Senior Liberals in two states have delivered Malcolm Turnbull an embarrassing rebuff, rejecting his staunch opposition to Kevin Rudd’s proposed $43 billion high-speed broadband service, reports The Australian.Tasmanian Opposition Leader Will Hodgman and West Australian Treasurer Troy Buswell yesterday split with their federal leader, backing the Prime Minister’s plan to spend at least $21billion of public money to provide broadband 100 times faster than existing services to 90per cent of the nation.To read this report from The Australian in full, see:
www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25311783-601,00.htmlAlso see:National Broadband Network will ‘transform’ Tasmanian economy: Premier David Bartlett
Tasmania’s economy will be “transformed” by the first roll-out of the National Broadband Network in the same way hydro-electricity revolutionised the island last century, Premier David Bartlett said today.Mr Bartlett said that by being the first State to benefit from the new $43 billion super-speed internet, Tasmania would steal a commercial edge over other states and much of Asia.
www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25308532-5013404,00.htmlTelstra starts talks on broadband
Telstra chairman Donald McGauchie has met a senior adviser to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to discuss the implications of the Government’s sweeping proposal to build a $43 billion high-speed broadband network.After an hour’s discussion, a Rudd spokeswoman described the meeting as “constructive”. Other sources said the talks were of a very general nature.
www.theage.com.au/national/telstra-starts-talks-on-broadband-20090408-a0tr.html
www.smh.com.au/national/telstra-starts-talks-on-broadband-20090408-a0tr.htmlDon’t swallow broadband line, Turnbull warns investors
Malcolm Turnbull warned that the Federal Government’s $43 billion broadband network may not be a “safe or worthwhile” investment as Kevin Rudd encouraged small investors to put their money in a “pretty good investment in the future”.Government officials began talks yesterday with communications companies about what role they might play in the new government-owned company that will build the super-fast broadband network.
www.smh.com.au/national/dont-swallow-broadband-line-turnbull-warns-investors-20090408-a0we.html
www.theage.com.au/national/dont-swallow-broadband-line-turnbull-warns-investors-20090408-a0we.htmlNew wire is your connection
The first sign of the Government’s $43 billion national broadband network appearing in your street is likely to be another wire placed in the tangle of cables carried by suburban telegraph poles.The federal Government will use poles and underground pipes near homes to roll out the fibre backbone that will underpin the new national broadband network.
www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25312642-15306,00.htmlPitch is critical with network bond issue
Australia’s biggest bond issue since World War II, aimed at funding an ambitious stimulus package and a $43 billion broadband network, could be a failure if bond yields are pitched too low, according to bond market dealers.
www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25311773-5013404,00.htmlConroy’s NBN brainchild a vote winner
In the next few weeks, tenders will go out for $250 million worth of work to build new capacity in regional Australian cities to increase the potential competition for Telstra, reports The Australian.The so-called backhaul proposals didn’t get much attention in this week’s broadband rollout, but they hint at the competitive threat facing the company.Centres such as Broken Hill, Mildura, Mount Isa, Darwin, Mount Gambier and Geraldton now have no choice in fixed-line broadband and that’s about to change.To read this report from The Australian in full, see:
www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,28124,25310840-5013408,00.html
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