Fergie's Tech Blog

Australia: Telstra Net Talks Drag On

James Riley and Chris Jenkins writes on Australian IT:

Telstra has warned that crucial negotiations with the competition watchdog over a planned $3 billion fibre-optic network will not be completed before a cabinet meeting next week, at which the federal Government is due to discuss the sale of its stake in the telco.

Chief financial officer John Stanhope signalled yesterday that talks with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission were dragging on. He told a finance conference in Sydney that analysts should dampen their expectations of a decision on the sale being made next week.

The warning came as it emerged that Telstra's rivals may not see the fine details of any regulatory deal between the former telco monopoly and the ACCC on new networks until after the Government decides whether, and when, to proceed with the sale.

posted by Fergie @ 5/03/2006 05:25:00 PM