the $11 Sports Extra comes with 15 channels including Redzone. Sling TV’s recently upgraded its cloud DVR from a very limited 10 hours of recording time to a much more reasonable 50 hours. If you want more, you can up to 200 hours of storage for an additional $5 a month. You can fast-forward through commercials with this service.Your streaming options are… interesting. Sling Orange only lets you stream one channel at a time, while Sling Blue allows for three. If you combine them, you can stream four shows at once. Personally, I’ve liked Sling TV since it pioneered live TV streaming back in 2016. I like the interface, I like its speed, and I like that I can pick and choose my channels so I get just what I want. Its combined Blue and Orange price is still below that of its main competitors. But, without CBS, you won’t be able to stream AFC games. For NFL streamers, Sling TV is a second-choice service.On the other hand, Sling TV also gives you the cheapest way to watch RedZone. You do this by subscribing to Sling TV Blue for $35 per month and adding the $11 per month Sports Extra add-on. For now, Sling is also currently offering a $25 discount on the first month of Sling Blue. That drops the combined price to $36 for the first month of football. 

Excellent but expensive

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At $65 a month, YouTube TV is starting to close in on cable prices.That said, there’s a lot to love here. With over 85 channels, it offers more of the most popular channels than its competitors. It also enables you to watch not only your local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC channels in most areas, but your local PBS stations as well. By CNET’s count, out of the top 100 networks, YouTube TV offers the most of them, 78, of any streaming service. Even so, pro football fans will also need the $11 a month Sports Plus package. This includes NFL RedZone, Fox College Sports, GolTV, and Fox Soccer Plus.YouTube TV unquestionably has the best cloud DVR. It comes with unlimited storage and a generous nine months to watch recordings. You can stream up to three simultaneous shows at once. And, yes, you can zoom by commercials on your recorded shows as well. If it wasn’t for the price, I could easily recommend YouTubeTV for everyone. As it is, if you’re not hurting for money, it’s still an excellent choice.

Streaming services with limited live NFL action

All devices and PCs

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This year you can watch 11 Thursday night NFL games on Amazon Prime beginning on October 7. You will not be able to watch the earlier games. Amazon Prime Video is available on essentially all streaming devices and PCs. Its membership will cost $119 per year.

Formerly CBS All Access

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CBS was the first of the big broadcast networks to decide to go into streaming in a big way with CBS All Access. Its biggest selling point is the insanely large CBS catalog of past and new shows as well as live CBS news and sports content. That hasn’t changed since the service has been rebranded Paramount Plus.For football fans what this means is that it includes CBS’ Sunday AFC games on Paramount Plus’ Premium tier for $10 per month. But, and this is a big but, if Paramount Plus doesn’t offer your local CBS station, you won’t be able to watch those games. 

Sunday Night Football

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Peacock will show all of NBC’s Sunday Night Football games, and the first Thursday night game to kick off the season. But, while you can watch highlights with the free version of the service, you’ll need either the limited ad-supported Premium plan for $5 a month or the ad-free Premium Plus plan at $10 a month to watch the full games or reruns. 

Thursday Night Football confusion Thursday Night Football is messy. Most games will be available on the NFL Network, Fox, Amazon Prime Video, and Twitch, the popular TV gaming streaming service. But, at least two games, the Week 5 London game between the Jets and Falcons, and the Week 15 Saturday doubleheader will only be shown on The NFL Network. Yes, I know Thursday night football on Saturday. I didn’t make this schedule.  So are you ready for some football? I know I am, although, depending on how my Steelers do, I may be regretting that in a few weeks. But, that’s life as a fan isn’t it?

How much internet speed do you need for streaming?

To make use of any of these services, you’ll need broadband internet. If you’re living on your own, you may be able to get by with as little as 10Mbp. However, if you’re sharing your home with others and/or you want to watch 4K videos, I recommend you get at least a 25Mbps internet connection. Not sure how fast your connection is? Try one of these Internet speed tests.

Will cutting the cable cord save you money?

Back in 2009, when I first cut the cable cord, I saved over $100 a month and still got to watch all my shows. Now, 12 years later, my internet video streaming bills are closing in on cable TV-level bills. Why? Internet streaming is copying the tired, old cable business models. As a result, almost all the live TV services saw price increases in 2020, and they’ll only go up higher in 2021.So, be picky about what services you get. I subscribe to pretty much all of them, but then I get paid to keep an eye on them. Chances are, you’re not so lucky. You should also check to see if your video needs can be met by one or more of the excellent free video-streaming services. In addition, some services, such as Peacock, offer a free tier with advertising. 

What gear do you need for streaming?

You might think, “What do I need a streaming device for? Can’t I get all the streaming services I want from my smart TV? But, actually, no, no, you can’t.I wish you could, but today smart TVs are still a poor choice. That’s because, generally speaking, TV manufacturers do a lousy job of supporting streaming services. For example, in 2019, older smart TVs from Samsung and Vizio stopped supporting Netflix. If they can do that to Netflix, the most popular of all subscription-based video streaming services, you know they’ll neglect other services as well.  Besides, some smart TVs also don’t support newer channels. So, for example, if your kids are demanding Frozen 2 on Disney Plus and you have a non-supported Vizio Smartcast TV, you’ll have to explain to your five-year-old that they can’t watch Anna, Else, and Olaf after all. Good luck with that.There are a lot of streaming devices out there. Personally, I recommend any of the Roku devices. They don’t cost much, they support pretty much all services, and they’re easy to use. If you’re looking for the best possible one, I recommend the Roku Ultra for $69. If you want to save your pennies, get a Roku Express 4K Plus for $30,Finally, to make the most of these services, you need a television that’s up to managing 4K and high dynamic range (HDR) movies and TV shows. If you’re a home theater nerd like me and you’ve been saving up your bucks, get an LG OLEDG1P series. The 65″ model lists for $2,800. If you want OLED goodness without a premium price, check out the LG OLEDCXP series. This line’s 65″ screen TV costs $1,900. For the best pairing of price and quality, check out the TCL 6-Series. Here, the 65″ model costs $1,100. Finally, you don’t have to pay a ton of money to get a great TV. The TCL 4-Series works well, and its 65” version only costs $650. No, it’s not as good as the others, but it’s more than good enough for streaming Sweet Tooth, Leverage: Redemption, or Underground Railroad 

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The past 18 months has forced companies to reinvent what work looks like for many employees. And those tough decisions are still going on; whether to make remote working permanent, encourage teams to return to the office when it’s safe to do so – or do something in between.

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Some of the world’s largest global tech firms have already gone ahead and answered those questions, at least for themselves. Twitter led the pack when it announced last May its work-from-home plans would remain permanent, even after offices fully reopen. Square’s declaration that it would permit employees to work from home permanently followed shortly after.   PwC Australia Real Estate Advisory business partner Tony Massaro says one thing the pandemic has proven is that remote working is no longer just an experiment, but a widely embraced practice. Remote working wasn’t adopted in a widespread manner until the pandemic, he says. People talked about it particularly in times of staff shortages, but it wasn’t mainstream until the pandemic hit. “And boy, did that make it mainstream,” he says. THE OFFICE IS NOT GONEMassaro argues that even though dozens of businesses have embraced flexible working, and there have been “knee-jerk reactions” by others to do without an office completely, this shift does not spell the death of the office or the central business district (CBD). He argues the demise of business districts is overstated for a number of reasons. Businesses will always have core functions, which will require an office. There will also be different requirements for the space that companies already have. “People say we’ll need less space but given the new ways of working, there might be a requirement for more space. Most office spaces don’t have a plethora of meeting rooms, so in order to put them in, they’ll take more space than companies already have.”

The 2021 financial results that commercial property Dexus recently presented speak volumes to these trends. According to Dexus Office executive general manager Kevin George, the company’s office portfolio experienced a “strong year” of leasing activity, with the amount of leasing space doubling year on year from 88,467 to 184,029 square metres. “A number of industries appear to have recovered from the impact of COVID-19, with demand in Sydney relatively strong across the technology, professional services, finance, and government sectors,” George says. “We believe that well-located, high-quality office space located in key CBD locations will continue to attract talented workforces and remain leading work and entertainment destinations.” SEE: Half of APAC firms bypass processes to accommodate remote work George highlights that the SME suite market was also “buoyant” throughout FY21. “We’ve seen increasing levels of enquiry for sub-1,000 square-metre spaces, which were well up on FY20, with spaces above 1,000 square metres being only moderately higher,” he says. Massaro agrees that there’s been a considerable spike in the number of smaller, second-tier firms taking up office in the CBD because rent is now affordable. He explains that part of what’s driving the trend is the amount of larger organisations turning to subletting to alleviate any pressure on cash flow in the short term. “From a budget perspective, rents will be hit in the short term … you can see that in the subletting space that’s out there … a lot of subletting is short-term stuff. You might have a 20-year lease and you’re like, ‘let’s get someone in there’ … just to stop the bleed,” he says. REIMAGINING THE OFFICE For businesses that choose to stick with the space they have, they are now being forced to reconsider where and how the physical office space fits into the new equation of how people work. What business needs to decide are a few things, he says: what type of work they are going to do, how they are going to do it, who they want to do it – because flexible and remote working opens up an entire new geographic spread of employees – and then what kind of workspace they are going to need. “That’s where it starts to have that impact on space and offices,” Massaro says. SEE: Sydney Uni research finds remote working saving Aussies time and money Salesforce, for instance, is still on track to move into its new Australian headquarters, dubbed the Salesforce Tower, in late 2022, even though it has rolled out permanent remote work plans for its staff. But the cloud giant will now redesign its office spaces so it features more “community hubs” in response to the new climate. “For us, our real estate is about more than architecture and design. It’s about creating a place that has a lasting positive impact on our employees, partners, customers, communities, and the environment around us,” Salesforce president and chief people officer Brent Hyder said back in February. “So when we thought about how to reimagine our spaces, we saw an incredible opportunity to create the office of the future. The majority of our employees will go back to the office at least some of the time. And we’ve learned that 80% of our employees are hungry for the connection, camaraderie, and innovation that come from gathering in-person. That means the company is redesigning its workspaces over time as community hubs to accommodate a more hybrid workstyle. Gone are the days of a sea of desks, it says, with the plan to create more collaboration and breakout spaces to foster the human connection that can’t be replicated remotely.Atlassian, another company that has also endorsed flexible working, is also going ahead with opening a new office tower in Sydney, due for completion in 2025, and has similar plans. “The space that we are building will be highly sustainable and highly flexible. it will be purpose-built for the future of work, for tomorrow’s world, not today’s. Even with a highly distributed workforce, we’ll need a place to come together. Now we can design this space especially for these new ways of working,” Atlassian co-CEO and co-founder Scott Farquhar said in June.
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For Cisco, the story is not too dissimilar. While the company recently announced it would roll out a hybrid working plan, it also said offices have a role to play in the way its employees will work. “The amount of time we’ve spent working remotely and refining our skills in doing that is great, but we miss personal interactions, and we miss being able to get in and work as a team,” says Cisco workplace technology head, Chris Anderson. “There’s still absolutely a place for the physical environment.”What the networking giant has focused on is changing the physical space into something more “purposeful”, so that it’s less about allocating staff personal desk space and more about utilising it for collaboration. Before the pandemic, 95% of the company’s office space was allocated to individuals, Cisco said. Cisco has also invested in plugging new technologies into its offices to further facilitate the hybrid-working model. These include delivering wireless connectivity into its buildings, introducing intelligence to help Cisco better understand how its physical space is being used, as well as introducing office environment sensors to measure temperature, sound, humidity, and air quality. “The opportunity for us is to start using technology. What we’ve done in the past is we’ve understood how important technology is inside a building, but we’ve never really intrinsically linked technology into the workflows inside buildings,” Anderson says. “Now is the opportunity to really align technology properly inside physical buildings, and drive intelligence, drive automation of activity inside the meeting spaces and the office space.” WORKING OR COWORKING?In addition to making changes to existing office spaces, an equally popular option for businesses, according to Massaro, is moving into coworking spaces. He says it’s becoming an appealing option as companies try to contend with the uncertainty of the pandemic. According to WeWork Australia and Southeast Asia general manager Balder Tol, over a third of WeWork members in Australia that identify as technology companies have embraced coworking spaces as viable options.
Image: WeWork Australia
Tol reckons part of the attraction is coworking spaces offer businesses flexibility that has not typically been available with a traditional office.”The pandemic has changed the way we live and work, and flexible office space is emerging as an attractive option for workers and companies that are frustrated with the bedroom-as-boardroom life, but don’t want to return to a traditional office format,” he says. “Flexibility of time, space, and location is built into our business model and is something that’s become an even more attractive incentive to businesses and employees alike, as they look to adapt to the new normal.” The feelings are mutual over at Hub Australia. “Scaling tech companies have always been particularly drawn to Hub’s offering as they have a constant need to attract and retain talent. Sixty-five percent of our customer base nationally classify themselves as tech companies,” Hub Australia founder and CEO Brad Krauskopft says. “We are seeing more large companies use Hub, not just for the flexibility of the agreements, but because companies now need to provide an experience that goes beyond just a place to sit at a computer all day. Coworking operators have years of experience on how to best achieve these engaging workspaces.” Irrespective of which way businesses chooses to operate, the investment that businesses make – or don’t make – in an office space will be an iterative process going forward. “Part of that will be saying, ‘Will this different type of work we want to do have a higher or lower margin, therefore do we have more or less money,’ so therefore we’ll need to spend this much on space. It becomes an iterative and very business-specific process,” Massaro says. Related Coverage More

“The first inning [of hyper-converged infrastructure] was the convergence of all the legacy stuff into hyperconverged, and the second inning is really convergence of clouds,” according to Rajiv Ramaswami, CEO of hyper-converged infrastructure pioneer Nutanix.  Ramaswami talked to ZDNet following the company’s fiscal Q4 report this afternoon. The company’s revenue and profit in the July quarter both topped Wall Street’s expectations, as did the outlook for billings for the current quarter.  Nutanix shares rose 5% in late trading following the conference call between Ramaswami and CFO Duston Williams and Wall Street analysts. Ramaswami’s comments to ZDNet came in response to the question whether hyperconverged products are merely for consolidating legacy equipment, or whether the product category has sustained relevance in the years to come. Ramaswami’s point is that as company’s scale in their use of public cloud, costs rise dramatically and complexity rises, and hyperconverged takes on a new role in “inning two” as a way to reduce cost and complexity.  “We are making it easier for customers to run in the public cloud of their choice, while having their portability and being free from public cloud lock-in.”  Also: Nutanix CEO touts road to profitability as company moves to subscription model

Ramaswami said Nutanix has been making progress “doubling-down” on the company’s partnerships for selling, such as with Amazon’s AWS, Hewlett Packard Enterpise, and Red Hat, a goal that he had discussed with ZDNet back in February. “We are doing more work with HP GreenLake,” he said, referring to Hewlett’s database-as-a-service, a partnership mentioned back in June. “And they [Hewlett] are now selling more of our entire portfolio, not just the core,” he said. “And we announced our partnership with Red Hat, which is a pretty substantial partnership for us,” said Ramaswami.In prepared remarks, Ramaswami had called the quarter “a strong end to an excellent fiscal year, which was marked by consistent execution and solid progress across both financial and strategic objectives.” Added Ramaswami, “We have entered our fiscal 2022 with good momentum and a solid plan for growth, executing on the model we laid out at Investor Day and delivering on our vision of making clouds invisible.” CFO Williams remarked that “We achieved records across a number of key metrics in the fourth quarter, including ACV billings and revenue, which grew 26 and 19 percent year over year, respectively,” adding, “In fiscal 2022, we expect our growing base of low-cost renewals will drive further improvements in top and bottom line performance.” Revenue in the three months ended in July rose 19%, year over year, to $390.7 million, yielding a net loss of 26 cents a share, excluding some costs. Also: Nutanix CEO: Public cloud is a new opportunity to extend what the company does Analysts had been modeling $363 million and a 42-cent loss per share. Nutanix’s annualized recurring revenue rose by 83% to $878.7 million. Nutanix’s billings for its annual contract value, or “ACV,” rose by 26% to $176.3 million, it said. That was higher than Wall Street’s average estimate for $171.9 million.  ACV billings is the main metric to track how the new sales incentive policy is playing out, in terms of bringing in a big quarter-to-quarter boost in amounts billed. It’s a mark of its progress in moving from what was once a license for equipment to what is now essentially a subscription software business.  For the current quarter, the company expects its annual contract value billings to be in a range of of $172 million to $177 million. That compares to consensus for $169.3 million.

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We’ve been having persistent problems with our fiber to the cabinet VDSL connection over the past few months. It’s the worst kind of fault, intermittent and prone to happen when we’re on a call or trying to download software. We’ve changed the router, even had engineers out to check the connection. Our ISP has changed our wholesale provider (as much as they can), the cabling provider has changed the cable we’re using and the port in the fiber cabinet, but nothing seems to work. SEE: Internet slow? Here are the possible reasons why and how to fix themAll the various diagnostics seem to point to one thing: the aluminium cabling under the street put in sometime in the 1960s or 70s is reaching end of life. What worked just well in the ADSL days when a 20Mbps connection was fast is not working for VDSL’s 50-80Mbps. Micro-cracks in the aluminium cause resonances that translate to changes in signal and the connection fails. There’s really only one fix: putting fresh copper (not cost-saving aluminium) down for the entire street. But re-trunking like that is expensive and requires lots of planning and coordination. With the line still suitable for voice, and as the UK fiber-to-the-premises program is planned to cover our postcode sometime between 2022 and 2024, that’s not going to happen at any point in the foreseeable future. So what to do? Reliable internet is a must-have for freelance journalists, especially in these Zoom-heavy times. 

Luckily, we do have an option: our area of London has a good 5G signal from at least one provider and our existing Draytek Vigor router has built-in WAN failover features. So why not add a wireless connection to automatically takeover during outages?Once we’d made the decision, we had to find a router, preferably one that wasn’t tied to a mobile operator. We ended up settling on the recently launched TCL LinkHub HH500E (sold as Alcatel in some parts of the world), built around a Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 chipset. It’s an attractive device, with two ethernet LAN ports and 2.4 and 5GHz WiFi. It could be placed near the VDSL router, using a short piece of ethernet to connect the two devices and take advantage of Draytek’s failover WAN support. I had to use a slower speed SIM for setup, as the only one I had spare was for a network that doesn’t offer 5G here yet. However, I’ve got one on order, a device SIM from EE with unlimited data for under £40/month. As it is, our local 4G speeds are around 30-40Mbps, so more than good enough for most purposes.Configuration was slightly tricky, mainly caused by some long-standing networking decisions I’d made. Our network runs, like most small office networks, using RFC1918 addressing in the 192.168.1.X space. To use the new 5G router as a WAN extension, it needs to be on a different network from the rest of the network, using its built-in DHCP server to give the Draytek’s WAN port an address on its network. It took me a while to realize that it needed to control its own network. I’d initially configured it to be a client on my existing network, getting its address from my DHCP server.I could see that the new 5G router was online from its built-in diagnostic tools.
Image: Simon Bisson
That meant changing the default network range on the 5G router. I chose 192.168.2.x, which it would use for its own WiFi connections as well. This was the point where I made a mistake resetting the router’s admin password, locking myself out and forcing a device reset. That’s about par for the course on our network, as I usually end up having to reset new devices at least once during setup. At least this time it was only setting too strong a password and forgetting to write it down! Configuring DHCP on the 5G router.
Image: Simon Bisson
I could now configure the Draytek’s WAN2 port to use the new 5G router. First I enabled the network port, as I’d initially been using it as an extra LAN port (before moving most local connections to a small power-over-ethernet capable gigabit switch). In the Draytek web console I used the WAN Internet Access settings to set up WAN2 as a Static or Dynamic IP connection, using the external router as a DHCP server for the port. I then used the WAN General Settings tool to configure the new WAN connection to handle failover.Connecting the 5G router to the VDSL router’s WAN port.
Image: Simon Bisson
Here I set the connection’s Active Mode to Backup for WAN1, with it set to take over if the WAN1 connection failed. The other option is to use it as an always-on connection, load-balancing automatically with the existing VDSL connection. Configuring WAN failover on a Draytek router.
Image: Simon Bisson
That’s all that’s necessary to set a failover WAN. I was able to test it by dropping the PPPoE VDSL connection, with connectivity switching over to the 5G router, and switching back when I re-enabled the VDSL connection. It’s since proven itself in operation, failover working as expected later that day in a short network outage. I tested failover by dropping the PPPoE WAN1 connection and seeing that the WAN2 connection had taken over.
Image: Simon Bisson
Failover networking is often seen as only for enterprise networks, but the current generation of business-oriented VDSL and 4G or 5G routers means there’s an affordable option for smaller operations. All you need is the right hardware and an appropriate data plan – and a little bit of time spent configuring your network. SEE: Best DSL internet 2021: No fiber? No problemAdding backup connectivity is something you should consider if you’re moving to work from home, especially when you need to be always online for meetings and to collaborate with colleagues. A fast broadband connection is not enough; now you need two that don’t use the same physical connection. That may be 5G for us in the UK; in the US, it might be your cable TV connection – and tomorrow it could even be low-orbit satellites.

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Logitech’s Bolt wireless protocol will allow a new generation of MX Master and Ergo keyboards and mice to connect more securely and more reliably than with standard Bluetooth LE.
Image: Logitech
Logitech’s MX mice and keyboards have long been popular with both business and home users – and, of course, the company’s webcams and video-conferencing systems were tailor-made for the new hybrid-working patterns that emerged during the coronavirus pandemic.However, the company is now making a more focused push into the business sector with its MX Master Series For Business, which introduces a new feature called Bolt. SEE: The best Windows laptops in 2021Described by Logitech as “a new high-performance, secure wireless technology”, Bolt is based on Bluetooth LE and can be used to connect the new MX mice and keyboards to a computer either via a standard Bluetooth connection or by using the USB RF receivers that Logitech also bundles with its products. That support for both Bluetooth and proprietary connectivity has long been a feature of Logitech products, but the company claims that the new Bolt-compatible generation of mice and keyboards will offer business users lower latency and improved reliability in crowded office environments, as well as additional security features that aren’t available with its existing MX products. When using a Bluetooth connection, a Bolt-compatible mouse supports Bluetooth Security Mode 1, Security Level 2, while a keyboard supports Security Mode 1, Security Level 3. However, Logitech’s redesigned Bolt USB receiver is the more secure option, allowing both mice and keyboards to step up to Bluetooth Security Mode 1, Security Level 4.Logitech will release new MX Master Series For Business keyboards and mice at the end of September.
Images: Logitech
The Bolt option is also compliant with FIPS – the set of Federal Information Processing Standards specified by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for use in non-military organisations. We’ve seen several FIPS-compliant storage devices in recent months, but the MX Master Series for Business is the first time we’ve seen its use extended to mice and keyboards. And like previous generations of MX products, the new Bolt-compatible models will provide cross-platform compatibility, allowing them to control up to three PCs and Macs, and even to quickly switch from one to the other by using Logitech’s Options app.That’s the good news. The bad news is that Bolt isn’t compatible with existing MX mice and keyboards, so business users who require that additional level of security will need to wait for the new MX Master Series For Business, which is due to launch at the end of September. There will also be a new version of the compact MX Anywhere 3 mouse, which is designed for travelling with a laptop. Pricing for the new range has yet to be announced, although the existing MX mouse and keyboard each cost £99.99 (inc. VAT) or $99.99, while the MX Anywhere 3 costs £79.99 (inc. VAT) or $79.99. Logitech’s ergonomic Ergo keyboards and mice will also get a Bolt-compatible upgrade: Ergo Series for Business.
Image: Logitech  

Along with the streamlined design of the MX Master products, Logitech is also launching a second range of Bolt-compatible mice and keyboards, called Ergo Series for Business. This consists of a new version of its Ergo K860 keyboard, which uses an ergonomic ‘split’ keyboard layout that’s designed to reduce wrist-strain and other forms of repetitive strain injury (RSI). The Ergo keyboard will also be accompanied by a new version of Logitech’s Ergo M575, which combines the features of both mouse and trackball for £44.99 (inc. VAT) or $44.95. Also SeeLogitech MX Master 3 and MX Keys, hands on: Logitech reinvents the (mouse) wheel Logitech MX Anywhere 3, hands on: A compact mouse for mobile workers Logitech Ergo M575, hands on: An affordable ergonomic wireless trackball Hands-on: Logitech Ergo K860 Natural Keyboard  More

Image: Chorus
Chorus has said it will be upgrading its fibre users over the next three months to replace 100Mbps speeds with 300Mbps connections. That means its 100/20Mbps plan will become 300/100Mbps, while the Business Evolve 100/100Mbps plan will become 300/300Mbps, and Small Business Fibre 100/100Mbps will be 500Mbps symmetric. “The fibre build propelled New Zealand’s broadband infrastructure well ahead of that in Australia, the UK and many other countries. However, some countries, where fibre is ubiquitous are starting to pull ahead,” the company said. The upshift could impact up to 600,000 premises, Chorus said. “In 2011, at the start of UFB, 30Mbps was considered a great broadband speed. In 2015, as Netflix launched in New Zealand, ‘great broadband’ increased to 100Mbps,” CEO JB Rousselot said. “Our network traffic monitoring is showing that there are homes and businesses on fibre 100/20Mbps who regularly max out their broadband connection.” Chorus said it is consulting with New Zealand retailers to determine the best way to pass through the upgrade and expects most customers to see it in early December.

In its recent set of results, the broadband wholesaler said it was approaching 20% of its 860,000 fibre connections being on 1Gbps plans and has launched 8Gbps fibre in “select CBDs”. In total, Chorus has 1.34 million connections around New Zealand, a drop from the 1.42 million reported last year. Revenue for the company dropped NZ$12 million to NZ$947 million, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation was steady at NZ$649 million, and net profit landed at NZ$47 million. Last week, the NZ Commerce Commission released its winter edition of the Measuring Broadband New Zealand and found 1Gbps plans were clocking at 855Mbps during busy hours. “We’ve enhanced the programme by adding a new test server in Christchurch that enables us to measure and report on performance in the South Island independently,” Telecommunications Commissioner Tristan Gilbertson said at the time. “The Christchurch server has confirmed that any differences in performance in the South Island are the result of many providers routing their traffic via the North Island. “However, the difference in performance for high speed fibre plans is minor, and would likely not be noticeable for most South Islanders.” Related Coverage More

One of the most important things in business is accessibility, and having an online presence goes a long way in keeping your business current and in front of the right customers. It is a quick and easy way to interact, sell, and grow, all while serving as an invaluable communications platform that helps bridge the gap between owner and consumer. However, to create and maintain an online presence for your business, you first need a domain registrar and name seller to help you present your company to the world. That is where these companies can help.These are the best domain name sellers to register your business and grow your online presence in 2021.

Best security features

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At a glanceWhen you register your new domain with Bluehost, you get access to WordPress and Google tools with built-in SEO controls to easily manage and market your site. You also receive a free Google My Business profile that is integrated right into your Bluehost dashboard for easy accessibility and account management with visitor analytics. Bluehost also includes Google Ad Services with added security features that include free SSL and malware detection with automated security updates. To get you started, there are free customer consultations with 24/7 customer support if you stumble.ProsConsFree customer consultationsComplimentary security and marketing features24/7 customer supportNon-promotional pricing can be expensiveRestricted to U.S.-only serversLack complete backup featuresPricingThe cost of Bluehost is less than $3 per month with introductory pricing.There are three Bluehost plans to choose from:Shared Hosting: Normally $8.99/month, this plan is now on sale for $2.95 per month for a 36-month term with auto-renewal at the non-discounted rate of $8.99 monthly.Managed WordPress: For greater functionality, look at the Managed WordPress plan for $9.95 per month for 36 months with auto-renewal at $19.95 monthly. Online Stores: To add e-commerce to your site, pricing begins at $12.95 per month for 36 months with auto-renewal at $24.95 per month.The amount you pay to register your domain depends on the type of domain that you choose.Bluehost domain pricingDomain type1st-year cost.blog$22.99.co$27.99.com$12.99.me$17.99.net$14.99.org$9.99.tech$4.99.website$1.99If you are not sure which plan is right for you, BlueHost customer representatives can provide a free consultation to help you decide.

Best website tools

At a glanceWhen you register your domain with Domain.com, you receive multiple services that include hosting, website design, and management. There are additional in-house services available if you need help designing your website, and once your site is up and running, your account integrates with several popular website tools, like WordPress, WebsiteBuilder, and SiteLock. There are more than 300 top-level domains (TLDs) with available premium domains for something a little more special.Domain.com offers three plans that all come with scalable bandwidth and free SSL by Let’s Encrypt.Plan nameNumber of websitesStorageDatabasesFTP log-insBasic1Unlimited105DeluxeUnlimitedUnlimited2525UltraUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedProsConsAffordable pricing for most domainsProfessional website design availableMultiple website toolsNo multi-year discounts for plansMust pay upfrontUpsells can drive up pricePricingThe amount you pay depends on the term you choose when you purchase your plan.Domain.com PlansPlan name12-month  pricing24-month pricing36-month pricingBasic$3.75/mo$45.00 total$3.75/mo$90.00 total$3.75/mo$135.00 totalDeluxe$6.75/mo$81 total$6.75/mo$162 total$6.75/mo$243 totalUltra$13.75/mo$165 total$13.75/mo$330 total$13.75/mo$495 totalYou also must purchase your domain, but first-year pricing is very competitive, depending on the domain that you choose..co: $27.99.com: $8.99.me: $2.99.net: $12.99.org: $8.99.tech: $4.99Domain.com offers 24/7 technical support if you need help signing up.

Best uptime guarantee

DreamHost

At a glanceDreamHost proudly shares that it has won the “Editor’s Choice” award by PCMag for five years running. Its hosting options include website hosting or WordPress hosting, both priced the same, with free WordPress migrations, private registration, and WHOIS privacy with the option for free subdomains. Plans include expanded security features such as Multi-Factor Authentication, auto-enabled SFTP, and free secure hosting with Let’s Encrypt. There is 24/7 customer support, and additional Cloud hosting is available for you at $0.0075 per hour. DreamHost is so confident in its services that there is a 100% uptime guarantee to give you even more peace of mind.ProsConsTop-rated by industry experts100% uptime guaranteeFree WordPress migrationMust commit to three years for discountsAdditional features can get priceyLimited support optionsPricingDreamHost offers three plans for your website hosting:Plan typePrepaid 3-year plan pricingMonthly plan pricingWordPress Basic$2.59/mo $4.95/mo DreamPress$16.95/mo$12/moVPS for WordPress$27.50/mo$30/moIf you choose the WordPress Basic or DreamPress plans, you receive free migration for your WordPress siteYou may also purchase your domain using the following price structure:.blog: $4.99.club: $1.99.com: $7.99.design: $5.99.io: $29.99.me: $2.99.online: $1.99.org: $11.99.shop: $2.99.tech: $2.99.xyz: $0.89To help, there is 24/7 expert support available. 

Best for expanded tools

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At a glanceGoDaddy is one of the most well-known domain registrars with over 20 million customers and over 82 million domains. You can get started for free with no credit card required, but there are a total of six plans to choose from for hosting once your site is up and running. Plans include SSL security with dedicated server hosting, up to 100 subdomains, and optional WordPress and website design services. You can also add an online store with added email and Microsoft 365 access. GoDaddy is truly the multi-faceted domain registrar that has what it takes to grow with you as your website expands.ProsConsFree to beginEmail and Microsoft 365 integrationMultiple hosting plansSingle pricing for domainsOnly single year discountsNo toll-free support numberPricingGoDaddy offers six plans for hosting with monthly pricing.GoDaddy PlansPlan Starting monthly priceFeaturesWeb Hosting$5.99/moBasic websitesWordPress Hosting$6.99/moWordPress sitesWordPress Ecommerce Hosting$15.99/moOnline storeBusiness Hosting$19.99/moHigh-traffic sitesVPs Hosting$4.99/moWeb designers & developersDedicated Server$129.99/moHighly customized applicationsDomains are available for purchase for one to ten years using the following price structure..buzz: $1.99/mo, $49.99 normally.com: $11.99/mo, $18.99 normally.email: $5.99/mo, $27.99 normally.net: $14.99/mo, $19.99 normally.site: $0.99/mo, $39.99 normally.VIP: $6.99/mo, $21.99 normally.ws: $4.99/mo, $34.99 normally.xyz: $0.99/mo, $15.99 normallyGoDaddy offers 24/7 support if you need help at any point.

Best for Google Tools

Google

Integrating with your existing Google account, Google Domains offers you access to over 300 domain endings with extra tools to make designing your website a breeze once you purchase and register your new domain. However, once you purchase your domain, your options from web hosting will come from other providers, such as Wix, Weebly, Shopify, and Blogger. There are several tools that come included, such as email forwarding, extra privacy protection, and one-click DNSSEC with Google’s 2-Step Verification. Plus, Google Workspace is built-in with up to 100 email aliases and convenient access to Google Ads.ProsConsAccess to signature Google toolsEasy email forwardingStraightforward pricingWebsite hosting through third partiesAccess to limited number of domainsNot available in all countriesPricingDomain pricing for Google Domains begins at $7 per year with over 100 domain extensions..app: $14/yr.biz: $15/yr.ca: $12/yr.co: $30/yr.com: $12/yr.dev: $12/yr.et: $12/yr.me: $20/yr.org: $12/yr.us: $12/yrThere is 24/7 customer support to help you decide and guide the process.

Best for All-Inclusive

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HostGator hosts over two million websites with easy one-click install that is compatible with popular systems like WordPress, Magento, Drupal, and Joomla. SiteLock also integrates to give your site improved security with malware removal.There are a few things that come with each HostGator plan, like one-click WordPress installs, unlimited storage, and free WordPress/cPanel website transfers. Plans feature unmetered bandwidth with free SSL certificate and 99.9% uptime for added reliability. With HostGator, you also get free site transfers and a free domain for your first year. If you want a head start on your advertising, there is $150 in Google Ads credit to get you started.ProsCons99.9% uptimeFree site transfersFree domain for first yearPricey renewal costsStandard single backup optionComplicated interface for newer usersPricingHostGator offers free first-year domain hosting.  From there, pricing depends on the domain that you choose. Introductory pricing lasts one year and then auto-renews at the prevailing rate. .com: $12.95/first yr, $17.99 thereafter.info: $12.95/first yr, $17.99 thereafter.me: $15.00/first yr, $19.95 thereafter.net: $12.95/first yr, $17.99 thereafter.online: $1.95/first yr, $15.00 thereafter.org: $12.95/first yr, $17.99 thereafter.site: $0.95/first yr, $15.00 thereafter.tech: $3.95/first yr, $30.00 thereafter.website: $0.95/first yr, $15.00 thereafterThere are five web hosting plans from HostGator.HostGator Hosting PlansPlanNumber of websitesIntroductory priceHatchling1$2.08/moBabyUnlimited$2.98/moBusinessUnlimited$4.48/moHostGator also offers 24/7/365 support so someone is always there to help.

Best for Email Forwarding

Hover

Hover specializes in just two things: domain registration and professional email services. You will not find the multiple hosting plans of other companies. However, Hover offers the option to either purchase a new domain or transfer an existing one, with websites set to auto-renew with your choice of either an annual basis or within a set number of years. Your account benefits from added security features that include WHOIS privacy and two-factor authentication, plus there is the Hover Connect tool to easily transfer your existing site.If you choose to add professional email to your domain, Hover is compatible with IMAP, POP, and Webmail. You automatically get to enjoy account bonuses like email forwarding, vacation autoresponder, and built-in anti-spam and virus tools.ProsConsBulk domain pricing availableProfessional email services availableVarying fee schedule for domain transfersNo website hostingSome domains are priceyNo 24/7 customer supportPricingHover offers straightforward domain pricing that includes your registration rate, renewal price, and transfer price for at-a-glance pricing, leaving no room for confusion.Hover Domain PricingDomainRegistration rateRenewal rateTransfer rate.ca$15.99/yr$15.99/yr$15.99/yr.co$25.99/yr$25.99/yr$25.99/yr.com$12.99/yr$14.99/yr$12.99/yr.info$17.99/yr$17.99/yr$17.99/yr.io$49.99/yr$49.99/yr$79.99/yr.me$9.99/yr$19.99/yr$19.99/yr.mobi$19.99/yr$19.99/yr$19.99/yr.net$15.49/yr$17.49/yr$15.49/yr.news$26.99/yr$26.99/yr$26.99/yr.online$4.99/yr$34.99/yr$34.99/yr.org$13.99/yr$15.99/yr$13.99/yr.tech$7.99/yr$49.99/yr$49.99/yr.us$14.99/yr$14.99/yr$14.99/yrThis is the pricing providing for up to nine domains, with extra discounts that apply the more domains you buy.There is also professional email that you can add to your site:Small Mailbox: For $20 per year, you receive 10GB of storage.Big Mailbox: For $29 annually, Hover offers 1TB of storage.Email forwarding: $5 per yearIf you need help, prepare to do some research online as Hover does not offer the 24/7 customer support standard with most companies.

Best for Plan Options

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NameCheap is the provider of over two million customers with over 1.5 million websites, and it has the services to help websites of all sizes. There are several hosting plans, so many that it categorizes them based on whether you are a new online user, small business, or large company. Either way, plans are extensive and include free hosting migration with a 30-day money-back guarantee for eligible customers.There are lots of add-on services to better customize your plan, like cloud storage for some plans and private email plans that feature a free 60-day trial period.ProsCons30-day money-back guaranteeSeveral dedicated hosting plansFree first-year domainSome renewal rates are expensiveLimitations on pricing discountsNo uptime guaranteesPricingNameCheap web hosting plans are designed around your needs, with the company categorizing its services based on the three types of customers it serves: individuals, small businesses, and large companies. For each one, there are several options.NameCheap Hosting PlansPlanPromo costRenewal rateIndividualsStellar$1.58/mo for first year$2.88/moStellar Plus$2.68/mo for first year$4.88/moEasyWP Starter for WordPress$0/mo for first month$3.88/moStarter$0/mo for first 2 months$11.88/yrSmall businessesStellar Business$4.80/mo for first year$8.88/moNebula$17.88/mo (unspecified term)$19.99/moEasy WP Turbo for WordPress$0/mo for first month$7.88/moPro$0/mo for first 2 months$33.88/yrLarge companiesEasyWP Supersonic for WordPress$0/mo for first month$11.88/moQuasar$14.88/mo (unspecified term)$19.88/moXeon E3-1240 v3$40.88/mo for first month$52.88/moDomain pricing varies based on the domain that you choose for your new site. If you subscribe to the Shared Hosting plan, you could receive a free domain for your first year. Otherwise, pricing varies based on the following:.ai: $8.88/yr first year, $12.98/yr thereafter.co: $7.98/yr first year, $23.98/yr thereafter.com: $8.88/yr first year, $12.98/yr thereafter.io: $32.98/yr first year, $34.98/yr thereafter.net: $10.98/yr first year, $14.98/yr thereafter.org: $9.18/yr first year, $14.98/yr thereafterIf you need help, grab your computer, because there is 24/7 expert chat support.

How did we choose these products?There are many companies to choose from when you need to register your new website, but it is critical that you choose a reliable and trustworthy company to entrust with your website. These are some of the critical factors we consider when choosing the best domain registrars and domain name sellers for 2021.Domain names: There are some domain registrars that offer several hundred domain names while others barely offer one hundred, so it is important to consider what kind of variety you would like available for your new domain extension.Pricing: The exact same domain extension can vary significantly in price from provider to provider, so shop your preferred domain extension to see which service offers the most competitive pricing for your first-year and renewal rates.Security: Many domain registrars also offer security tools to help protect your new website, but some may carry a fee or depend on the web hosting plan that you choose.Customer support: Even expert users can stumble when creating or migrating a website, but customer service options can vary significantly based on your provider. Which is the right one for you?Choose this domain registrar…If you…Bluehost Want extra security freebies for your new websiteDomain.com Need extra tools and help for your domain managementDreamhostPrioritize website up-time and reliabilityGoDaddyHave a growing business or large enterprisesGoogle DomainsAre an existing Google userHostGatorWant all-inclusive service without the upsellsHoverJust want to register your domain with email accessNameCheapWant the room to grow and still have tons of options

What are domain extensions?

A domain extension is the text that comes after the name of your website, such as the popular .com extension. There are several hundreds of domain extensions available today but your choices will depend on the domain name seller that you choose.

How long does my domain last?

You cannot permanently purchase a domain name forever, but you can buy a domain name from a provider for a certain amount of time. Some plans will then auto-renew, while others may require you to renew the name yourself.

Why do I need a domain registrar and name seller?

Not only does a domain name seller provide the unique webname for your site, but it also can provide invaluable extras like security tools, professional email, and online ecommerce options to grow your business. 

Are there alternatives worth considering?

Some other options for domain registrars and name sellers in 2021 include these companies:Gandi: Receive 50% off your first-year pricing with email and web hostingHostinger: Affordable web hosting solutions with excellent customer supportHostPapa: Domain registrar with small business solutions IONOS: Domain theft protection with domain registrationInMotion Hosting: 99.9% uptime with a money-back guaranteeName.com: Bulk capability with the benefit of Google tools

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Image: ACCC
On Tuesday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released its latest Measuring Broadband Australia report, and it would appear Telstra is the new speed king.Going across all NBN fixed-line plans, Exetel and Optus lead the way followed by Telstra, MyRepublic, and TPG. But once underperforming services are removed, Telstra smokes the field, followed by Optus, Exetel, MyRepublic, and TPG. What seals the deal for Telstra is its performance during busy hours, where it is still able to hit its advertised 50Mbps and 100Mbps speed claims during busy hours. MyRepublic and TPG can also lay claim to being able to hit their advertised speeds, but TPG only states it will hit 90Mbps on 100Mbps NBN plans, and MyRepublic currently says it will only hit 93Mbps. Compared to the June edition of the report, it looks as though most telcos have taken a hit and slowed down during busy hours, however that’s not the complete picture as telcos have been increasing their advertised speeds. It’s entirely possible that users are having a better experience with higher throughput, but telcos are failing to hit their stated claims. The starkest in this report was Superloop only hitting its advertised speed during busy hours 48% of the time, compared to 93% in June, but its advertised speed has increased to 100% of 50Mbps and 100Mbps plans when it was previously around the 90% mark. Similarly, previous speed king Optus, dropped from 100% down to 93% while its claims rose from 90% to 100%.

This would be a lot easier to decipher if the ACCC published raw Mbps speeds instead of playing games with percentages. Elsewhere in the report, Aussie Broadband has seen its error rate blow out, doubling its 0.18 daily outage rate to 0.36. This increase occurred as every other telco tested saw a dropping error rate. Aussie Broadband has not responded to questions on why it is bucking the trend. The report also stated the bleeding obvious when discussing the ACCC mandated overprovisioning of downsteam speeds because the consumer watchdog tests speeds at layer 7 while NBN is mandated to provide layer 2 connectivity. “Overprovisioning of many NBN services, which began in June 2020, remains in effect and has enabled an increase in average download speeds by around 10% to 15% compared with a February 2020 baseline,” the report said. This has not stopped the likes of Telstra telling users they have been given a speed boost rather than a wholesaler turning the metaphorical dial on its plans. Unfortunately for fixed wireless users, the report showed a more expected result during busy hours, when last time out it had a peak at 11pm. For users on the 50/10Mbps plans, speeds dropped to 21Mbps at 8pm, and upload speeds never went much higher than 6Mbps and dropped under 4Mbps at 8pm.”While the significant decrease typically occurs during the busy hours (between 7pm and 11pm), there was also a notable decrease from midday, with speeds dipping to 10Mbps below the day’s maximum speed and remaining at that level during the course of the afternoon,” the report said. The ACCC also noted some users on 1Gbps plans not getting high speeds thanks to not using ports capable of such speeds. “Our testing has revealed that some volunteers on very high speed plans are unable to receive speeds above 100Mbps to connected devices due to limitations on Ethernet ports on some home gateways. We encourage consumers on these higher speed plans to contact their retail service providers to check that they have equipment that can support their plan speeds,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said. “We expect retailers to take appropriate steps to assist affected customers on NBN250 plans and above, both when offering these plans and for existing customers who may require replacement home gateways, or the option to move to a suitable plan speed.” The August edition of the report covered measurements made during the May reporting period. 
Image: ACCC
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