Home & Office
Telstra versus ACCC, G9 consortium: Timeline
The heated debate over who will build a countrywide fibre-to-the-node network has been raging for some 18 months, with Telstra battling the ACCC, the government and the rival Optus-led G9 consortium. Here's how the controversial issue has played out so far:June 18, 2007: The government reveals the composition of the expert taskforce who will decide whether Telstra or G9 will win the bid to build Australia's fibre network.
The heated debate over who will build a countrywide fibre-to-the-node network has been raging for some 18 months, with Telstra battling the ACCC, the government and the rival Optus-led G9 consortium. Here's how the controversial issue has played out so far:
- June 18, 2007: The government reveals the composition of the expert taskforce who will decide whether Telstra or G9 will win the bid to build Australia's fibre network. One ACCC member is included.
- June 15, 2007: Telstra boss Sol Trujillo tells staff the company will not negotiate any further and has no intention of changing the proposal on the table.
- June 12, 2007: Speculation grows that the government is soon to appoint a panel to adjudicate on the two rival broadband plans. Telstra has said it believes the ACCC should not sit on the panel having previously endorsed the G9 plan.
- June 8, 2007: Telstra reportedly warns the government it will pull out of fibre altogether if no decision is reached by the end of next month.
- April 20, 2007: The Optus led consortium of nine telcos, known as the G9, lodges its draft proposal with the ACCC.
- March 21, 2007: Labor unveils its vision of a broadband future, centred around a AU$4.7 billion investment in a fibre network.The plan is welcomed by Optus and Telstra.
- August 7, 2006: Talks between the ACCC and Telstra over the network break down. ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel says he is bewildered and disappointed by the impasse. Rivals then demand Telstra make its network plans public.
- July 10, 2006: Nine telcos club together to propose an alternative fibre network using the brand "SpeedReach", the name the group would give to the company which would eventually run the network if the proposal is approved.
- April 21, 2006: Telstra labels the proposals "a pick-pocket plan to rip-off Telstra shareholders and taxpayers".
- April 21, 2006: Optus, Macquarie Telecom, PowerTel, Primus, Internode, Soul and TransACT suggest four possible rival approaches to Telstra's fibre vision.
- December 21, 2005: Telstra reveals its fibre-to-the-node plans are on hold following the government's decision.
- December 21, 2005: Federal communications minister Helen Coonan told a conference the government will not intervene to allow Telstra to restrict access to the network.
- November 15, 2005: Telstra unveils a plan to extend fibre to 2000 nodes across Australia.