[LINK] Telstra's NBN bid rejected

[Michael Skeggs mike@bystander.net]

2008/12/15 Jan Whitaker <jwhit at melbpc.org.au>:
>I heard recently
>from someone who knows this stuff that Telstra has installed a LOT of
>technology that it hasn't turned on yet and at one time left it dark
>until the govt [Howard] came up with a subsidy. The equipment was
>ALREADY THERE. To me that's called fraud.]

This was probably the ADSL2+ DSLAM roll out. The boxes were installed
all over, but only activated for ADSL2+ speeds in exchanges where a
competitor had installed a competing DSLAM. When the ALP were elected,
Conroy sent a letter to Sol, which Sol claimed meant Telstra would not
be required to wholesale the service under ACCC purview. They then
turned all the ADSL2+ DSLAMs on in a few weeks.
I don't think it is fraud, but it certainly shows a disregard for the
customer's interests.

Regards,
Michael Skeggs