Telstra combines $6bn networks and services trio

Telstra is bringing its networks, services and wireless division together under one roof, creating a AU$6 billion dollar, 17,000 staff business unit.

The new division will go under the name of Telstra Networks and Services, and be headed up by Michael Rocca, a 40-year Telstra veteran, reporting to the telco's COO, Greg Winn.

According to a spokesperson for the telco, the move was prompted by the completion of its Next G and Next IP networks. "There's been an intense focus looking at the close links between the units," the spokesperson said.

The new division will run all of Telstra's "technology, networks, infrastructure build and service delivery groups".

The change should not initially affect end users, the spokesperson said yesterday. However, the telco's contact centres and field workforce will now be brought under the same unit, which the spokesperson said is expected to ultimately improve the company's service delivery.

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This will be like winning Lotto - to Telstra Lord Watchdog -- 23/04/08

Here comes Sol's chance to sack more people. When it happens, you heard it first right here.

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Telstra 'consolidation' Anonymous -- 23/04/08 (in reply to #320100255)

What do you mean chance - all duplication between the business units will be eliminated - duplicated management, call centres, support will be eliminated so that Telstra (sorry Sol) will hit targets.

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By chance Lord Watchdog -- 25/04/08 (in reply to #320100278)

By "chance" I mean that Telstra is always looking to build down to a price rather than up to a standard.

Back in the dim dark days when I was a Telstra and Bigpond customer I would often get told that Telstra had the best network, Telstra used the mickey mouse gear, Telstra's products were all considered 'Premium' and this is why they cost more, etc.

I bit the bullet when I wanted to change who I hosted a website I own with. Not knowing any better and desperate to have my own piece of the web I chose Bigpond. They hosted my domain name and DNS after charging me $165.00 to do a job that I know only takes 40 seconds - adding 'A' records to a couple of name servers. Do you consider an hourly rate of $14,850 good value? I don't, sorry.

I manage all my hosting services myself these days because it gives me a lot of freedom over configuration, some of which Telstra refused to do unless I upgraded, naturally at a cost that only a blue chip company could afford.

What service Telstra did provide for me was done on their terms and in their own good time. Some may say fair enough but when there is a far better option available then why is it such a crime to exploit it? I give myself better service than Telstra could at any price and I use the same equipment - HP enterprise-grade rack servers and server operating systems. If I am going to pay through the nose to host a few websites I may as well own what I am paying for instead of pissing money up against the wall. I'll finish by saying that when Sol starts weilding the axe again service levels from Telstra can only fall further.

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More like no chance Anonymous -- 25/04/08 (in reply to #320100390)

Here is a person talking about buying a consumer grade "bigpond" service and talking about commercial grade (Telstra Internet Direct) business requirements. You choose to buy a product that is "premium" for a residential customer but is standard for most business.

If you chose the right services in the first place you may not have been charged these fees as you would have had direct management access to these facilities.

Within the industry both Bigpond and Internet Direct are considered to be the best ISP's in the country for residential and business users but if you choose the wrong one of course you will be disappointed.

As to web hosting, if you have the volume to justify the money you would spend on dedicated servers, high bandwidth redundant links, redundant power, 24/7 maintenance, specialist staff to manage the OS / Hardware / links / routers & switches then go ahead and do it yourself but for most businesses who need a web site they do not have all of this and are not willing to pay for in house management.

Based on the impression I get you have lots of time on your hands (as all you ever seem to do is post one sided comments on this and many other sites all day long) I can only assume your business is floundering and you have no real clients to keep you busy.

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You complain they are slow and inefficient Anonymous -- 23/04/08 (in reply to #320100255)

And then you complain when they do something to make them more effective and perform better. As a customer, shareholder and Australian I am glad they are doing something to improve the company performance, their bottom line and at the end of the day improve services across the country. In a 4% unemployment environment do you really think people will be worried about getting a golden handshake and moving to another company overnight?

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Sure thing... less staff Anonymous -- 23/04/08 (in reply to #320100283)

Look out... less staff, more amalgamations - great customer service from contracted companies to Telstra that couldn't care less. What golden handshake - hello... reality check - they don't exist any more in Telstra - only for the top dogs.. for everyone else, the door is open, resign.

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yep... Little Lord Faulterouy -- 23/04/08 (in reply to #320100255)

don't you think us that actually work in the business unit haven't thought about this already?

better get the redundancy calculators out.

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