Australia NBN connects first customers; Pando says coastal, mid-Atlantic States have fastest Internet

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> The GigU project, a consortium of 29 U.S.-based universities, plans to build a 1 Gbps-capable broadband network that will attract high-tech startups in vertical sectors such as health care, energy and telecom to the areas near the universities. Article

> Australia's NBN is bringing broadband service to residents in Kiama Downs and Minnamurra, with other trials in Townsville, Queensland, and Willunga and Brunswick in South Australia set to begin soon. Article

> Conterra Ultra Broadband has been awarded a multi-year contract to provide fiber-quality, high-speed wide area network services to Presbyterian Healthcare Services of Albuquerque. Release

> Allied Telesis will supply Gigabit-capable access equipment infrastructure to SkyLine Telephone, which is building out an FTTH network with $29 million in Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grants and loans. Release

> Level 3 Communications has completed its previously announced offering of an additional $600 million aggregate principal amount of its 8.125% Senior Notes due 2019 in a private offering to "qualified institutional buyers." Release

> Technicolor will supply its telepresence adapter to Comcast to enable the cable MSO to deliver HD video conferencing to consumers. Release

> Ken McMahon, vice president and general manager of CenturyLink's Arizona region, talked to The Arizona Republic about his broadband and business service expansion in the state. Article

And finally ... A new study by Pando Networks illustrates that the US coastal and mid-Atlantic States have the country's fastest Internet connections. Article