The major impediment to companies other than Telstra bidding for the $4.7 billion broadband tender looks to have been cleared, following a belated concession from Telstra.
It yesterday handed over information on the design of its fixed-line telephone network, which is crucial for designing a fibre-to-the-node broadband network. The information, and lodgement of the $5 million tender bond with the Government, came less than a week before the Senate was scheduled to debate a bill that would have forced Telstra to hand over the information.
Telstra's refusal to share the information after the announcement of the broadband tender a month ago was, according to its rivals, grounds to extend the July 25 deadline for bids, because Telstra effectively had a head start in designing the FTTN network.
"Today's actions by Telstra put us a step closer to starting work, and puts the onus on others to quit complaining and put up their money," said Telstra Wholesale group managing director Kate McKenzie.
"Telstra's bid team is now fine-tuning the company's plans, and we look forward to the Government making decisions in time to allow construction to begin by the end of the year, as the minister has stated."
Optus, the biggest member of the group of nine consortium that has promised to bid against Telstra, dismissed the announcement as being akin to "the fox suddenly claiming to be a model citizen in the hen house".
"The reality is that the information is not yet available to the industry," Optus spokeswoman Melissa Favero said.
Telstra's handover came with the clause that rival bidders must sign a confidentiality deed to get access to the information. Participants must also lodge the refundable $5 million bond with the Government, although Ms Favero declined to comment on when the G9 would do so.
But the G9 did confirm that former Soul chief executive Michael Simmons had been appointed manager of its tender bid.
Telstra, meanwhile, reaffirmed the earnings guidance it gave in February, which forecast that revenue for the year to June 30 would increase 3%-4% and pre-tax earnings be 6%-8% higher compared with 2006-07.
LINK
- Read Telstra's announcment at tinyurl.com/5vy46p