Categories
IAA recently participated in the CommsDay Wholesale Congress in Melbourne, where our CEO, Narelle Clark, took the stage alongside industry leaders from Telstra, NBN, Vocus, and more.
Narelle’s talk, “Internet Exchange Points – Their Place in the Contemporary Landscape,” explored and explained the evolving role of IXPs in today’s telecommunications ecosystem. Not wishing to waste an opportunity, Narelle also highlighted the existence of disinformation about consumer regulation, and this was highly applauded by industry participants.
The two-day event was packed with networking opportunities, insightful sessions, and discussions on the latest trends shaping the future of telecom. Thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to the success of the Congress!
We’re proud to announce our newest Point of Presence in NEXTDC’s A1 Adelaide data centre!
IAA is committed to meeting the growing needs of our Members and going where you want to see us. With that in mind, we’re thrilled to share news of our presence in the brand-new NEXTDC A1 Adelaide facility. We’re also pleased to be offering 100Gbps ports for the first time on SA-IX.
As the State’s first Tier IV-certified colocation facility, A1 offers unmatched fault tolerance, energy efficiency, and security. We secured the first of their 1,470-rack capacity and with 5MW of IT power capacity, A1 will provide the quality connectivity and resilient infrastructure that our Members rely on.
So, of course we’re here! Our Members wouldn’t have it any other way.
Order your ports via the IAA Member Portal now:
In September we headed to BSides Canberra 2024, hosted at the National Convention Centre. Once again it was a packed event that brought together cybersecurity enthusiasts from across Australia and beyond. Known for its diverse range of activities, the conference offered everything from advanced talks to hands-on labs, interactive villages, and of course, the ever-popular Capture the Flag (CTF) competition.
Regardless of where you are in your cyber career, BSides has something for everyone. The Main Track stage opened with keynote speaker Valentina Palmiotti speaking on “The Exploit Development Life Cycle: From Concept to Compromise,” diving deep into the nuances of exploit creation and the steps from concept through execution. Then later, there was a practical session titled “How to Land Your First Job in Cybersecurity,” led by Jatin Kumar, covering actionable steps for new cybersecurity professionals.
The ever-popular Hardware Hacking Village provided a hands-on area where attendees could assemble custom badges. However, the highlight for many was the BlackBag Challenge, an immersive blend of hacking, espionage, and physical security. This ‘blind’ challenge led our Tech Team through a series of increasingly difficult tasks scattered around the conference centre, culminating in an attempt to breach a secured “server room.” Under the hacker name IAAsengard, the team came close to entering the server room, but there was a huge queue, so they chose to focus on the CyBears Capture the Flag (CTF) competition instead.
This time’s CTF was a fantasy-themed cybersecurity quest, testing skills in cryptography, reverse engineering, and web security. The event buzzed with quiet intensity as teams worked through the puzzles, whispering to avoid tipping off competitors, with the occasional chase after a roaming “spy” who held clues to one of the challenges. This year our Tech Team finished in an impressive 26th place out of 198 teams.
All-in-all, BSides Canberra 2024 successfully combined the thrill of technical challenges with opportunities for skill-building and networking, leaving attendees eager for next year’s event. For IAAsengard, it was an experience full of learning, testing skills, and sharing their expertise within the global cybersecurity community.
From events to consultations, it’s been as busy as ever for our Policy Team!
You may have noticed IAA being highlighted in CommsDay for taking a stance on important regulatory issues. Whether it be for our CEO setting the record straight on the TCP Code at a major industry event, or our response to the one of the many consultations going on such as the Senate Committee’s inquiry into the privacy reform, we’re dedicated to representing our Members and to improving the telecommunications regulatory landscape.
As we’ve reported in previous newsletters, the co-regulation approach for telecommunications policy is coming under attack and as Narelle noted in her presentation at the CommsDay Wholesale Forum, there seems to be some ‘arguabl[e] disinformation’ floating around on what co-regulatory codes like the TCP Code actually mean. Rest assured, we’ll continue to advocate for the continuation of co-regulation for the telco sector to ensure that regulation affecting the industry is developed by those who actually operate and understand telco systems!
Our Policy Officer and Board Chair also gave a lightning talk at AusNOG to give an update on recent and upcoming regulatory changes, as well as to spread awareness about IAA’s important advocacy work, and how to get involved via the IAA Public Policy Advisory Panel (PPAP).
Speaking of which, the PPAP met for its quarterly meeting on 22 August. Discussions centred around the TIO and its recent changes to its reclassifications approach, which we reported in the last August newsletter. We are now accepting applications to the PPAP.
Completed Submissions:
Upcoming Submissions:
Online Safety Codes – Class 1C and Class 2 material | Onlinesafety.org | 22 November 2024
Please check the Advocacy webpage for updates.
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.
As proud sponsors of the Australian Internet Governance Forum (auIGF) 2025 in Melbourne, we were inspired by this year’s thought-provoking theme: Connecting local to global – linking Australian community and policy debates with the wider region and the world. IAA also contributes through the program committee and panel sessions.
The auIGF is a leading forum that brings together a diverse range of stakeholders to discuss internet governance and public policy issues in Australia. As part of the United Nations global Internet Governance Forum (IGF), the auIGF champions a multi-stakeholder model, fostering an open platform where diverse voices are heard. It also strengthens cooperation between different sectors and promotes collaboration within the community.
This year’s there was a reinforcement of the auIGF’s multi-stakeholder approach and the importance of working together at every level of decision making, from locally to globally.
Are you passionate about shaping the way the internet is run? IAA needs your expertise to drive impactful advocacy!
Our Public Policy Advisory Panel (PPAP) is an important body that helps IAA cut through the maze of regulations, providing critical insights that inform our policy positions and advocacy work.
With the terms of many of our current PPAP members ending in early 2025, we’re calling on you to play your part in improving the telco regulatory landscape!
We’re looking for dedicated individuals from our Professional, Corporate and Affiliate Members, for three-year terms, acting in a voluntary capacity.
As a panel member, we invite you to attend quarterly online meetings with the potential for one in-person meeting per year. As part of the panel you’ll:
- Contribute to IAA’s responses to government and industry inquiries.
- Help us influence regulation changes and inform topical internet matters.
Find out more and apply to join now via the IAA website by 8:00pm AEDT, 5 December and let’s navigate the future of internet policy together!