NBN: Telstra tells Terria to get real or get out
By
Lilia Guan
27 August 2008 10:25AM
Tags:
telstra | terria | nbn
Australian telecommunications incumbent, Telstra has fired off a warning to Terria to get serious about building a National Broadband Network (NBN), or get out of the way.
Incoming group managing director for Public Policy & Communications, David Quilty, said revelations by Michael Simmons that Terria had not settled on its vendors was a further demonstration it was simply not serious about building the NBN.
Quilty claimed Simmons' startling revelation came hot on the heels of Chairman Michael Egan's bizarre comments last week about Terria's NBN financing.
"It is absolutely astounding that at this stage of proceedings, Terria has not settled on a technology or even turned its mind to who its vendors will be,” he said. "First Egan said he would be asking Telstra to take a major stake in Terria, despite Telstra repeatedly making clear this is simply not going to happen.”
According to Quilty Egan then said the Government would be the majority shareholder in what is effectively an upgrade of Telstra's network, despite the Government selling its shareholding in Telstra last year.
"But most concerning of all, Egan made clear that none of the Terria's existing shareholders is likely to be around in 10 years time. Australians will be relying on the NBN for decades to come and they need a builder that is committed for the long haul - not fly-by-nighters,” said Quilty.
He claimed Telstra is happy to provide its guarantee of open access on the basis that Telstra the requirements for open access will be legislated by the Government and policed by the ACCC.