The federal government will have to rely on the support of the entire Senate crossbench if it wants parliament to approve its plan to restructure Telstra before the end of the year.
Minister for Communications Stephen Conroy has released two key documents related to the first National Broadband Network process, which may clear the way for the Senate to debate the three key NBN Bills.
In a joint statement released this morning, telcos iiNet, Internode, Macquarie Telecom, Netspace, Optus, Primus, TransACT and VHA have voiced their support for legislation paving the way for the separation of larger competitor Telstra.
The head of one of Australia's biggest companies has expressed his dismay at the federal government's plan to break up Telstra.
Draft laws paving the way for the break-up of Telstra have passed the lower house of Federal Parliament, with Labor using its numbers to defeat a coalition move to delay its reform agenda.
Virtually everyone in the telecommunications industry has their say in the Senate Standing Committee's public hearing into the pending legislation to split up Telstra, in this week's Twisted Wire podcast.
Time will tell how the rest of the NBN Co board shapes up, but it's hard to dismiss the credentials of its two most high-profile appointments so far.
Rural areas will be welcoming the government's decision to put its money where its politicising is, funnelling $250m into a regional fibre upgrade to six rural centres. Remedying over a decade of near-neglect at the hands of telecoms privatisation, the investment could be the firmest step yet for Labor's NBN dream but with inevitable political questions and a looming election, Rudd and Conroy need to deliver, and quickly, to preserve the NBN's credibility.
What if Shell, Caltex, Mobil and all the other petroleum giants decided tomorrow to stop selling unleaded, and announced that they would only manufacture and sell LPG from now on? Telstra's decision to introduce RIM equipment in its Deakin, ACT exchange will have the same effect for its competitors.
In times of financial crisis, it's inevitable that companies reassess their financial plans.
Boss of internet service provider Exetel, John Linton, says the National Broadband Network should be handed to the only company that can build it Telstra and he's not impressed by NBN Co chief Mike Quigley.
This afternoon Communications Minister Stephen Conroy described his opposite, Senator Nick Minchin, as a Luddite as he took questions from reporters on the Opposition's attempt to block the government's wide-ranging telecommunications industry reform legislation, which includes provisions to force the break-up of Telstra.
Many would love to see the Pirate Party and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy face off in the Australian Senate, but the unorthodox political party doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning the necessary votes.
The story of how Telstra lost its network is one of hubris and bungling, of misreading the play in Australia by men from the US who thought they knew everything already. Shareholders should never forget this.
Stephen Conroy's opus on the future direction of Australia's Digital Economy mainly curates existing success stories and government policies, and does little to demonstrate any form of roadmap to take the nation out of the Dark Ages.
David Forman, executive director of the Competitive Carriers' Coalition tells ZDNet.com.au what he thought Telstra's real reasons were for not following in BT's footsteps.
The law needs to be changed so the ACCC has the option of amending an offer and then accepting it. That will stop Telstra from "playing Games", according to David Foreman, executive director of the Competitive Carriers Coalition.
In 2005, telecoms competition was gaining its legs, but since then it has suffered a turnaround, going backwards while it rushes ahead in the rest of the world, according to David Forman, executive director of the Competitive Carriers' Coalition.
The Competitive Carriers' Coalition can't afford the services of a lobbyist according to its executive director, David Forman.
ZDNet correspondent Sumi Das talks with Senior Editor Sam Diaz about the perks and pitfalls of the newly released browser from Google. Diaz also reveals why Sergey Brin is bugging the Chrome team on a daily basis.
Windows Defender is free and therefore should be a part of your desktop antispyware collection. Still, it's best to get a second opinion, probably from your name-brand antivirus-plus-software application.
Microsoft is forcing people to upgrade to newer versions of its instant messenger application and is shutting its doors to third-party IM products such as Trillian.
The exploding costs of fabrication facilities, combined with the technical hurdles of the next generation of chip design seem like unassailable hurdles for the microchip vendors and manufacturers.
Gadgets featured at the Consumer Electronics Show 2003 make technology available anywhere, anytime. ZDNet Australia presents this special coverage of the show.
The University of California, Davis, gets a grant from the Defense Department to build a new generation of mobile phones that use optical signals to create speedier and more secure communication
Telstra shareholders fear break up
What do Telstra shareholders think of the telco's new CEO David Thodey? And would they support the government'… Watch it now
The Change Program changes its Agenda
What happens when you change the agenda of the ATO's Change Program, or program in some changes to the Agenda?… Watch it now
Microsoft's Tracey Fellows on Windows 7
After the launch of Windows 7 last week, ZDNet.com.au spoke briefly with Microsoft Australia and New Zealand M… Watch it now
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