Telstra launches 8Mbps ADSL ... in the UK

As they often do, a press release from Telstra crossed my desk last week.

The headline screamed: "Launches nationwide 8Mbps business broadband".

Fantastic, I thought. Just what businesses all around Australia have been waiting for. Telstra has finally uncapped the speed of its ADSL broadband service as several of its competitors did more than a year ago.

But hold on a second! This press release didn't originate in Australia!

"As the business world strives for ever quicker communications, Telstra is delighted to be one of the first providers to launch an enhanced business broadband service across the UK," the press release from Telstra's European office stated.

The UK? But what about Australia?

Then the horrible truth dawned on me.

Yes, Telstra technically has the ability to offer broadband up to 8Mbps on its Australian ADSL network.

In some areas where it has ADSL2+ infrastructure it can even offer up to 24Mbps.

However for its own reasons Telstra is still not doing so. What this means is that despite being bad at cricket and most sports in general, the Brits are winning in one area: getting uncapped ADSL broadband from Telstra!!!

I consulted Telstra spokesperson Rod Bruem on why Telstra is showing favouritism.

Rod pointed out there were differences between government regulations guiding telecommunications services in the UK as compared with Australia.

He said the ongoing discussions between Telstra and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on the conditions under which Telstra would build a national fibre to the node network were designed to address the speed problem.

Rod's got a point -- Telstra needs to make sure it can get a decent return from any services it sells Down Under.

But as a consumer I still can't help feeling a little bit ripped off and disenchanted with the telco I grew up with.

Let's hope the discussions are productive and Australian businesses end up with a better deal from Telstra. Even, one could hope, a little discount for not being English? One can dream.