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Whatever ailed Vodafone broadband … seems to be fixed

After reporting a series of poor results, broadband monitoring company TrueNet notes a welcome return to form for Vodafone broadband performance.

The latest Urban Broadband Report notes:

“Vodafone Cable connections show a 31 percent increase in NZ webpage average speed this month compared to last month. Vodafone Fibre shows a 29 percent increase month on month.”

In recent TrueNet reports Vodafone turned in poor numbers on both its UFB fibre broadband services and its own FibreX-branded HFC network. The performance drop-off was especially noticeable at peak times.

TrueNet Fibre Cable NZ April May 2017

Source: TrueNet

The similarity of the drop-off and the fast bounce back on both networks suggests something broke that Vodafone has since fixed. It is possible that the TrueNet performance monitoring helped Vodafone identify the problem.

Meanwhile, TrueNet has added Vodafone’s fixed wireless service to the Urban Broadband Report. This shows Vodafone fixed wireless customers get twice the speed seen by Spark and Skinny customers. Skinny and Spark manage more consistent speeds throughout the day.

TrueNet Fixed Wireless

Source: TrueNet

This story was first published for The Download Newsround, a weekly wrap of New Zealand telecommunications news that I prepare for Chorus. You can subscribe here. 

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Mandatory data breach reporting in Australia 

Mandatory data breach reporting has been on the agenda in New Zealand for some time. While they may have some ground to make up on the rugby field, it is one area where our trans-Tasman cousins have stolen a march on New Zealand.

Source: Mandatory data breach reporting in Australia | ITP Techblog

New Zealand is falling behind best practice when it comes to data breach reporting. Where other countries have laws, we have guidelines. There are no formal penalties for failing to report a breach although failure to report may be held against an organisation if there are legal consequences.

Privacy is important and is being eroded all the time. Let’s put a stop to that. It’s time to step up efforts to put a mandatory system in place with fines for non-compliance.