We’ve certainly had fun filled quarter this time! The Member events we held were really enjoyable, and it was great to get Members, Board and the IAA Team together in a relaxed setting. Not only that, our online session on network upgrades was also really worthwhile: who doesn’t enjoy a good war story? Check out the recording if you missed it. We’ve got more events coming up, so don’t forget to register, and if you’re heading to AusNOG, make sure you pre-order your newest IAA hoodie via the IAA Member Portal!
Speaking of upgrades, my sympathy goes out to all our Members that had to deal with the CrowdStrike fiasco. Unravelling that disaster shows a real breach of trust, too: the update wasn’t urgent, it clearly wasn’t properly tested before it being pushed out globally, and it used a path reserved for critical exploits in bypassing staging servers. Annoying also for us in the internet trade was that the internet was often blamed in media reporting. Ironically, it was perhaps because the internet worked so well that the update went out so quickly. Or perhaps it is the internet’s fault because hackers exist and that’s why CrowdStrike’s tools need to exist? Hmm, no, neither of those make this an internet problem. I’m not losing any sleep however in waiting for a correction to the many stories that went out.
One event I did go to recently was the ACOMMS awards night. Apart from it being a good feed, with excellent company, our own Board Chair – Matthew Enger took out the top award of Communications Ambassador. It was lovely to see him be recognised, and I am totally not surprised that as a schoolkid he upgraded the high school network for better internet! Who doesn’t need a kid like that in your class?
We’ve also added the option of LR1 optics to our 100Gbps ports. For those of you thinking about it, and connected to NSW-IX, give us a yell, and we’ll help you migrate. We’ve even got a special on where we can supply the optics for you.
In advocacy news, I note that Members may be affected by a couple of compliance obligations over the coming months, namely CommCom TCP Code attestation (due 2 September 2024), and Fair Work’s new ‘Right to disconnect’ legislation, which comes into effect for non-small business employers on 26 August 2024. To help our Members comply with the ‘Right to disconnect’ law, Arnotts Technology Lawyers have prepared a policy template, which you can access via the Legal Templates section of the IAA Member Portal.
Amongst the many presentations I give is one on ‘How the Internet Works’ for telecoms engineering students. This year I polled my team and asked what were their key things to teach about BGP? Their answers:
- BGP is a route by rumour protocol.
- All the traffic engineering in the world you configure won’t guarantee the path you want for your traffic.
- All vendors do things differently, so know your tools and know them thoroughly!
Feel free to let me know what your BGP hot buttons are, and I’ll put them in next year’s lecture. My team, however, are always keen to help out with member BGP issues, so do contact them if you are experiencing difficulties.
Happy peering!
Narelle
IAA CEO
This year, IAA embarked on a new process to produce a fresher, more informed and better focused Strategic Plan. Over the last quarter of 2023, we compiled ideas and insights from Board directors and members of staff, and using elements of Martin and Lafley’s Play to Win strategic framework, we gathered inputs and insights to inform and create a refreshed mission and well-focused three-year strategy.
We’re excited to share an overview of our newly approved strategy with our Members. You can review our mission, objectives, strategic focus areas and goals in this document on the IAA Website.
Please save the date for IAA’s Annual General Meeting 2024.
Date: Wednesday, 30 October 2024
Time:
Perth 10:30am AWST
Darwin 12:00pm ACST
Brisbane 12:30pm AEST
Adelaide 1:00pm ACDT
Sydney | Melbourne | Canberra | Hobart 1:30pm AEDT
Location: Via Zoom
We will share the official notifications, nominations, reports and registrations soon.
We hope you can join us!
We’re delighted to provide an update on this year’s IAA Convergent Event Series. Check out what’s been happening, and be sure to make a note of our upcoming events in your diary!
Online events
In July, we held our second online discussion, Upgrade Time!, featuring experienced network engineering specialists, Matthew Enger (Leaptel) and Nick Pratley (IAA). Together they explored the challenges of integrating a next generation kit with your existing installed base.
Two years ago, Matt presented a session on starting an ISP on a shoestring. In this session, he shared insight into the challenges he’s had in remaking that network as his ISP has grown, particularly where he has found the amazing loads his cheap and cheerful equipment has managed to carry. Nick added to the discussion, drawing upon his years of experience at the coal face of IXPs, comparing the ideal with the invariable reality as he talked through the levels of testing and evaluation IAA went through in its latest switch upgrades.
Once again, our CEO, Narelle Clark, expertly moderated the session, and we thank her and our speakers for an enlightening discussion.
Those who would love a second chance to see this online presentation, can now check it out on our IAA YouTube Channel!
In-person
We also hosted IAA Convergent In-person socials. First off was Perth where we took in the serene ambience of Terrarium in the city. As always, the crowd was mighty as Perth folks turned up for an evening of comparing notes and just enjoying each other’s company! Likewise in Brisbane, an excellent crowd of Members summoned up their Dutch Courage for a fabulous evening of gin tasting, canapés and great company. It’s always a pleasure to host our Members and guests at these in-person events, share news and hear all about what you’ve been up to.
We look forward to seeing you at the next one!
We’re pleased to share some photos from these fun-filled events:
IAA Convergent Perth at Terrarium
IAA Convergent Brisbane at Dutch Courage
Coming up
There are still more IAA Convergent events to come. We hope you can make them.
IAA Convergent Adelaide
IAA Members and their guests are invited to take a pre-completion tour of our forthcoming newest PoP, NEXTDC’s A1. It’s always fun to have a good look at a data centre under construction, and this one shouldn’t disappoint. Then, it’s over to The Elephant for an evening of drinks, canapés, and camaraderie at this popular British-style pub.
Date: Wednesday, 14 August 2024
Tour: A1 Adelaide | 211 Pirie St | Adelaide
Time: From 5:15pm – Steel cap boots must be worn. Once registered we will contact you via email for your shoe size, should you need us to provide boots for the tour.
Social: The Elephant British Pub | The West Room | 1 Cinema Pl | Adelaide
Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm ACST
IAA Convergent Canberra – Special 10th Anniversary Celebration!
IAA Members and your guests are invited to an evening of cocktails and canapés as we mark a decade of connectivity with ACT-IX! Enjoy delicious drinks, tasty bites, and perhaps even a chance to learn some mixology magic.
Date: Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm AEST
Venue: Blue Eyes | Level 1 | Garema Pl | Canberra
IAA Members can register themselves and their guests via the IAA Member Portal.
By RSVPing, you are agreeing to comply with IAA’s Code of Conduct – Events.
Our End of Year Events are always a highlight of the team’s calendar, and this year will be no exception. We look forward to hosting one in a city near you soon and hope you can make it.
Hobart – Wednesday, 6 November, Venue TBC
Sydney – Wednesday, 13 November, Flight Club Sydney
Melbourne – Wednesday, 20 November, Oche Melbourne
Adelaide – Tuesday, 26 November, Archie Brothers Rundle Place
Perth – Thursday, 28 November, B. Lucky & Sons, Forrest Chase
Brisbane – Wednesday, 4 December, B. Lucky & Sons, Fortitude Valley
Look out for more details and calls for registration on the IAA Members Portal Events page soon!
This September we’ll be heading to Sydney to host our fourth annual IAASysters Workshop. Once again, the program will be held one day before AusNOG at the same venue, giving our latest squad of IAASysters the opportunity to attend the conference, take advantage of industry networking, learn the latest industry trends and receive in-depth technical training.
Speakers revealed!
We’re delighted to have assembled last year’s dream team of speakers once again: Cheryl Alderman, Jill McKay and Sally Foley Lewis. They will provide expert career advice and focus on building key skills that support career advancement.
Shout out to our sponsors!
We are thrilled to announce that the ranks of our sponsors have swelled since May’s Newsletter and we would like to take this opportunity to showcase our amazing lineup of industry sponsors. We greatly appreciate their support for our program. Thanks to you all!
We look forward to seeing you in Sydney !
If you’re heading to AusNOG this year, join us for some pre-conference fun with Beer, Gear & Peer (BGP). We’re excited to sponsor this new pre-AusNOG event. Come enjoy a great selection of nibbles and beverages while you catch up with industry experts and grab exclusive swag.
Date: Wednesday, 4th September 2024
Time: 3:00pm – 5:00pm AEST
Venue: The Fullerton Hotel | The Barnet Room | 1 Martin Pl | Sydney
FREE entry for all AusNOG ticketholders.
Members attending AusNOG are invited to reserve their IAA-LAN hoodie.Pre-order your preferred unisex size hoodie via the IAA Member Portal now. But hurry, limited edition, so first come, first served!
IAA would like to congratulate our Board Chair, Matthew Enger, who was recognised at the 2024 ACOMM Awards, winning the Communications Ambassador Award. This coveted award recognises outstanding individuals who show strong leadership and make a significant and visible contribution to the Australian communications industry.
The annual Australian Communications Industry Awards – the ACOMMS – recognise excellence in the wider communications industry. Hosted by Communications Alliance, the role of Communications Ambassador is considered the industry’s most prestigious accolade.
As Chair of our Board and Member of the NZIX Committee, we see how hard Matt works for our community and are thrilled that he has been recognised through this award.
The IAA Team attended the Awards Dinner in Sydney where the evening’s keynote address was delivered by the Federal Minister for Communications, The Hon. Michelle Rowland MP. It was a memorable evening, and we could not be more proud of Matt! Well done to all the winners!
The Australian Internet Governance Forum (auIGF) is heading to Melbourne from 28-29 October 2024. You may know this event better as NetThing. IAA is excited to be in attendance again this year.
The auIGF is a premier event that brings together a diverse and multidisciplinary community of stakeholders to discuss governance and public policy issues related to the internet in Australia. As part of the global United Nations Internet Governance Forum, the auIGF embraces the multi-stakeholder model, fostering an open and inclusive platform that amplifies diverse voices, strengthens cooperation and partnerships between different groups, and promotes community collaboration.
The overarching theme of this year’s event is Connecting local to global – Connecting Australian community and policy debates to the region and the world.
The event is free, with the option to attend in-person or online.
Register now through Eventbrite:
In May, our CEO, Narelle Clark, gave a presentation at the Data Centre Real Estate Summit in Sydney. Whilst data centres were once considered an alternative asset class, they are becoming more sought after by investors.
The Data Centre Real Estate Summit focused on real estate and investment strategies, bringing together all the key global and local players to discuss the national data centre market, new developments and acquisitions, supply and demand dynamics, construction, development, and design trends.
Narelle gave an informative and, by all accounts, entertaining talk on the evolution of data centre design and advancements in technology and solutions. Her insights underscored the critical role data centres play in today’s digital economy. She closed by putting the audience’s skills to the test, to see how good they were at identifying a data centre when they saw one.
Head to this IAA YouTube clip of the talk to test your skills:
It’s our pleasure to sponsor the WiTWA Tech [+] Conference and Awards 2024! This continued partnership highlights our commitment to fostering diversity and equality within the internet industry and beyond.
This year’s conference takes place on Thursday, 7 November 2024, followed by the awards night on Friday, 8 November 2024, at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The WiTWA Tech [+] Conference and Awards is a flagship event that embodies the mission of Women in Technology WA (WiTWA) to support and empower women in the tech field. With a membership base of over 5,000, WiTWA is a vital force in extending networks and expanding knowledge for women across Western Australia.
Our shared values and goals make this collaboration particularly meaningful. At IAA, we believe in advocating for a better internet for all, and supporting WiTWA’s initiatives aligns perfectly with our objectives.
By sponsoring this event, IAA is endorsing the promotion of diversity and actively contributing to the advancement of women in technology. We are proud to be part of an inclusive initiative that has the power to transform the tech community.
Nominations for this year’s awards are now open and you can learn more about the categories and nominate via the WiTWA Awards website.
Nominations are open until 18:55 AWST on Monday 14th August.
Registration for the conference and awards night is now open on the WiTWA website. Be sure to register now!
We hope you will join us in celebrating and supporting WiTWA’s incredible work. Together, we can achieve greater heights!
As Australia’s only not-for-profit, carrier neutral Internet Exchange, we’re proud to once again sponsor PeeringDB. We strongly encourage our Members to keep their PeeringDB profiles up to date as it helps everyone find the best way to connect!
We’re pleased to introduce single-lambda 100G-LR interfaces in select NSW-IX points of presence. This upgrade offers our Members a cost-optimised solution for 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100GbE) connectivity.
Here’s what you can expect:
Simplified Design, Lower Cost: 100G-LR uses a single-wavelength architecture, eliminating the need for complex and expensive optical designs found in older 100GbE technologies. This translates to a substantially lower total cost for transceivers.
Seamless Integration: Fully compatible with a wide range of routers and switches equipped with QSFP28 electrical interfaces, 100G-LR allows for easier network upgrades without significant hardware changes.
Future-Proofing for your Network: As demand for 100GbE grows, 100G-LR provides a scalable and efficient solution to meet your evolving bandwidth needs.
If you’re interested and connected to the NSW-IX contact support@internet.asn.au.
After thoroughly evaluating virtualisation solutions, our tech team has successfully migrated our virtual machine (VM) infrastructure to a Proxmox virtual environment. Transitioning to the advanced open-source virtualisation platform demonstrates IAA’s commitment to reliable, efficient, and scalable services for our Members. Of course the price comparison between VMWare and an open source solution was pretty favourable too!
Here are the key benefits of Proxmox for Members:
- High availability and minimal downtime.
- Greater efficiency, as it’s easier for our engineering teams to provision, monitor and maintain VMs.
- Scalability of our virtual infrastructure to meet Members’ growing demands.
- Customisation to meet specific needs with access to the latest features and security enhancements for future-proofing.
Our tech team will continue to innovate and enhance our services to provide you with the best experience possible. Of course, Nick also enjoyed taking the system apart and rebuilding it afresh!
Confession time! IAA had a dirty little secret: Equinix SY3. A tangled mess of cross connects well over 10 years old. As you can see in the before photo from 2020 there was an ugly number of low-density SC panels, as well as an old Cisco 2901 used for OOB purposes. The pièce de résistance was the stacked Extreme x670s, prone to crashing spectacularly (see the notorious Incident Report of 25 February 2021), which subsequently led to the stack’s removal (as detailed in this Scheduled Maintenance Report).
Then, this year, our intrepid tech engineers (namely Aaron) embarked on an ambitious mission to clean up the rack. They boldly removed the final x670, deftly mass-migrated peers off that box, and permanently deleted the SC panels! The rack has now been tamed!
As the connoisseurs amongst us will attest, there is still a bit of work to do to achieve perfect cabling order, such as better cable bars, proper cable lengths, replacing the 100G CR4s with LR1s or CWDM4s, and moving the higher-density LC panels further up. Regardless, we’re proud to declare that the rack is ready to welcome a shiny new Arista to our 800Gbps core.
Mission accomplished!
May this year saw another massive Fortnite update. These updates usually drive our biggest network traffic days, and this one was no exception.
Chapter 5, Season 3 hit Australia on 24 May, kicking off around 5.30pm AEST. As Fortnite fans across the nation eagerly downloaded the update, chatrooms buzzed with reports of download sizes: 25GB for PS4, 34GB for PC, and one commentator even claimed a 54GB download for his Xbox.
It’s no surprise that this update made headlines, even appearing on NBN Australia’s Facebook feed, where they declared it their second-highest data peak ever, hitting 28.75Tbps of network traffic.
For IAA’s part, we more than held our own, with the update bringing an aggregate throughput across all IXs of just over 1.3Tbps, setting a new record for us.
As illustrated in the spike in our network stacked aggregates graph, the latest season of Fortnite was Epic in every sense of the word.
We are excited to announce the latest updates to the Member Portal:
Streamlined Payment Flow: The payment process has been completely overhauled to make adding payment methods and paying invoices more accessible and convenient.
Pre-order Ports: The membership application form has been updated to allow Members to pre-order ports when onboarding as a member.
Improved Functionality: We continue to enhance the Portal’s functionality with the main achievement being we’ve added Arista configuration support to our existing network automation system. This enables network automation on the new Arista switches and 400Gbps ports.
We remain committed to providing our Members with the best possible experience and welcome your feedback on these new features.
Don’t be fooled by the lower than usual number of consultations going on, there’s still lots happening in the sector when it comes to policy!
Co-regulation for telecommunications continues to come under fire and is very topical as Communications Alliance released its near-complete draft of the Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code Review 2024 to the Review Committee on 20 May. The ACCC, and TIO in particular, have critiqued the TCP Code Review iteration, claiming it does not sufficiently protect consumers. We can expect public consultation on the revised TCP Code to open shortly.
The TIO will soon be implementing changes to their reclassification processes, and publishing guidance material surrounding complaints handling processes, including what constitutes a consumer’s “reasonable attempt to contact a telecommunications service provider” before lodging a complaint with the TIO. You can read more on changes to the TIO processes later in this newsletter.
The IAA Public Policy Advisory Panel (PPAP) met for its quarterly meeting on 11 June where there was a spirited discussion on the future of co-regulation in the telecommunications industry, and what can be done to defend it. IAA will be calling for nominations for the PPAP later this year, so make sure to keep an eye open, and you can read more about the wonderful work of the PPAP in this newsletter item.
Our policy team has also been busy attending bilateral meetings with regulators and government over the period, including on matters related the ACMA’s compliance and enforcement approach, the National Office of Cybersecurity, and the federal government’s telecommunications strategy to 2035.
On the Internet Governance front, we are excited to share the news of the launch of the auIGF (previously NetThing) which will be held this year in Melbourne on 28-29 October. IAA has been a long-time supporter and participant of Australia’s Internet governance community, and encourage you to attend.
The Asia Pacific Internet Governance Academy Australia (APIGA Australia) also recently launched. A program to foster the next generation of youth leaders in Australia’s Internet and digital ecosystem, APIGA Australia are providing fellowships to attend its inaugural event held in November 2024. You can read more about APIGA Australia on their website.
Also! Don’t forget your upcoming compliance obligations:
- CommCom TCP Code attestation, due 2 September 2024; and
- Fair Work’s ‘Right to disconnect’ policy will come into place for non-small business employers on 26 August 2024, and small-business employers from 26 August 2025. Eligible employees will have the right to refuse employer or third-party contact outside of working hours. Arnotts Technology Lawyers have prepared some legal documents to assist our Members with their compliance. You can access their ‘Right to disconnect’ Policy template, along with a FAQs document, via the ‘Right to Disconnect – Template Pack’ in the Legal Templates section of the IAA Member Portal.
As always, please get in touch to share any thoughts on any of the open and/or previous submissions as we really appreciate your feedback
Completed Submissions:
Implementing changes to reclassification | Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman
Upcoming Submissions:
Formed in 2022, the IAA Public Policy Advisory Panel is an advisory body of IAA Members that help inform IAA’s public policy and advocacy work related to the telecommunications sector.
Involvement in policy and legislative reform in the Internet and broader telecommunications landscape is a critical part of IAA’s work. Indeed, the Western Australia Internet Association, IAA’s precursor, started as an advocacy body. That’s why we hold the Panel to be so important to our advocacy work.
The Panel meets quarterly to discuss live and upcoming policy issues affecting the Internet industry. The feedback provided by our Members via the Panel greatly informs our responses to the various consultations held by Government and regulatory bodies on matters that affect our industry, and therefore you, our Members!
We have found the Panel immensely helpful for our advocacy work since its formation and believe it has had a genuine impact in shaping telecommunications/Internet policy. For example, we couldn’t have participated as meaningfully during the NBN Co SAU reform process without the input of our Panel, the outcome of which we believe resulted in an SAU that is fairer for smaller RSPs, especially on matters related to NNI.
IAA is also regularly invited by government and regulators to be the voice for smaller communications providers in the industry. More recently, we have been championing our Members in discussions surrounding the security and resilience of telecommunications as part of Australia’s critical infrastructure ecosystem. The Panel has again been of great help, serving as a sounding board for proposed reforms.
Most recently during our last quarterly meeting in June, Panel Members engaged in spirited discussion over the TIO’s complaints handling processes and TCP Code reforms, and more broadly, our concerns about growing calls for direct regulation from regulators, consumer groups and government.
As the telco sector faces increasing regulatory pressures, it’s more important than ever to make sure that the voices of smaller ISPs are heard and able to influence policy makers. We greatly appreciate the Panel and encourage IAA Members to get involved to contribute to IAA’s advocacy efforts.
If you would like to know more about the Panel, please reach out at policy@internet.asn.au.
From mid-September 2024, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) will be implementing changes to its reclassification approach. The TIO have also released Guidelines about its approach to ‘reasonable first contact’ as well as a Member Briefing Pack to provide further information about the changes, both of which can be found on the TIO Member Portal.
From mid-September, reclassification requests made by a provider will only be granted if the provider can demonstrate that the complaint was resolved prior to the consumer making contacting with the TIO about the complaint. This means that reclassification requests will be declined if the complaint was resolved only after consumers contacted the TIO. In addition, the TIO will be increasing the “chance to consider” timeframe from 6 months to 2 years. Under this new approach, consumers can bring an unresolved complaint they raised with their provider in the last 2 years.
In addition, according to its Guidelines, the TIO will consider the following as reasonable attempts to make contact with their provider, before the consumer can raise the matter with the TIO:
- Where a consumer is unable to speak to a telco representative after being on hold for what is an ‘unreasonable period of time’;
- Where a consumer is redirected between multiple departments during a phone call, without having their issue addressed;
- Where a consumer is forced to contact the provider via multiple methods (e.g. webchat, in-store, by phone call) without having their issue addressed;
- Where a consumer is told the provider will make contact with the consumer by a certain time, and the consumer does not hear from the provider by the scheduled time; and
- Where a consumer with special needs is unable to contact the provider as the provider does not provider alternative methods of contact.
In light of these changes, it is important that you ensure your complaints handling processes align with these expectations and your staff are aware and well trained to deal with complaints. Remember, a consumer does not have to explicitly say they would like to make a “complaint” to invoke the complaints handling process.
IAA has raised concerns with the TIO about its new approach. In particular, its new guidelines on what constitutes ‘reasonable attempt to make contact’ may be too vague and sets the bar for a consumer to ‘attempt to make contact’ with a provider too low, potentially resulting in vexatious complaints being lodged with the TIO and imposes a higher standard for complaints handling than required by regulation. The TIO has assured IAA that while it will consider a consumer’s complaint in good faith, the Guidelines are intended to ensure a genuine attempt of contacting the provider has been made, and complaints will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss the TIO reforms further, please contact us at policy@internet.asn.au.
Welcome to our newest Professional Members:
Nick Grundy
Matthew Keen
Mariana Hernandez
Mark Newton
Adam Holczer
Dave Browning
Hayden Flack
Karen Ganschow
Welcome to this year’s IAA Systers!
Lili Wan
Nasla Joshi
Cara Stylianou
Jossaline Tanasaldy
Nicola Cavaleri
Natalia Khobotova
Nancy Nguyen
Chaitrali Nandedkar
Chinmayi Sajjala
Thamali Hasitha Ratnayake
Jewel Gonzales
Fiona Atkinson
Lu Zhang
Gabriela Facci
Taylor Newnham
Thy Boskovic
Kayla Lizardo
Florence Kanapitu
Lynnette Mekau
Maybelle Galicia
Avanti Gauba
Kiki Fong Lim (current Member, congratulations)
Welcome to our Corporate Members:
RINGCENTRAL
With a focus on improving service quality and reliability for their Australian customers, we would like to welcome RingCentral. With offices in 14 countries, RingCentral provides simplified business communications that help people connect worldwide. Founded in 1999, they’re using the power of cloud technologies to reimagine business communications.
SG.GS PTE LTD
We are pleased to welcome SG.GS to our exchange. Established in Asia Pacific, but expanding globally, they are building a global network across major and emerging markets, interconnected with multiple subsea routes worldwide. They offer a suite of services including cloud connect, and of course, peering.
ZONE TECHNOLOGY
Offering managed IT services for business, Zone Technology deliver high quality IT services to businesses in Perth and Australia. Their team are veterans of the IT industry, with decades of experience providing enterprise grade IT services to businesses of all sizes. We’re delighted to have them join us!
INFINITE NETWORKS
A warm welcome to Infinite Networks! Joining the ACT-IX, Infinite Networks is an Australian owned and operated Managed Network Provider that also offers Cloud Hosting and Development Services working with enterprises and ASX listed businesses since 2003.
