-Singapore Telecommunications has just paid AU$14 billion to take-over Optus so they can certainly afford to pay a fair price for the use of Telstra's Australian network," Telstra CEO Dr Ziggy Switkowski said.
According to a Telstra spokesperson, SingTel Optus's intention is to shelve an appeal by Telstra against the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's decision to cut wholesale call costs -way" below the telco's current pricing.
-SingTel Optus is trying to apply political pressure to stop Telstra appealing the decision in court," the spokesperson said.
According to the spokesperson, the matter is between Optus and Telstra. -We want to take it to court, Optus want to stop that process," he said.
-Attempts by SingTel Optus to pressure the government into intervening on Telstra's legal rights and commercial responsibilities to shareholders are quite inappropriate," Switkowski said.
"Singapore Telecommunications is not a 'little Aussie Battler' - it is an international company attempting to opportunistically influence the Australian Government at a politically sensitive time," Switkowski said.
"I do not believe the government should or would interfere with Telstra's legitimate rights to appeal ACCC decisions to higher courts. That is the regulatory regime," he added.
Real competition is badly needed
I make a consious effort to buy Australian.
However, this does not extend to doing business with crooks.