Number two Australian telco Optus has rejected the government’s proposed amendments to its national broadband network (NBN), CEO Paul O’Sullivan was quoted telling journalists.
The government reportedly drew up more than 20 pages worth of amendments…
Number two Australian telco Optus has rejected the government’s proposed amendments to its national broadband network (NBN), CEO Paul O’Sullivan was quoted telling journalists.
The government reportedly drew up more than 20 pages worth of amendments designed to protect NBN Co from future accusations of anticompetitive behaviour. The amendments have been approved by the lower house and was due to be examined by the Senate today, Dow Jones reported.
The newswire wrote that Optus opposes three amendments: NBN Co’s ability to subsidise regional and metropolitan areas, to set wholesale/retail interconnection points, and to bundle services more easily than rivals.
O’Sullivan reportedly says he hopes the government will accept his company’s suggested changes within the next 48 hours.
Earlier this week, incumbent Telstra said it was looking into new business areas, in case the NBN plans are not successful.
Speaking to investors, Telstra CFO John Stanhope was quoted saying that options included a combination of fibre and copper-based high-speed broadband networks, which would be less expensive than a pure fibre solution.
Telstra last year signed a non-bidding agreement with NBN to participate in the project, which necessitates a structural separation. The US$36bn fibre network aims to connect more than 1.7 million premises by June 2013.
O’Sullivan has also called for the NBN to be run by an independent board to ensure its operation remains at arms’ length both from the government and existing telcos.
