[LINK] Fwd: VIP-L: very interesting article about Telstra in Saturday's Herald

[Jan Whitaker]

probably from SMH.


>Telstra ups charges for landlines, mobiles
>
>
>Date: August 16 2008
>
>
>Matt O'Sullivan
>
>TELSTRA has announced a rise of about 4 per cent in access charges for
>almost half its home-phone lines, just two days after posting a 13 per cent
>jump in annual profits to $3.7 billion.
>
>The telco will also charge fixed-to-mobile calls in 30-second blocks -
>instead of per second - which consumer groups said could boost customers'
>mobile-phone bills significantly. As well, calls to 13 and 1300 customer
>service numbers will increase by 2.5 cents to 30 cents a call.
>
>The increase in charges applies to three of Telstra's eight home line plans,
>which are understood to make up almost half of its 5.5 million residential
>lines. The company declined to reveal the number of lines affected, citing
>"commercial confidentiality".
>
>Sharemarket analysts estimate the $12 a year increase in home telephone
>access charges alone will boost Telstra's annual after-tax profit by about
>$20 million - based on an average monthly charge of about $27.
>
>The Consumers' Telecommunications Network said the increase made it less
>viable for customers to retain a home-phone line, while the change to
>fixed-to-mobile calls could increase bills significantly.
>
>"People who are trying to save a bit of money with the cheap line rental are
>the ones who are going to be most affected," the network's policy adviser,
>Sarah Wilson, said.
>
>But Telstra said it was the first increase in monthly access charges for
>more than two years, emphasising that phone charges had fallen in real
>terms.
>
>Analysts said yesterday Telstra faces the danger of customers baulking at
>the higher charges and using only mobile phones or switching to other
>carriers.
>
>The increase in charges will take effect on November 1.


Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
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