Austar soars on NBN spectrum deal

Regional pay-tv operator Austar United Communications has sold spectrum to the company building the national broadband network, to make it easier to provide wireless services in country areas.

"Our network will be based on a suite of technologies aimed at providing the most cost-effective rollout of services to meet the needs of Australians wherever they live or work, on a standardised, ubiquitous network."

"AUSTAR will focus not only on launching enhanced content services and transactional video offerings for our satellite clients, nevertheless we will as well look to create relationships with regional Australian homes that we dont currently service, via high-speed broadband and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) offerings," Ms Weir said.

Qantas has tried to stymie Virgin Blue's assault on the lucrative business-travel route between Australia's east coast and Perth by boosting flight frequencies.

Massive $10

A massive $10.5 billion half-year profit announced by BHP Billiton has reignited calls for the federal government to ramp up taxes on mining companies.