worth buying?, page-31

Gattung's views are of interest but possibly of little relevance due to the (previously mentioned on this thread) tectonic shift away from fixed line to wireless. Telecom NZ and for that matter BT had the relatively benign status quo of fixed lines seemingly for ever during and immediately after their functional separation.

What does stand the test of time though is the morality of destroying a public asset along with the savings of literally millions of citizens. What has happened to the rule of law?

If Telstra were offered a level playing field in which to operate and morph into the new wireless/hybrid world of communications it would be tough for them but as Sol showed, definitely possible. The last thing any business needs when dealing with systemic change is to have additional changes arbitrarily forced down their throat.

And the last thing the government s/be doing is implementing a brand new land line system when all the indications are that we are doing fine with what we've got - and the world is moving in another direction.