Canadian billionaire latest saviour of fallen Aussie tech pioneer
It's the 43-year-old tech stalwart that just won't die. NetComm Wireless, the company behind Australia's first dial-up modem, has been saved again, this time by a Canadian billionaire who's plucked it out of its second stint in administration in five years.
NetComm was headed for the scrapheap after its Nasdaq-listed owner, DZS, filed for bankruptcy in March, less than a year after buying it. The Texas-based DZS bought it for $US7 million from another defunct technology business, Casa Systems – which also went bankrupt – at a $US150 million discount.
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Mercury
18 minutes ago
- Mercury
ASX tech May winners: Silicon surge sends Aussie tech sector skyward by 22pc
ASX tech stocks roared back to life in May, riding a wave of global AI hype, easing trade tensions, and strong earnings. Don't miss out on the headlines from Stockhead. Followed categories will be added to My News. ASX tech rockets 22pc in May Earnings from tech's 'Magnificent 7' helped matters Elsight, Eroad, Etherstack and Yojee were notable gainers The ASX tech sector didn't just rally in May, it rocketed. Up more than 22%, it was one of the biggest monthly leaps in recent memory, outpacing every other sector on the index and riding a wave of global tailwinds that swept through Wall Street and into Martin Place. May performance by sector So what lit the rocket under Aussie tech? Well, a combo of softening US-China trade tensions, a rate cut by the RBA, and red-hot earnings from the global tech elite – all wrapped in a volatile month where every diplomatic handshake or tariff tweet sent markets bouncing. Wall Street turns silicon slick Over in the US, it was an AI-fuelled tech fest. The Nasdaq jumped 9.5% in May, its best showing since November last year. The S&P 500 had a solid 6.15% lift, and the Dow chipped in with a 4% gain. The key driver was de-escalation. Starting May 14, Washington slashed tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%. Beijing responded by trimming its own to 10%. Also, earnings from the 'Magnificent Seven' – Microsoft, Nvidia, Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Tesla – blew past expectations. According to FactSet, their collective Q1 earnings grew 27.7%, smashing estimates and fuelling confidence in AI, cloud, and consumer spending. But the mood wasn't all champagne and confetti. Trump reignited tariff threats by month's end, accusing China of dragging its feet on export compliance, especially around rare earths. The backpedalling stirred new worries, but not enough to undo the market's momentum. Confidence is back, at least for now. And when global investors are feeling bold, ASX tech stocks often get caught in the updraft. ASX tech winners in May Code Name Price Month % Change Market Cap 4DS 4Ds Memory Limited 0.059 97% $118,137,090 ELS Elsight Ltd 0.770 71% $139,940,732 ERD Eroad Limited 1.390 65% $260,500,778 ESK Etherstack PLC 0.440 54% $58,155,681 YOJ Yojee Limited 0.270 54% $86,413,050 360 Life360 Inc. 33.330 52% $5,806,753,611 EOS Electro Optic Sys. 1.845 51% $355,996,623 CAT Catapult Grp Int Ltd 5.850 43% $1,427,690,903 XPN Xpon Technologies 0.010 43% $4,142,532 SPX Spenda Limited 0.007 40% $32,306,508 VNL Vinyl Group Ltd 0.130 38% $163,717,420 TNE Technology One 41.060 37% $13,346,815,417 RCL Readcloud 0.135 35% $20,738,668 DCC Digitalx Limited 0.070 35% $84,253,672 W2V Way2Vatltd 0.008 33% $11,302,865 VIG Victor Group Hldgs 0.082 32% $53,482,587 GTI Gratifii 0.099 32% $33,540,151 JCS Jcurve Solutions 0.033 32% $10,901,333 AI1 Adisyn Ltd 0.066 32% $47,726,289 AD8 Audinate Group Ltd 7.950 29% $658,524,993 IKE Ikegps Group Ltd 0.920 29% $148,177,677 CGO CPT Global Limited 0.063 26% $2,639,534 SMP Smartpay Holdings 0.945 25% $227,426,856 NVU Nanoveu Limited 0.048 23% $38,578,586 OCL Objective Corp 19.230 23% $1,838,200,431 VR1 Vection Technologies 0.022 22% $38,878,882 ASV Assetvisonco 0.039 22% $28,835,101 BCC Beam Communications 0.120 21% $10,370,631 WTC Wisetech Global Ltd 107.150 21% $36,396,942,187 FL1 First Lithium Ltd 0.078 20% $6,212,981 OAK Oakridge 0.072 20% $1,943,849 MP1 Megaport Limited 13.520 18% $2,242,455,288 SP3 Specturltd 0.013 18% $4,005,952 EOL Energy One Limited 14.750 18% $462,123,149 XF1 Xref Limited 0.135 17% $29,712,118 EVS Envirosuite Ltd 0.084 17% $121,691,110 SLX Silex Systems 3.600 17% $802,416,290 BVS Bravura Solution Ltd 2.550 16% $1,143,302,705 EML EML Payments Ltd 1.130 16% $431,773,255 CDA Codan Limited 18.000 14% $3,237,408,113 DTI DTI Group Ltd 0.007 14% $3,139,860 RDY Readytech Holdings 2.380 13% $290,693,379 OLL Openlearning 0.017 13% $8,205,469 AXE Archer Materials 0.300 13% $76,454,104 ID8 Identitii Limited 0.009 13% $7,002,122 XRO Xero Ltd 184.290 12% $28,534,797,978 RUL Rpmglobal Hldgs Ltd 3.070 12% $686,816,448 HCL Highcom Ltd 0.200 11% $20,536,534 BEO Beonic Ltd 0.200 11% $14,172,202 NXT Nextdc Limited 13.110 11% $8,415,067,423 SNS Sensen Networks Ltd 0.031 11% $24,584,162 SMN Structural Monitor. 0.430 10% $66,394,171 RKT Rocketdna Ltd. 0.011 10% $10,070,756 ZMM Zimi Ltd 0.011 10% $4,702,982 TYR Tyro Payments 0.885 10% $467,587,600 AR9 Archtis Limited 0.070 9% $20,157,701 DUG DUG Tech 1.120 9% $150,816,513 IRE IRESS Limited 8.660 9% $1,608,257,371 ROC Rocketboots 0.088 9% $12,815,075 KYP Kinatico Ltd 0.195 8% $84,257,937 SEN Senetas Corporation 0.020 8% $33,120,382 5GN 5G Networks Limited 0.140 8% $41,697,847 COS Cosol Limited 0.785 8% $142,861,205 ODA Orcoda Limited 0.079 7% $14,813,623 IRI Integrated Research 0.440 6% $78,035,192 FCL Fineos Corp Hold PLC 2.320 6% $785,319,223 DXN DXN Limited 0.036 6% $10,753,331 VGL Vista Group Int Ltd 3.470 6% $828,755,302 GTK Gentrack Group Ltd 11.390 5% $1,170,937,010 QOR Qoria Limited 0.415 5% $542,232,890 FLX Felix Group 0.210 5% $42,944,940 XYZ Block Inc 96.510 5% $5,298,308,114 UBN Ltd 0.840 4% $66,058,362 LVE Love Group Global 0.125 4% $5,066,771 ASB Austal Limited 5.520 4% $2,274,372,238 PHX Pharmx Technologies 0.080 4% $47,880,543 PPK PPK Group Limited 0.315 3% $28,605,937 WBT Weebit Nano Ltd 1.820 3% $419,949,381 OEC Orbital Corp Limited 0.092 2% $14,994,954 RKN Reckon Limited 0.490 2% $55,514,468 DTL Data#3 Limited 7.430 2% $1,158,714,331 NXL Nuix Limited 2.480 2% $813,603,994 DSE Dropsuite Ltd 5.880 1% $418,227,407 PRO Prophecy Internation 0.430 1% $31,712,042 Making news for the right reasons or just hitting milestones, here were some of the month's notable gainers… Elsight (ASX:ELS) Elsight's share price ripped higher in May after it secured a second major contract from a European defence drone maker, worth US$5.35m on top of an earlier US$4.28m deal announced in April. That brings the customer's total commitment to US$9.63m, with all units set for delivery this year. Elsight's Halo tech is being embedded into defence drone programs, and more than US$1m of the April order has already been delivered and booked as revenue. On top of that, Elsight was selected by Northrop Grumman for a prestigious US defence accelerator, just 8 companies chosen from over 225 applicants. That program gives it direct access to Northrop's tech and procurement teams, and a fast-track to potential US DoD contracts. Eroad (ASX:ERD) Transport tech firm Eroad surged after delivering a strong FY25 result and setting upbeat guidance for the year ahead. It flipped to a profit, pulled in NZ$16m in free cash flow (a huge jump from NZ$1.3m last year), and saw revenue climb to NZ$194.4m, up nearly 7%. Annual recurring revenue (ARR) also rose to NZ$175.1m. But it was the outlook that really got investors paying attention. Eroad is guiding to FY26 revenue of at least NZ$205m, and ARR of at least NZ$188m, with free cash flow yield of 8–10%. It's also targeting medium-term ARR growth of 11–13%. Etherstack (ASX:ESK) Radio tech firm Etherstack popped in May after locking in a record US$7m in cash receipts for the first half of FY25, its strongest half-year since listing. Most of that came from project revenue already delivered, and it reckons H1 revenue alone could beat all of last year's full result. It's also flagged more big deals likely coming soon from long-term clients, and its recurring revenue from support and 'comms-as-a-service' is steadily growing. All up, investors saw strong cash, solid outlook, and momentum. Yojee (ASX:YOJ) Logistics tech minnow Yojee surged in May off the back of two big catalysts. First, it presented at the IFCBAA national freight conference, putting its next-gen freight forwarding software in front of key industry players. Second, WiseTech's massive $2.1bn acquisition of E2open lit a fire under the whole sector, showing just how hot logistics tech is right now. Now read: WiseTech's $2bn power play, and one small logistics tech stock stirring interest Yojee's building its own momentum too, with an AI assistant baked into its platform, and a pilot deal with global player Röhlig Logistics kicking off in Singapore. All up, investors saw a small-cap riding a big wave, and jumped on board. ASX tech losers in May Code Name Price Month % Change Market Cap DUB Dubber Corp Ltd 0.016 -61% $41,973,880 1TT Thrive Tribe Tech 0.001 -50% $2,031,723 DTZ Dotz Nano Ltd 0.048 -36% $28,323,086 BLG Bluglass Limited 0.011 -31% $22,198,234 FCT Firstwave Cloud Tech 0.013 -28% $22,275,743 OPL Opyl Limited 0.019 -27% $4,464,398 EIQ Echoiq Ltd 0.245 -26% $158,070,989 SIS Simble Solutions 0.003 -25% $2,628,991 BRN Brainchip Ltd 0.205 -24% $435,534,473 SKO Serko 2.720 -22% $338,912,408 SPA Spacetalk Ltd 0.160 -22% $12,395,156 DWG Dataworks Group 0.130 -21% $13,289,126 HTG Harvest Tech Grp Ltd 0.016 -20% $14,335,148 KNO Knosys Limited 0.035 -19% $7,564,854 NOV Novatti Group Ltd 0.022 -19% $11,950,156 RWL Rubicon Water 0.210 -18% $50,545,971 FBR FBR Ltd 0.005 -17% $28,447,261 NOR Norwood Systems Ltd. 0.020 -17% $10,318,553 JAN Janison Edu Group 0.140 -15% $36,384,355 IFG Infocusgroup Hldltd 0.006 -14% $1,574,561 NVQ Noviqtech Limited 0.027 -13% $6,791,487 HYD Hydrix Limited 0.014 -13% $3,818,764 EPX Ept Global Limited 0.023 -12% $15,150,929 AJX Alexium Int Group 0.008 -11% $12,691,429 8CO 8Common Limited 0.016 -11% $3,585,518 IOD Iodm Limited 0.130 -10% $77,070,523 CYB Aucyber Limited 0.080 -10% $16,751,735 3DP Pointerra Limited 0.055 -8% $44,279,224 ACE Acusensus Limited 0.970 -8% $135,825,086 CF1 Complii Fintech Ltd 0.025 -7% $14,284,841 ICE Icetana Limited 0.014 -7% $6,133,997 MX1 Micro-X Limited 0.056 -7% $37,363,326 WHK Whitehawk Limited 0.014 -7% $10,378,849 XRG Xreality Group Ltd 0.030 -6% $19,906,426 SOR Strategic Elements 0.032 -6% $15,236,274 HSN Hansen Technologies 5.100 -6% $1,047,697,081 AT1 Atomo Diagnostics 0.017 -6% $11,321,179 X2M X2M Connect Limited 0.019 -5% $7,375,455 TZL TZ Limited 0.059 -5% $16,556,232 BDT Birddog 0.047 -4% $7,589,843 CXZ Connexion Mobility 0.026 -4% $21,216,424 CML Connected Minerals 0.130 -4% $5,376,568 IFM Infomedia Ltd 1.210 -2% $471,132,514 AVA AVA Risk Group Ltd 0.103 -2% $30,499,563 DDR Dicker Data Limited 8.230 -2% $1,473,911,938 CCR Credit Clear 0.230 -2% $97,669,188 PPS Praemium Limited 0.730 -2% $348,732,077 DRO Droneshield Limited 1.315 -2% $1,127,576,305 ATA Atturralimited 0.860 -2% $328,224,812 CPU Computershare Ltd 40.220 -1% $23,657,729,209 NVX Novonix Limited 0.420 -1% $283,058,021 This story does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decision. Originally published as ASX tech May winners: Silicon surge sends Aussie tech sector skyward by 22pc Stockhead The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index rose 1.59% in May, easing from a 2.16% gain in April but still finishing in the green. Stockhead As tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific, Aussie tech players like Vection, DroneShield and Harvest are quietly stepping into the spotlight
West Australian
44 minutes ago
- West Australian
Pacific media face reckoning after US aid cuts
America's retreat from foreign aid is being felt deeply in Pacific media, where pivotal outlets are being shuttered and journalists work unpaid. The result is fewer investigations into dubiously motivated politicians, glimpses into conflicts otherwise unseen and a less diverse media in a region which desperately needs it. "It is a huge disappointment ... a senseless waste," Benar News' Australian head of Pacific news, Stefan Armbruster, told AAP after seeing his outlet go under. Benar News, In-depth Solomons and Inside PNG are three digital outlets which enjoyed US support but have been cruelled by President Donald Trump's about-face on aid. Benar closed its doors in April after an executive order disestablishing Voice of America, which the Unitd States created during World War II to combat Nazi propaganda. An offshoot of Radio Free Asia (RFA) focused on Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Benar kept a close eye on abuses in West Papua, massacres and gender-based violence in Papua New Guinea and more. The Pacific arm quickly became indispensable to many, with a team of reporters and freelancers working in 15 countries on a budget under $A1 million. "Our coverage of decolonisation in the Pacific received huge interest, as did our coverage of the lack women's representation in parliaments, human rights, media freedom, deep sea mining and more," Mr Armbruster said. In-depth Solomons, a Honiara-based digital outlet, is another facing an existential threat despite a proud record of investigative and award-winning reporting. Last week, it was honoured with a peer-nominated award from the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan for a year-long probe into former prime minister Manasseh Sogavare's property holdings. "We're just holding on," editor and co-founder Ofani Eremae told AAP. A US-centred think tank continues to pay the wage of one journalist, while others haven't drawn a salary since January. "It has had an impact on our operations. We used to travel out to do stories across the provinces. That has not been done since early this year," Mr Eremae said. A private donor came forward after learning of the cuts with a one-off grant that was used for rent to secure the office, he said. Its funding shortfall - like Port Moresby-based outlet Inside PNG - is linked to USAID, the world's biggest single funder of development assistance, until Mr Trump axed its multi-billion dollar budget. Much of USAID's funding was spent on humanitarian causes - such as vaccines, clean water supplies and food security - but some was also earmarked for media in developing nations, with the aim of bolstering fragile democracies. Inside PNG used its support to build an audience of tens of thousands with incisive reports on PNG politics: not just Port Moresby, but in the regions including wantaway province Bougainville that has a long history of conflict. "The current lack of funding has unfortunately had a dual impact, affecting both our dedicated staff, whom we're currently unable to pay, and our day-to-day operations," Inside PNG managing director Kila Wani, told AAP. "We've had to let off 80 per cent of staff from payroll which is a big hit because we're not a very big team. "Logistically, it's become challenging to carry out our work as we normally would." AAP has confirmed a number of other media entities in the region which have suffered hits, but declined to share their stories. The funding hits are all the more damaging given the challenges faced by the Pacific, as outlined in the Pacific Islands Media Freedom Index . The latest report listed a string of challenges, notably weak legal protections for free speech, political interference on editorial independence, and a lack of funding underpinning high-quality media, in the region. The burning question for these outlets - and their audiences - is do other sources of funding exist to fill the gap? Inside PNG is refocusing energy on attracting new donors, as is In-depth Solomons, which has also turned to crowdfunding. The Australian and New Zealand governments have also provided targeted support for the media sector across the region, including ABC International Development (ABCID), which has enjoyed a budget increase from Anthony Albanese's government. Inside PNG and In-depth Solomons both receive training and content-focused grants from ABCID, which helps, but doesn't fund the underpinning costs for a media business or keep on the lights. Both Mr Eremae, who edited two major newspapers before founding the investigative outlet, and Mr Armbruster, a long-time SBS Correspondent, expressed their dismay at the US pivot away from the Pacific. "It's a huge mistake on the part of the US ... the world's leading democracy. The media is one of the pillars of democracy," Mr Eremae said. "It is, I believe, in the interests of the US and other democratic countries to give funding to media in countries like the Solomon Islands where we cannot survive due to lack of advertising (budgets). As a veteran of Pacific reporting, Mr Armbruster said he had witnessed US disinterest in the region contribute to the wider geopolitical struggle for influence. "The US government was trying to re-establish its presence after vacating the space decades ago. It had promised to re-engage, dedicating funding largely driven by its efforts to counter China, only to now betray those expectations," he said. "The US government has senselessly destroyed a highly valued news service in the Pacific. An own goal."
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Pacific media face reckoning after US aid cuts
America's retreat from foreign aid is being felt deeply in Pacific media, where pivotal outlets are being shuttered and journalists work unpaid. The result is fewer investigations into dubiously motivated politicians, glimpses into conflicts otherwise unseen and a less diverse media in a region which desperately needs it. "It is a huge disappointment ... a senseless waste," Benar News' Australian head of Pacific news, Stefan Armbruster, told AAP after seeing his outlet go under. Benar News, In-depth Solomons and Inside PNG are three digital outlets which enjoyed US support but have been cruelled by President Donald Trump's about-face on aid. Benar closed its doors in April after an executive order disestablishing Voice of America, which the Unitd States created during World War II to combat Nazi propaganda. An offshoot of Radio Free Asia (RFA) focused on Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Benar kept a close eye on abuses in West Papua, massacres and gender-based violence in Papua New Guinea and more. The Pacific arm quickly became indispensable to many, with a team of reporters and freelancers working in 15 countries on a budget under $A1 million. "Our coverage of decolonisation in the Pacific received huge interest, as did our coverage of the lack women's representation in parliaments, human rights, media freedom, deep sea mining and more," Mr Armbruster said. In-depth Solomons, a Honiara-based digital outlet, is another facing an existential threat despite a proud record of investigative and award-winning reporting. Last week, it was honoured with a peer-nominated award from the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan for a year-long probe into former prime minister Manasseh Sogavare's property holdings. "We're just holding on," editor and co-founder Ofani Eremae told AAP. A US-centred think tank continues to pay the wage of one journalist, while others haven't drawn a salary since January. "It has had an impact on our operations. We used to travel out to do stories across the provinces. That has not been done since early this year," Mr Eremae said. A private donor came forward after learning of the cuts with a one-off grant that was used for rent to secure the office, he said. Its funding shortfall - like Port Moresby-based outlet Inside PNG - is linked to USAID, the world's biggest single funder of development assistance, until Mr Trump axed its multi-billion dollar budget. Much of USAID's funding was spent on humanitarian causes - such as vaccines, clean water supplies and food security - but some was also earmarked for media in developing nations, with the aim of bolstering fragile democracies. Inside PNG used its support to build an audience of tens of thousands with incisive reports on PNG politics: not just Port Moresby, but in the regions including wantaway province Bougainville that has a long history of conflict. "The current lack of funding has unfortunately had a dual impact, affecting both our dedicated staff, whom we're currently unable to pay, and our day-to-day operations," Inside PNG managing director Kila Wani, told AAP. "We've had to let off 80 per cent of staff from payroll which is a big hit because we're not a very big team. "Logistically, it's become challenging to carry out our work as we normally would." AAP has confirmed a number of other media entities in the region which have suffered hits, but declined to share their stories. The funding hits are all the more damaging given the challenges faced by the Pacific, as outlined in the Pacific Islands Media Freedom Index. The latest report listed a string of challenges, notably weak legal protections for free speech, political interference on editorial independence, and a lack of funding underpinning high-quality media, in the region. The burning question for these outlets - and their audiences - is do other sources of funding exist to fill the gap? Inside PNG is refocusing energy on attracting new donors, as is In-depth Solomons, which has also turned to crowdfunding. The Australian and New Zealand governments have also provided targeted support for the media sector across the region, including ABC International Development (ABCID), which has enjoyed a budget increase from Anthony Albanese's government. Inside PNG and In-depth Solomons both receive training and content-focused grants from ABCID, which helps, but doesn't fund the underpinning costs for a media business or keep on the lights. Both Mr Eremae, who edited two major newspapers before founding the investigative outlet, and Mr Armbruster, a long-time SBS Correspondent, expressed their dismay at the US pivot away from the Pacific. "It's a huge mistake on the part of the US ... the world's leading democracy. The media is one of the pillars of democracy," Mr Eremae said. "It is, I believe, in the interests of the US and other democratic countries to give funding to media in countries like the Solomon Islands where we cannot survive due to lack of advertising (budgets). As a veteran of Pacific reporting, Mr Armbruster said he had witnessed US disinterest in the region contribute to the wider geopolitical struggle for influence. "The US government was trying to re-establish its presence after vacating the space decades ago. It had promised to re-engage, dedicating funding largely driven by its efforts to counter China, only to now betray those expectations," he said. "The US government has senselessly destroyed a highly valued news service in the Pacific. An own goal."
