376 matchprice, page-45

re: senator coonan leaves ull pricing to accc Heremes. You are wasting your time to try and convince these posters. They are convinced of their position and that's it.

For myself, I lean towards your position. Allowing operational separation we will be able to see the true extent of TLS business in this country. They have a retail operation, incomparably the most lucrative in the industry contrary to Shane's position. However the most important thing is the wholesale industry. They are selling shovels to a large number of businesses in this country. This will only increase.

For example VOIP. You are a small telecommunications company wanting to offer VOIP to the world. You need a broadband network to do it. Are you going to build one yourself or will you lease one?

Or you want to provide satellite navigation/position systems - do you want the investment to run this and keep it up to date etc or do you lease it?

Or you want to provide ordinary telephony services, do you set up your own network or do you lease it. TLS Retail will fit in here - the branding/franchise will be a significant problem for other companies.

People need to remember that is not just TLS who are hurting from the price war in telecommunications - it is every provider - look at Vodafone and Optus and some of their announcements this year. Like any discounting war the battle will be won by the team with the biggest pockets. TLS is a monumental cash cow, the biggest tollroad in this country and the opportunities go on and grow. I am relishing the increasing cheap prices - I hope they fall further because that's going to be good for me.