accc, page-5

Telstra could have and should have build NBN style network ages ago instead of going on investment forays abroad.

They had the opportunity with rollout of Foxtel, when they introduced optical fibre to every street corner in the city and suburbs. That opportunity still exists now IMO.

I recall the Foxtel salesman coming to my door, explaining the technology, optical fibre to the street corner, coax cable to the houses and flats. One selling point that got me interested was very fast internet connection over this media, but only maybe and in future.
I sent him away saying: Come back when you have the internet option.

I saw Optus rolling out their fibre network for cable TV, because Foxtel would only allow them access to their network at huge cost. Theirs was a failure, Foxtel is stil with us, but it never became the hit everybody was expecting.

I saw later on Optus removing their fibre from electricity poles to avoid paying rent to electricity people.

Both major networks failed to understand or anticipate the future growth of internet, and potential goldmine they were siting on. Foxtel still has fibre to many streets, but I do not think these fibre links will go into the NBN. Foxtel was build after privatization of Telstra and it is a joint venture with other partners.

So NBN will need to feed more fibre alongside Foxtel fibre.
And the city customers will be among the last to benefit, due to the current political mix in the parliament, which is forcing the NBN to build the network in ideological rather than commercial way.

Yes it is a wonderful world.