Overview:

Two weeks before the election the Coalition announced its broadband and telecommunications policies. At face value there could be some potential advantages for Telstra. It will not be structurally separated, the broadband market will be stimulated and some lucrative contracts could potentially come its way.

However, there are also serious questions as to whether these policies can actually be implemented – they give rise to significant regulatory and technical issues. This would take Telstra back to the era of being the dominant carrier, with all the related access issues.

BuddeComm argues that Telstra has moved on since that time and that it now has its eyes firmly fixed on the future – a future where new opportunities are surfacing, as the NBN is used for government innovation. This is bringing business from other sectors (healthcare, education, energy, transport) to the telecoms industry and the company is well-positioned to embrace that new future.

1. Synopsis
2. Analysis of the situation
2.1 Potential advantages for Telstra
2.2 Back tthe years of access dispute
2.3 Plans are technically flawed
2.4 The ongoing wireless discussion
2.5 Few opportunities, many uncertainties for Telstra
2.6 Stimulating private investments
2.7 Conclusions
2.8 Telstra has already set its eyes on the future
3. Background information
3.1 Company Overview
3.2 Telstra and the NBN

Table 1 – Total broadband subscribers and annual change – 1996-2011
Table 2 – Broadband access revenues by major provider – 2005 - 2011
Table 3 – Telstra Group total revenue – 1994 - 2010
Table 4 – Telstra Group sales revenue, EBITDA, EBIT and net profit – 2002 - 2009