"..every australian probably owns about $2000 worth of tls...

"..every australian probably owns about $2000 worth of tls indirectly and directly I'd say...what is also amazing is that they own 16% of it or some $6.5bn worth at todays prices.."

No, every Australian does not own $2000 worth of TLS.

I, like a growing number of Australians manage my own Super, and Telstra will never be part of that portfolio...so my share of TLS is, at most..

$40B (market cap) / 20M (Aust. population) x 16%, or $320.

..and given that the Future Fund is nothing more than a warchest for future Govt liabilties for public servant superannuations, I'd daresay that the general public essentially own nothing of that 16% of TLS (or $320ea).

IMO Telstra are and have always been monopolistic and anti-competitive, and incredibly overcharge compared to other service providers...I have no qualms whatsoever in seeing their bottom line and market share dwindle...in fact I hope it does. I have not used any of their services for over ten years for business or personal, and have no need to.

Not that I am in favour of the Govt's new NBN proprosal...I dislike that idea even more than Telstra.

IMO there is nothing wrong with the speed that wireless will be able to provide going into the future...and I find that spending $43B+ just for the sake of a few being able to download a movie or porn a little quicker as offensive.