May 06, 2010

Optus slams Telstra over Australia's National Broadbank Network Project


http://www.computerworld.com.au


Optus spokesman Maha Krishnapillai has told Telstra to "get out of the way" of the National Broadband Network (NBN) adding it will succeed without its help.

The former Macquarie Telecom executive said entities with "vested interests" should step aside, referring to the $25 million NBN Implementation Study released today which claims the $43 billion network is financially viable.

"It's pretty bloody good," Krishnapillai said of the study.

"It is a major win for competition and validation that the network is commercially viable and that [a] $50 access price is achievable.

"We must get on and build the network and those with vested interests should get out of the way," he said.

Krishnapillai backed claims in the report that the NBN can be built without Telstra's network, adding that "Telstra better get with the program".

He said there were no surprises in the report since Optus had worked "very closely" with government and industry stakeholders.

Conroy confirmed the Telstra separation Bill will be introduced Wednesday, and told a press gallery the "Bill deals with the existing structure of the market today… and gives new powers to the ACCC to try and deal with some of the problems this sector has had endemically".

Telstra said it will "consider the report findings in detail".