AU

Published on: 29-07-2021 It may be frustrating when you are doing something online like watching movies or having a video conference and suddenly your internet stops working. There can be several reasons for this, maybe a faulty device or an unauthorized intruder in your network. Here are some of the reasons why you may find the internet not working. I’m going to discuss common internet issues and how to fix them. REASON HOW TO TROUBLESHOOT INTERNET OUTAGE Try visiting any other websites, if you can load other websites then it simply means that the website you are trying to access is down. Check if you are the only one with the issue. If the internet is down in your area, check your email if you have received any notice from your Internet Service Provider regarding an outage. Please contact them if you haven’t received any notice. You must not reset your router during the outage. The service will be back on after the outage have been restored. ROUTER OVERLOADING This simply means that the router is handling too many devices or processes at the moment. One of the first signs which you will observe is that the amount of time taken for downloading items is longer. This might also be the reason for your router to behave erratically or shut down randomly. If you have such issues, you can do these: ·       Get a new router: Consider upgrading to a new router with better performance if you think that the current device is not able to handle your workload. Occom provides a wide range of good performance routers to suit customers’ needs. ·       Reboot your router: Network hardware tends to crash sometimes. You can troubleshoot this by power cycling the router. This is done by switching off the networking device for 30 seconds and then turning it back on. These 30 seconds make sure that the device fully discharges and restarts again. This also gives the operating system time to refresh itself in case it’s frozen. ·       Consider using mesh routers: This is recommended if you have to connect to a large number of devices or in a larger area. Using such a system will reduce stress on one access point by distributing the workload to a second one with better coverage. Occom provides great mesh routers of the most popular brands. Network Termination Devices (NTDs), not connecting to the internet. There might be several reasons which lead to the unavailability of the internet and out of those relating to the Network Termination Devices (NTD). ·       Miscommunication with the router, which can be either because of loose connections or damaged ethernet cables between NTD and router. ·       Fibre cut which is caused by an accidental break in the fibre cable, typically due to new construction in your area. ·       No proper power supply to the device. Troubleshooting Network Termination Devices (NTDs): 1.      Power check: The power light from the NTD indicates if the power is off. Check the power cable. Make sure the power supply is plugged in and turned on. 2.      Connection Check:  Examine the ethernet cable between NTD and router, check for loose or frayed connections. A faulty Ethernet cable can result in connectivity issues. 3.      Fibre optic cable check:  If the Optical/PON light is red, check if there is damage to the fibre cable or loose connection. Report to your internet service provider to fix. 4.      Rebooting the NTD: This can be done by shutting down the device and turning it back on, if you are rebooting the NTD, it is important to reboot the router as well. UNAUTHORISED DEVICES ON YOUR NETWORK Your internet speed drops when an unauthorised user or device is connected to your network. The most simple and effective method is to change your Wi-Fi credentials and reconnect the devices which you trust. To see who’s using your Wi-Fi follow these steps: ·       Log in to your router through any internet browser. ·       Look for DHCP settings, go to ‘attached devices’ or a section which is named similarly. ·       Look through the devices which aren’t yours. ·       If there are some unauthorised devices, change your WiFi password. MALICIOUS PROGRAMS There might be chances of your internet connectivity affected by a malicious code that runs on your device. Do a system scan for spyware, viruses and other malware which can impact the internet speed and performance SLOW INTERNET SERVICE If you have noticed that your connection slows down during different times of the day or week. Please refer to this article for more details: https://occom.com.au/adaca-testing/why-does-my-internet-slow-down-at-night/ If you find that your internet service provider does not provide reliable service or responsive support, it is time to switch to the Australia top rated internet service provider, Occom.  Occom offers a wide range of NBN/OptiComm internet plans with speeds up to 1Gbps, to find out more, please visit: https://occom.com.au/adaca-testing/ OCCOM—Optical Communication Expert Occom is an Internet service provider dedicated to delivering faster fibre and mobile services and faster support. Occom has been praised by tens of thousands of satisfied residents and businesses, and our products have attained commendation from industry experts. As one of the fastest growing telcos endorsed by top global and Australian financial media, Occom has set the bar for exceeding Aussies’ expectations towards customer service. Occom’s young, passionate and professional team will keep on pushing the boundary for what is possible in the future. Tel：1300 200 999

Published on: 25-06-2021 There are several methods you can adopt in order to get these wireless services at your home and most of them depend on availability and geographical location. If you have the access to a wired internet service, you will be able to set up your own WiFi at home. This can be done by connecting a router to your modem which enables you to share your internet connection with all the wifi enabled  devices within a given range. In case you have a two storied home or a relatively larger area to cover, it is advised to have a wifi extender or a mesh router system to cover the whole premises. It is also important to know as the number of devices increase so does the demand for bandwidth. To have your devices running at its full potential you may need to upgrade your internet plan accordingly. Occom offers a wide range of best NBN/OptiComm internet plans with speeds up to 1Gbps, to find out more, please visit: https://occom.com.au/adaca-testing/ Wi-fi at home Have you ever considered how exactly emails or a streaming video gets into your device so seamlessly and in real time? Well that’s Wi-Fi in action. I’m going to tell what it is and how we can set up this system at home. Wi-Fi router uses radio frequency to send signals between devices. The two Wi-Fi frequency bands are 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Taken the case of home Wi-Fi systems, it is the radio signals which are sent from a wireless router to a nearby device, which are then translated to data that we see and use. It is a much easier way of connecting to the fibre internet via Wi-Fi rather than having to connect by cables as used by a generation before. Setting up Wi-fi at home Please follow these steps if you haven’t set up home WiFi system yet. Find the best location to set up a router The optimal location is the central location of the premises, free from any obstructions. It is also important not to place a router close to windows or a microwave. If you have large area to cover then it is recommended to use a mesh router system which can extend the range of connectivity to the whole premises. Buy a wireless router Perhaps this is the first step which you will have to consider while setting up a home Wifi system, you can use an existing router if you have got one. Occom is able to provide you with preconfigured router, which you can just plug in and use. Connect router to internet via Network Termination Device(NTD) Power off the NTD first. Once turned off plug an ethernet cable into the router WAN port and connect the other end of Ethernet cable to the Network Termination Device’s LAN port. Connect both the devices to power and wait for them to boot up. Configure your Wifi network Now that you have the connection ready, its time to configure the network. This process may be different according to the device you are using. This can be done by connecting your device to the router’s LAN port with the Ethernet cable. Login to the managemnet web page of the router and this can be done by typing the IP address of the router (default gateway) on a web browser. Once login the configuration page: Choose “Advanced settings” option. Go to network and choose WAN on the left side of the page. Now change the WAN connection type to PPPoE. Enter the PPPoE username and password as provided by your internet service provider. Save the details. Now the router will connect to the internet. Check the status and if it shows any IP address, the connection is established.Under the option wireless settings you will see a field labled SSID, enter the name for your network here. This is what devices see when scanning for WiFi. Choose a security method from the list of available options, it is recommended to choose WAP2 as encryption method, the most recent and effective encryption type. It protects your network from hackers and intruders. Once the encryption method is selected enter the passphrase and save the changes. OCCOM—Optical Communication Expert Occom is an Internet service provider dedicated to delivering faster fibre and mobile services and faster support. Occom has been praised by tens of thousands of satisfied residents and businesses, and our products have attained commendation from industry experts. As one of the fastest growing telcos endorsed by top global and Australian financial media, Occom has set the bar for exceeding Aussies’ expectations towards customer service. Occom’s young, passionate and professional team will keep on pushing the boundary for what is possible in the future. Tel：1300 200 999

Published on: 19-05-2021 What is Hybrid Fibre Coaxial-HFC HFC called ‘Hybrid Fibre Coaxial’, is a network technology of NBN which is used in many areas. This connection works in the premises where an existing cable network (which was to provide cable broadband internet service and pay-TV) will be used to get the final connection to complete unlimited nbn internet plans access. A coaxial cable is then used to connect to an NBN device which is installed inside the customer’s premises. NBN HFC: The fiber cable and cable line/ coaxial cable is being connected to the NBN connection box outside the house with connects to the TV line inside the home. To get the service started at home, that TV line must be connected to the box inside the home which is called HFC Network Terminal. You will need to connect a router to NBN HFC NTD to access the internet service. How fast is HFC NBN? HFC NBN is provide nbn data plans with internet speed up to 1000Mbps downloads and 50Mbps upload, it depends on the number of factors which includes provider, location, equipment’s of network and quality if existing cable. Occom offers a range of nbn™ speeds in Australia. Check out our full range of nbn™ plans to see what suits your needs NBN HFC Internet Structure: From: https://www.nbnco.com.au/learn/network-technology/hybrid-fibre-coaxial-explained-hfc-3 OCCOM—Optical Communication Expert Occom is an Internet service provider dedicated to delivering faster fibre and mobile services and faster support. Occom has been praised by tens of thousands of satisfied residents and businesses, and our products have attained commendation from industry experts. As one of the fastest growing telcos endorsed by top global and Australian financial media, Occom has set the bar for exceeding Aussies’ expectations towards customer service. Occom’s young, passionate and professional team will keep on pushing the boundary for what is possible in the future. Tel：1300 200 999

Published on: 21-06-2021 We now live in an era where internet connection is essential in most of our daily activities. It may become really frustrating when your internet keeps on dropping out or when your Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting. The advancements in fibre internet technology are not exempted from flaws. Keeping this in mind I would like to talk about what are the reasons such unexpected errors may occur and how to fix these issues. Reasons why the internet may keep dropping out? Network overloading This simply is a result of multiple devices using your router network simultaneously, which may lead to congestion in the bandwidth as well as buffering issues. You might face this problem while watching videos online or browsing websites. What to do? In order to avoid these issues and attain a buffer-free browsing experience, it is always recommended to upgrade your internet plan to a bigger bandwidth suiting your requirements. This will in turn solve issues with congestion. Unauthorized users or devices in your network. Your internet speed drops when an unauthorized user or device is connected to your network. This can be detected by getting into your routers admin page, this can be done by the following steps: Open any internet browser from a device that is connected to the network. Inside the browser type http://www.routerlogin.net, which opens a login screen. Enter the username and password for the browser, this opens a basic home screen. Now select attached devices. This will display the above information such as device name, IP address, MAC address. You will be able to view a list of devices that are currently connecting to your modem router. Once an intruder is found, take necessary actions. What to do? The most simple and effective method is to change your wi-fi credentials and reconnect the devices which you trust. On a more technical aspect, it can be done by creating reservations for all known devices and cover the DHCP scope to an exclusion range so that only the MAC addresses with the reservations can get access with dedicated IPs. Outdated router firmware Using an outdated version of router firmware may result in constant turning off or poor functioning of your WiFi network. It is also important to know that an outdated router puts you at risk of attacks and vulnerabilities. What to do? The router firmware carries out all the integral functionalities of your router, a regular or periodic update to your router firmware can improve its connectivity at the same time keeping it secure. In order to update firmware, it is always recommended to download the latest firmware from the vendor website. Reboot the router once the firmware is updated. It is always advised not to download the update from any third-party providers. Interference from other signals As we know that the range of signals grows with the advancements in technologies, this may lead to crossing paths with other signals. This has been recognized as one of the major reasons we face network disturbances. Some of the most common sources of signal interference are: Household appliances such as fluorescent lights, microwaves, power cables, etc… Gadgets such as videogame controllers, analog audio systems, motion detectors, wireless security cameras. Building materials: Dense building materials such as concrete is not good for a signal to pass through and may cause interference. Wireless devices. What to do? Such interference can be reduced by bringing the wireless devices closer to the router and by keeping the wireless devices away from a common interference source. Avoid close proximity usage of multiple wireless devices. A more technical approach that is adopted now is the usage of mesh routers. This system consists of the main router which is connected to the modem and a series of nodes (satellite modules) which is placed around the premise to get good coverage. Broken cables The usage of old and unreliable cables might be one of the other reasons why you face network issues. You will have to use different cables according to the need. There are four types of cables that are commonly used in the home network which are Optical cable, Ethernet cable, Phone cable, and Coaxial cable. The damage to any of these cables can make the whole network suffer. Problems relating to these cables may lead to unreliable WiFi connectivity of frequent dropouts. What to do? Ensure that all the cables are working properly in a regular interval and make sure that it is plugged into the right port. Installation of incompatible software packets This can be the least likely issue which can disrupt the internet connection. In this case, the Wi-Fi might be failing because it contains incompatible software installed including services patches and other modifications which may alter the networking capabilities of the OS. Would you like to increase your home Wi-fi speed? Follow these steps: Upgrade your router: Using an old and outdated router might be one of the reasons why you may face issues with your internet speed. It may not be a cheap solution but updating your router to the latest technology can bring out the best performance within the network. Upgrading your NBN/OptiComm internet plan: Network overloading can be reduced by upgrading the internet plan according to the number of devices in the network. An alternate option for network overloading would be reducing the number of devices in the network. Use a mesh router system: Any physical obstruction tend to weaken the Wi-fi signal. Using a mesh router system will enhance the quality of the network through a series of nodes that connect to the main network router covering the whole house. Thus reducing the weakening of signal through a physical medium. OCCOM—Optical Communication Expert Occom is an Internet service provider dedicated to delivering faster fibre and mobile services and faster support. Occom has been praised by tens of thousands of satisfied residents and businesses, and our products have attained commendation from industry experts. As one of the fastest growing telcos endorsed by top … Read more

Published on: 26-04-2021 What is IPv6? IPv6 is the latest version of the Internet Protocol, which identifies devices across the internet so they can be located. Every device that uses the internet is identified through its own IP address in order for internet communication to work. In that respect, it’s just like the street addresses and zip codes you need to know in order to mail a letter. The previous version, IPv4, uses a 32-bit addressing scheme to support 4.3 billion devices, which was thought to be enough. However, the growth of the internet, personal computers, smartphones and now Internet of Things devices proves that the world needed more addresses. The IPv6 protocol can handle packets more efficiently, improve performance and increase security. It enables internet service providers to reduce the size of their routing tables by making them more hierarchical. Why IPv6? At this current point in time most of the IPv4 addresses available have been used up and getting more is very costly and requires a lot of work to do. The internet is starting to make big moves to support IPv6. IPv6 has 3.4×10^38 possible addresses to use. It is estimated there is not enough room on earth for the number of devices to use all the addresses available. Will IPv4 be “shut off”? Most of the world “ran out” of new IPv4 addresses between 2011 and 2018 – but we will not completely be out of them as IPv4 addresses get sold and re-used, and any leftover addresses will be used for IPv6 transitions. There is no official switch-off date, so people should not be worried that their internet access will suddenly go away one day. As more networks transition, more content sites support IPv6 and more end users upgrade their equipment for IPv6 capabilities, the world will slowly move away from IPv4. OCCOM—Optical Communication Expert Occom is an Internet service provider dedicated to delivering faster fibre and mobile services and faster support. Occom has been praised by tens of thousands of satisfied residents and businesses, and our products have attained commendation from industry experts. As one of the fastest growing telcos endorsed by top global and Australian financial media, Occom has set the bar for exceeding Aussies’ expectations towards customer service. Occom’s young, passionate and professional team will keep on pushing the boundary for what is possible in the future. Tel：1300 200 999

Published on: 31-03-2021 NBNCo is expected to resume taking orders for new hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) services from late May at the earliest after securing a fresh supply of network termination devices. The network builder paused HFC sales earlier this month due to the global shortage of chips, warning that it could be several months until they could resume. Chips are used in the network termination devices (NTD), or connection boxes, that are installed at customer’s premises. But NBNCo has now advised it has reached an agreement with its NTD supplier that will allow new HFC orders to recommence “from the end of May or early June”. It said, however, that this could change depending on when it received stock, which it wants to build up ahead of taking new orders. The current forecast has been developed in conjunction with the modem supplier and delivery partners and takes into account NBNCo and RSP-supplied order volumes. “Our recommencement plan is contingent on deliveries of stock, the first of which is due at the end of March and then at regular intervals throughout April and thereafter,” NBN Co said. “Our intention to build up our inventory of HFC modems in advance of the recommencement plan.” iTnews understand that as many as 50,00 new orders will be delayed as a result of the four-month pause. In the meantime, NBNCo said it had made “special provision for customer waiting for a new HFC connection to remain connected to their existing phone or internet service”. It is also continuing to offer new HFC connections using its remaining HFC NTD supply in some situations such “where the disconnection date has passed and where no legacy service is available”. NBN Co is also maintaining “sufficient stocks of HFC modems to continue to connect medically vulnerable customers”, as well as emergency services organisations where no alternative legacy service exists. Customers who have already connected to the NBN and new customers connecting to the NBN on other technologies were unaffected by the chip shortages. From: https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nbn-co-to-resume-new-hfc-orders-from-may-561546 OCCOM—Optical Communication Expert Occom is an Internet service provider dedicated to delivering faster fibre and mobile services and faster support. Occom has been praised by tens of thousands of satisfied residents and businesses, and our products have attained commendation from industry experts. As one of the fastest growing telcos endorsed by top global and Australian financial media, Occom has set the bar for exceeding Aussies’ expectations towards customer service. Occom’s young, passionate and professional team will keep on pushing the boundary for what is possible in the future. Tel：1300 200 999

Published on: 19-02-2021 Maximise the speed of the internet in your home and make the most of your WiFi connection with these tips. Use a high-quality modem/router Powerful modems/routers can make a real difference to internet speeds. Here are some things to keep in mind when you are looking to upgrade your modem/router: Fixed devices such as TVs, desktop PCs and gaming consoles receive the best and most stable speeds when they are plugged into your WiFi modem/router using an Ethernet cable. Older ADSL modems/routers are generally incompatible with fibre internet. For Fibre to the Curb (FTTC), Fibre to the Node (FTTN) and Fibre to the Building (FTTB) connections, only a VDSL2 compatible modem/router will work. For Fibre to the Premises (FTTP), Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC), Fixed Wireless or Sky MusterTM Satellite connections, a modem/router compatible with Wide Area Network (WAN) is necessary. (look for a WAN port at the back of the modem/router) Models of modems/routers from before 2009 may not have the capacity to deliver high speeds. Nowadays a high-quality modem/router will be dual band, using 802.11ac (WiFi 5) or 802.11ax (WiFi 6) technology. As a general rule, better modems/routers have more antennas. However, in some cases antennas of modems/routers may be internal. If you live in a large home, consider investing in a mesh system. Mesh routers come in small packs and give great coverage without compromising WiFi signal strength. Wifi extenders are also a more budget friendly but less effective option for those looking to increase signal range. Connect to the appropriate WiFi band Most of the time, there are 2 WiFi frequency bands on a modem/router. They are the 2.4GHz band and the 5GHz band, and you will see them as 2 different names in your WiFi list. On your WiFi list, the name of the 5GHz band will have ‘5G’ at the end, while the 2.4GHz band will not. The 5GHz band receives less interference from other signals and includes many WiFi channels. This means that it will deliver higher WiFi speeds and it is recommended that you connect to this band when available. However, this band has a harder time penetrating through walls and has a shorter range, so you will not be able to connect to it anywhere in your home. The 2.4GHz band has a wider coverage but is much more susceptible to interference. Part of the reason for this interference is that many signal transmitting devices (e.g. microwave and other modems/routers around your home) will also operate on the 2.4GHz frequency band. As a result of interference, speeds on this band will be slower than on the 5ghz band. It is recommended that you connect to this band when the 5GHz band is not in range. You can also select less popular Wi-Fi channels on your modem/router to decrease the possibility of interference. Choose a location away from interference The placement of a modem/router can significantly affect the WiFi speed that it delivers. Many materials and devices can interfere with your modem/router’s signal. Ideally a router should be placed in a central location in your home and relatively high up. Don’t obstruct your modem/router with: TVs, cordless phones, microwaves, fridges, wireless cameras and other large household appliances Materials such as metal, concrete walls, cement and water ‘complex’ walls with water pipes, air conditioning ducts or insulation inside In the case of devices, they may interfere with your modem/router’s signal when active. In the case of specific materials, WiFi signals have a hard time penetrating through some of them. Try cable jumpering Cable jumpering can be a useful way to extend your WiFi signal and signal strength by connecting your modem/router to a wall socket elsewhere in your home. This is possible when you have a patch panel with an internal cable capable of supplying internet to another part of your home. If you are looking try this, you can contact your internet service provider to help walk you through the process. Check how many devices are connected at a time Having too many devices connected and using the internet at any one time will slow down your WiFi speed. Depending on how intensive your internet usage is, you may need to upgrade to a higher speed internet plan or change the way your household uses internet to reduce congestion. In some cases the modem/router may not be able to handle the amount of connected devices, leading to slower speeds as well. You can also contact your internet service provider for advice on internet congestion and modems/routers. Use a direct Ethernet connection for fixed devices In the case of 4k or 8k streaming or competitive gaming, a fast and stable internet speed is paramount. The best way to achieve this is through a direct connection to your television or other device using an Ethernet cable – this method guarantees no signal interference or range issues. Assess your cabling Sometimes the cause for slow speeds may be with the cabling in your home’s walls. You may arrange for an assessment of the cabling in your home with a registered cabler. Upgrade your old devices Devices made before 2009 may have significant problems with making use of faster speeds. If possible, use devices are 802.11n (WiFi 4), 802.11ac (WiFi 5) or 802.11ax (WiFi 6) compatible. Make sure your devices are compatible In some instances, your devices may not be compatible with fibre internet. Some of these devices may be: Medical alarms, autodiallers (automatic dialling devices) or emergency call buttons. If you have a medical alarm connected to your modem/router or to a wall socket, make sure to check with your alarm provider before moving your equipment. Monitored fire alarms or fire bells Security monitoring systems or speakers Fax machines and old teletypewriter devices Emergency lift phones Existing landline phone services may be impacted Most phone and internet services using the existing landline networks (e.g. copper wire and HFC cable TV) are/will be replaced by services operating on fibre technology. There are cases where … Read more

Published on: 22-03-2021 People may be confused when doing research on nbn™ – plentiful technical terms, massive relevant information, etc. However, nbn™ is a lot simpler than people usually think. Here are some basic information for the three most common nbn™ connection types – FTTP, FTTN and FTTC. Unfortunately, people are not able to choose which type of nbn™ connection at a certain premise – but it is better to understand what you’ve got from nbn™ infrastructure. Definitions of FTTP, FTTN and FTTC FTTP – Fibre to the premises utilises fibre optic cable to connect your premises directly to nbn™ network. In order for this connection to work, a utility box will be required to be installed outside of your premises in addition to a connection box which is installed inside the premises. FTTP is the best nbn™ connection type of technology which is more consistent in its delivery of ultrafast internet speed. You will need to connect a router into Network Termination Device (NTD) to access Internet service. FTTN – Fibre to the Node utilises fibre optic cable to the nearest node to your premises. The signal from the optic fibre cable then travels down through existing copper lines to the primary telephone wall socket. A VDSL 2 compatible modem router is required for this type of connection to work. FTTC – Fibre to the Curb is the newest technology available in which it is capable of bringing optic fibre cables almost all the way to your premises. The connection then travels through existing copper cables into the home for quick and stable internet. A nbn™ connection device, short for NCD, is then set up within the premises and then connected to the primary telephone wall socket. You will need to connect a router into nbn™ NCD to access Internet service. All these three connection types utilise fibre optic cable, and the main difference between them is the percentage of fibre optic cable used. FTTP connections consist of 100% fibre, while FTTN and FTTC connections are the mix of fibre optic cable and copper wires. The connection technologies are also different – the basic of FTTN and FTTC is still the Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology (although much more advanced), but it is already abandoned in FTTP connections. Pros and Cons 2.1 Speed Speed must be the most concerned factor for Internet users. FTTP is considered as the premium service level and has the fastest speed among all three connection types. The typical speed range offered by a FTTP connection is up to100Mbps for downloads and 40Mbps for uploads. For some newly developed premises and apartment buildings, the speed can achieve 1Gbps for downloads and 400Mbps for uploads. By contrast, the theoretical maximum speed of FTTN and FTTC connections is not as fast as FTTP because the copper phone line is involved as parts of connections. A typical nbn™ plan connected by FTTN can offer up to 100Mbps for downloads. However, the FTTN connections are more prone to be interfered, and as a result FTTN connections have the lowest percentage of maximum plan speed in average. According to ACCC, FTTN connections can only reach 89.6% of the upper speed limit in peak hours compared to the 100.4% for FTTP and 97.8% for FTTC. Moreover, the 100Mbps nbn™ plan cannot be offered to some addresses if the length of copper to the closest nbn™ node is too long. Although FTTC is also a hybrid copper/fibre connection type, it is much more stable and faster than FTTN. The current theoretical speed of FTTC connections is 200Mbps for downloads and 100Mbps for uploads (although most ISPs only offer FTTC plans up to 100Mbps). The distance of copper has resulted in the difference – the average length of copper phone cabling of FTTN is 400 meters as reported, while FTTC connections might be only as short as tens of meters. nbn™ have announced to upgrade the existing FTTC connections to 1Gbps, and the 8Gbps downloading speed over twisted pairs for FTTC has also been successfully achieved in lab trials. 2.2 Cost For all connection types, the costs of nbn™ plans are almost identical to customers under the same speed tier. The only difference is that premises connected via FTTP may have higher tier/faster plans available to choose, which will cost more. The cost of infrastructure for FTTP, FTTN and FTTC significantly varies, but all of these costs will be covered by nbn™ and customers will not need to pay anything. The only exception is the new development charge (usually $300) which might be applicable in some new dwellings. In general FTTP has the highest cost for infrastructure, followed by FTTC and FTTN has the lowest cost. 2.3 Deployment and Installation Compared to FTTP and FTTC, FTTN is the easiest connection type to deploy as it utilises the existing copper phone lines. According to nbn™ 2021 corporate plan, by September 2020 36% of homes are connected by FTTN, 17% for FTTP and 13% for FTTC. nbn™ Co have also announced to invest $3.5 billion to upgrade FTTN connections to FTTC and FTTP. For customers who are willing to upgrade their connection type to FTTP, nbn™ have offered the Technology Choice Program with a fee. Customers may get a free quote from the website. Unfortunately, at the moment only the FTTP upgrade is available, customers are not able to upgrade to other type of connections (e.g. FTTN to FTTC). 2.4 Equipment For FTTP connected premises, nbn™ have already pre-installed a nbn™ utility box and a nbn™ connection box outside and inside the premise for free. Customers only need to prepare a router connecting with the connection box in order to connect with nbn™. Premises without the nbn™ equipments are not FTTP ready. It is optional for customers to install a battery supply unit with additional fee, which is able to provide up to five hours Internet service during a power outage. Source: nbn™ All FTTC connections will need a nbn™ connection box (provided by … Read more

Published on: 21-01-2021 All about Credit Report What is a Credit Report and What Does it Include? A credit report is a summary of how you have handled credit accounts, including the types of accounts and your payment history, as well as certain other information that’s reported to credit bureaus by your lenders and creditors. Potential creditors and lenders use credit reports as part of their decision-making process to decide whether to extend you credit — and at what terms. Others, such as potential employers or landlords, may also access your credit reports to help them decide whether to offer you a job or a lease. Your credit reports may also be reviewed for insurance purposes or if you’re applying for services such as phone, utilities or a mobile phone contract. For these reasons, it’s important to check your credit reports regularly to ensure the information in them is accurate and complete. The three credit bureaus that provide credit reports nationwide are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Your credit reports from each may not be identical, as some lenders and creditors may not report to all three. Some may report to only two, one or none at all. Your credit report contains the following types of information: Identifying information This section of your credit report includes personal information, such as your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. The identifying information contained in your credit report is not used to calculate credit scores. Credit account information This information includes the types of accounts (for example, a credit card, mortgage, student loan, or vehicle loan), the date those accounts were opened, your credit limit or loan amount, account balances, and your payment history. Inquiry information There are two types of inquiries: “soft” and “hard.” “Soft” inquiries may result from your checking your own credit reports, companies extending you pre-approved offers of credit or insurance, or your current lenders and creditors conducting periodic reviews of your accounts (known as “account reviews.”) Soft inquiries do not impact credit scores. Regularly checking your credit reports can help you monitor your credit accounts and enable you to recognize inaccurate or incomplete information, or suspicious activity that may signal potential identity theft. “Hard” inquiries occur when companies or individuals, such as a credit card company or loan servicer, review your credit report because you have applied for credit or a service – for example, a new loan, a credit card, or a mobile phone contract. Hard inquiries remain on your credit report for up to two years and may negatively impact credit scores, although the impact may lessen with time. Bankruptcies Your credit report contains information about bankruptcy public records and related details such as the filing date and chapter (type of bankruptcy). Collections accounts This includes past-due accounts that have been turned over to a collection agency. These can include your credit accounts as well as accounts with doctors, hospitals, banks, retail stores, cable companies or mobile phone providers. How can I improve my credit score? There are some simple steps to help you keep your credit report healthy and improve your credit score: Pay your loans and bills on time Consider setting up direct debits and schedule loan repayments for your pay day. Keep track of your credit commitments Do your homework before applying for credit and keep track of your credit commitments. Making a number of applications within a short space of time will be recorded on your file and is not always looked upon positively by lenders, as it may be an indicator that you’re in credit stress. If you move house or update your contact details, notify lenders Advise lenders, phone and utility providers of your new email or physical address so they can re-direct bills to your new address. If you don’t pay these bills, a credit infringement or overdue debt could be listed on your credit report. If you are having trouble meeting repayments Talk to your credit provider who may assist. Keep track of your credit record Proactively manage your personal credit report by regularly checking your credit report. You can obtain a free credit report each year. What do the different score bands mean? The different Equifax Score bands help you to understand your level of risk, based on your Equifax Score, compared to the Australian credit-active population held by Equifax. The Equifax Score bands are based on historical analysis that determines how likely an adverse event, such as a default, court judgement, personal insolvency or similar, is to be recorded on a credit report in the next 12 months. This a key determining factor in whether you are likely to be able to repay future credit. Level Score Rank Detail Excellent 833-1200 20% An adverse event is highly unlikely to be recorded on a credit file in the next 12 months. In other words, the odds of no adverse events occurring on your credit file in the next 12 months are more than 5 times better than the average population odds Very Good 726-832 20%-40% It is unlikely an adverse event is to be recorded on a credit file in the next 12 months. In other words, the odds of no adverse events occurring on your credit file in the next 12 months are more than 2 times better than the average population odds Good 622-725 40%-60% Scores in this category indicate that an adverse event is less likely to be recorded on a credit file in the next 12 months. The odds of no adverse events occurring on your credit file in the next 12 months are better than the average population odds Average 510-621 60%-80% An adverse event is as likely to be recorded on a credit file in the next 12 months Below average 0-509 80%-100% An adverse event is more likely to be recorded on a credit file in the next 12 months   From: https://www.equifax.com/personal/education/credit/report/understanding-credit-report-history/ OCCOM—Optical Communication Expert Occom is an Internet service provider dedicated to delivering faster fibre … Read more