line connection hike, are they mad???, page-35

Don't disagree with you, one day all the copper will be gone. But until that day comes there are still billions to be made from the $30/month money for nothing charges even if the profit % is smaller then it used to be. It may take a while to change but the old dinosaur is changing, unlike poor Ted Bulpitt who's got tunnel vision and can only play the same old "Telstra will go broke soon" tune. :-)
New networks sound good but who will put up the money for that ? Most of the smaller telcos don't have a pot to piss in, let alone billions of $$$ for new networks.
Wireless? Well...Tls already has the largest coverage with its 3G EVDO/1xRTT network and if they have to upgrade to faster technology they can afford it. WiMAX will probably end up a duopoly controlled by Austar and Foxtel which would give Telstra a piece of the pie without having to go to war with ACCC.
Yes, tricky times ahead and maybe lower sp but just like other gov. monopolies before it TLS is changing and will survive.