Unwired makes court undertakings on Telstra ADSL reach

Unwired told the Federal Court in Sydney this morning -- during legal proceedings initiated by Telstra over claims by the wireless player about the telco giant's ADSL coverage in Sydney -- that it "would not repeat the representations that Telstra's ADSL coverage was only 75 percent".

It would also "give Telstra five business days prior notice before making any representations that Telstra's ADSL is less than 95.8 percent in [the] Sydney metropolitan area or 85 percent nationally".

BigPond managing director Justin Milne said in a brief statement he welcomed the Unwired undertakings.

"Our coverage in Sydney is 95.8 percent and growing. All we ask is that Unwired tell the truth and not mislead," Milne said.

The hearing before Justice Peter Hely lasted for about an hour from 10:15am.

Unwired chief executive officer David Spence said in a statement following the hearing that "Telstra's ADSL coverage claims have changed dramatically over the past few weeks and we have undertaken to give Telstra the opportunity to respond if we do decide to make any comment on its coverage.

Our customers choose us regardless of whether they can get ADSL or not. So the question of Telstra's coverage, whatever it may be, is not a real issue for us.

"Telstra is clearly sensitive about its ADSL coverage but we believe its customers would be happier if it spent its money improving its network instead of on lawyers. In the meantime we will continue to attract Telstra's unhappy customers," Spence said.