Good news on the broadband front in Australia is reported on ABC news online with a fibre optic network being placed on the table by the G9 group (http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1938172.htm). What’s interesting is what “Primus chief executive officer Ravi Bahatia” reportedly said, “Competition is very successful in Australia right now and what the access undertaking does, the one we lodged today with G9, is it helps to protect that competition by decimation by a monopoly carrier,” now he wouldn’t be making inference to our beloved Telstra would he? Too right we the competitors and consumers alike need protection against the flagrant profiteering of Telstra. As I understand the situation, Telstra is unwilling to lay down fibre without assurance that it will be able to charge exorbitant fees to access the network. The 50 dollar charge for fibre broadband proposed by G9 is indeed great news for Australians who are lagging well behind in the need for speed.

Telstra are hanging onto the ringside ropes at the moment, with the threat of high speed internet and VOIP by competitors, their profit margins are very much at risk. They’ve had free reign over the Telco industry for far too long and now it’s time for them to hang up their gloves for some fresh faces to deliver what Australia wants, a fair go.