The Federal Government is extremely likely to be forced into a legal battle with Telstra after kicking the telco out of the National Broadband Network bidding process, according to numerous industry onlookers.
The Department of Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy has issued a request for tender for legal services in support of its NBN implementation study.
Law firm Minter Ellison has been awarded $330,000 worth of work with the federal broadband department for work, which appears to relate to the Tasmanian portion of the National Broadband Network roll-out.
The government would land itself in legal hot water if it decided to negotiate with Telstra after the telco appeared to fail to put in a compliant National Broadband Network bid, Shadow Communications Minister Nick Minchin said today.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has revealed the remaining board members for the National Broadband Network Company, a group with high-level financial, technical, legal and business skills.
In the second of our two programs looking at the Senate Inquiry into the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment Bill, we hear from shareholders, bureaucrats and industry groups.
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.
Optus' involvement in the controversial government blacklist project could fall on either side of the fence. In kissing the ring, is Optus conceding that censorship is inevitable or hatching a scheme to discredit Conroy's folly from within?
Like the one ring of Sauron, the power of Telstra's copper loop twists the minds of its ever-scheming board, which hid in its Collins Street boardroom until it was wrenched from its grasp by the forces of deregulation and the undead armies of ACCC head Graeme Samuel.
Many Australians are drooling at the prospect of 100Mbps broadband, but Trujillo seems to have a bigger endgame in mind. As Telstra poaches customers from the PSTN and NBN, he'll leave more poison pills than we've seen since Phar Lap.
The proposed regulatory reforms ahead of the roll-out of the National Broadband Network rely on a finely balanced carrot and stick approach. But will Telstra cooperate with the government's ultimatum?
With a series of strategic appointments, management consultancy McKinsey has placed itself perfectly to benefit from the massive $43 billion slush fund the Federal Government is describing publicly as "the National Broadband Network project".
The Federal Government's preferred National Broadband Network partner is due to be nominated shortly. As that moment looms, and Stephen Conroy's language becomes more aggressive, Telstra's share price has been imploding.
Opinion: Conroy should end this futile tender process. Call Telstra's McGauchie and his executives in and read them the riot act. Appoint someone with appropriate credentials and resources not some panel to then negotiate a commercial deal on behalf of taxpayers.
Former Optus executive Paul Fletcher's book "Wired Brown Land? Telstra's Battle for Broadband" details the history of broadband communication in our nation and highlights why it is impossible that Telstra will give up in its fight for dominance, despite the wounds it has recently taken.
Ben Forta: All about Adobe
Take one ColdFusion veteran and mix in a healthy dose of prolific book writing, and chances are you will end u… Watch it now
Google CEO Eric Schmidt
Google's chief sits down for an extremely rare, wide-ranging interview and discusses Google's two operating sy… Watch it now
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
Having problems with complex data center? Simplify your data center now.
Can not-so-smart meters help the NBN?
Can the Telco Reform Act be win-win?
Has New Zealand's smiling assassin delivered?
What makes you click?
Tell us for a chance to win a $1,000 GAME gift voucher.
Click here for more.
Win an iPhone 3GS!
Sign up as a ZDNet Australia member during November and you'll go in a draw to win an iPhone 3GS!
Click here to sign up!
Best Laptops
Check out the best laptops here!
Click here for more.
