Telstra: Nichts zu verdienen in Australien :-( - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

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REACH confirms finalisation of revised syndicated loan
28-04 0848


REACH CONFIRMS FINALISATION OF REVISED SYNDICATED LOAN AND
REPAYMENT OF US$300 MILLION TO SYNDICATED BANKS

Reach Ltd confirms that it has today finalised the new terms for its
syndicated US$1.5 billion loan facility on the same "in-principle
agreement" terms disclosed by PCCW Limited and Telstra Corporation
Limited to their respective stock exchanges on 14 April 2003. In
addition, REACH today repaid US$300 million to the syndicated banks,
thereby reducing the outstanding loan to US$1.2 billion. For copies
of the original PCCW and Telstra disclosures, please visit
www.pccw.com or www.telstra.com

ABOUT REACH

REACH is Asia`s largest international carrier of combined voice,
private line and IP data services. It is also one of the world`s top
ten carriers of international voice traffic. REACH`s products and
services include an extensive portfolio of voice, data, IP and
satellite connectivity. The company has interests in more than 50
submarine cable and satellite systems (including Asia`s largest
teleport), and operating licences and landing rights in most major
markets including Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore,
Australia, North America and Europe. REACH is headquartered in Hong
Kong, with a significant presence in Australia and substantial
businesses across Asia, North America and Europe. For further
information, please visit www.reach.com

Media inquiries:
English-language Chinese-language
Martin Ratia Shirley Woo
CORPORATE AFFAIRS CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Tel: [phone] Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone] Fax: [phone]
[e-mail] [e-mail]

ends - AAP



TS

[maischbert]

[Aktienfossil]

Heute auch nicht viel Bewegung in der Aktie, leichtes Minus...

Aktienfossil

[TwinSpark]

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- WebEx Communications, Inc. , the Web communications leader, has signed an agreement with Australian telecommunications giant Telstra to provide Web meeting services for Telstra``s 10 million customers. By combining the Web communications capabilities of the WebEx MediaTone Network with Telstra``s teleconferencing services, Telstra is able to offer its millions of customers a fully integrated Web communications service that simulates the spontaneity and productivity of face-to-face meetings. With more than 7,000 corporate customers and agreements with the world``s largest telecommunications companies, WebEx is the leading provider of Web communications services.

"Because WebEx adds the critical visual element to remote communications, it allows our customers to cost-effectively expand the reach of their businesses to the global market," said John Davison, general manager of Telstra Conferencing. "WebEx meetings are a productive way to communicate with associates and customers, either across Australia or around the world. We selected WebEx as an outcome of an extensive analysis of the Web conferencing market. We view WebEx as best suited to support the many needs and demands of a telecommunications company and its customers."

"As one of the world``s most progressive telecommunications providers, Telstra is quick to identify and integrate the communications technologies that drive business," said Subrah Iyar, CEO of WebEx Communications. "With Telstra``s 10 million customers and its leading position in the corporate market, this agreement will increase WebEx meeting usage in the Australian market."

WebEx provides a range of communications services to corporations, technology companies and telecommunications providers worldwide. Departments across the enterprise use WebEx``s services to reduce travel costs, increase sales and improve productivity. All of WebEx services are built on the WebEx``s MediaTone communications platform and supported by WebEx MediaTone Network, a high-performance network specifically designed for visual Web communications. WebEx is the only company to develop and deploy a high-speed global network specifically designed for Web communications.

"By combining the quality and reliability of Telstra``s services with the scalability and flexibility of WebEx``s communications platform, Telstra has created a world-class business communications offering," said Kevin Mackin, general manager of WebEx Communications, Australia. "The vast size, geographically distant business centers and expensive air travel makes WebEx meetings perfect for Australian businesses."

About Telstra Corporation Limited

Telstra is Australia``s leading telecommunications carrier and a world-class fully integrated, full service provider across wireline, ADSL, HFC, satellite and digital wireless networks and platforms. Telstra has more than 10 million household, business and wholesale customers. Telstra is Australia``s leading ISP, has the most highly accessed family of Internet portals and sites and provides entertainment and multimedia content over its broadband network and through its Pay-TV joint venture.

Telstra owns and operates one of the most technologically advanced networks, offering end-to-end solutions ranging from broadband, IP, mobile and intelligent network services, to voice and data network hubs, call centers, and advanced multimedia and e-commerce applications. It has business operations in North America, UK/Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

A top tier global carrier with total 2000/01 revenue of A$23.1 billion (US$11.8 billion), Telstra placed 112th in Business Week``s 2001 Global 1000 ranking of the world``s most valuable companies by market value.

About WebEx Communications, Inc.

WebEx Communications, Inc. is the world``s leading provider of Web communications services. WebEx services are used across the enterprise in sales, support, training, marketing, engineering and product design. WebEx provides carrier-class services using its MediaTone communications platform deployed over the WebEx MediaTone Network, a high-speed global network specifically designed for real-time Web communications. With its unique information-switching technology, multimedia capabilities and standards-based APIs, MediaTone is the dial tone for Web communications. WebEx Communications is based in San Jose, California and has regional headquarters in Europe and Asia. Please call toll free 877-509-3239 or visit http://www.webex.com/ for more information.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may be identified by use of the terms anticipates, believes, continue, could, estimates, expects, intends, may, plans, potential, predicts, should or will, or the negative of those terms or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those described in such statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. In particular, these forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that WebEx``s services improve communications in areas such as sales, marketing, training, support, product design, engineering and partner management. Factors which could contribute to risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the failure of customers to utilize the WebEx services effectively in their business and failures and interruptions in the software and systems underlying WebEx``s services. A fuller discussion of the risks and uncertainties that could affect WebEx Communications, Inc. are more fully set forth in WebEx Communications, Inc.``s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including WebEx``s Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 27, 2003. WebEx Communications, Inc. assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information contained in this press release.

WebEx Communications, Inc.

© PR Newswire


TS

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heute ein halbes Prozent Plus auf 4,3 $

[Krutertee]

Announcement:

Reaffirms previous CAPEX guidance
19-05 1923


Telstra today reaffirmed its previous guidance in relation to core
domestic capital expenditure for the financial year ending 30 June
2003 at $3.2-3.3 billion and the financial year ending 30 June 2004
at approximately $3 billion. This guidance was provided at the half
year results announcement on 27 February 2003.

This guidance stands irrespective of claims by Senator Sue Mackay in
a statement issued today.

In relation to claims by Senator Mackay on Telstra workforce
reductions, Telstra does not have specific headcount targets and this
remains the company`s position.

Telstra has foreshadowed a continuing gradual decline in staff
numbers, with this being managed in such a way as to not undermine
the company`s commitment to customer service.

Telstra also denied claims by the Democrats that there had been a
massive rise in network faults after parts of Sydney that had
recorded the heaviest rainfalls in 40 years.

As of this morning there were only 4,900 outstanding faults reported
since heavy rains commenced last week, out of more than 2 million
services in the Sydney area . Telstra expects to have these rectified
in the next ten days.

Telstra Media Contact:
Stephen Morrison 03 9634 5611 or 0417 053 501

Telstra`s national media inquiry line is 13 1639 and the Telstra
Newsroom is located at:

www.telstra.com.au/newsroom

ends - AAP

[Voicebox]

Telstra Reaffirms Previous Capex Guidance
By InvestorWeb, 20 May 2003



Telstra today reaffirmed its previous guidance in relation to core domestic capital expenditure for the financial year ending 30 June 2003 at $3.2-3.3 billion and the financial year ending 30 June 2004 at approximately $3 billion. This guidance was provided at the half year results announcement on 27 February 2003.

This guidance stands irrespective of claims by Senator Sue Mackay in a statement issued today.

In relation to claims by Senator Mackay on Telstra workforce reductions, Telstra does not have specific headcount targets and this remains the company`s position.

Telstra has foreshadowed a continuing gradual decline in staff numbers, with this being managed in such a way as to not undermine the company`s commitment to customer service.

Telstra also denied claims by the Democrats that there had been a massive rise in network faults after parts of Sydney that had recorded the heaviest rainfalls in 40 years. As of this morning there were only 4,900 outstanding faults reported since heavy rains commenced last week, out of more than 2 million services in the Sydney area . Telstra expects to have these rectified in the next ten days.

TLS shares last traded at $4.31.

[Aktienfossil]

Telstra denies having plan to cut 4000 jobs
May 21 2003
By Eli Greenblat





Telstra has dismissed claims by a Tasmanian senator that the telco is planning to slash as many as 4000 jobs over the next year, saying it has no specific targets.

And it reaffirmed its previous guidance in relation to capital spending, saying it was maintaining a budget of $3.2-$3.3 billion for this financial year, falling to roughly $3 billion in 2003-04.

On Monday, Telstra group managing director Bill Scales was grilled by a Senate committee in Sydney where he said the company could have room to cut costs if productivity gains were made.

Labor Senator Sue Mackay seized on Mr Scales` statement, saying Telstra planned to reduce its capital spending by 16-20 per cent, leading to a cut of 5-10 per cent of its workforce, or 4000 people.

She said Telstra was trying to keep specific information on capital spending cuts and job cuts from being made public.


It is believed senior Telstra executives are becoming increasingly agitated about its managers being hauled in front of Senate committees, as they view the process as a point-scoring opportunity for the Opposition and minor parties.

Next week more Telstra managers will face the committee in Canberra.

Telstra issued a statement late on Monday after Senator Mackay`s broadside, in which it confirmed comments by chief executive Ziggy Switkowski earlier in the year about Telstra`s capital spending plans.

"This guidance stands irrespective of claims by Senator Sue Mackay in a statement," Telstra said.

Telstra also said it did not have specific job cuts planned.

"In relation to claims by Senator Mackay on Telstra workforce reductions, Telstra does not have specific headcount targets and this remains the company`s position.

"Telstra has foreshadowed a continuing gradual decline in staff numbers, with this being managed in such a way as to not undermine the company`s commitment to customer service."

Telstra also denied claims there had been a massive rise in network faults after parts of Sydney recorded their heaviest rainfalls in 40 years.

"As of this morning there were only 4900 outstanding faults reported since heavy rains commenced last week, out of more than two million services in the Sydney area."

The reporter holds Telstra shares.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/05/20/1053196582919.h…


Aktienfossil

[Bullaugenjoe]

Telstra comes to rescue of QV development
May 22 2003
By Hugh Martin





Telstra subsidiary Sensis will occupy 15,000 square metres of office space at the Queen Victoria development after former anchor tenant Andersen reneged on a pre-commitment agreement before its demise last year.

The deal is a rescue package for QV development joint venture partnership Grocon and ING, which was facing an 18,000 sq m liability with the building at the corner of Lonsdale and Swanston streets due for completion early next year.

Sensis will merge staff from four locations around the Melbourne CBD and inner suburbs at QV.

The details of the 10-year deal remain undisclosed, but market analysts believe Sensis has paid about $280 net a sq m with 3 per cent increases and an 18 per cent incentive.

The incentive is believed to be one of the highest reported on the market this year. It is the largest leasing deal to take place on the site after the partnership announced earlier this year it had secured leases for 65 per cent of its retail area.


The deal pre-commits about 80 per cent of the building and took three months to negotiate.

Grocon joint managing director Daniel Grollo said it was a win for QV, given the difficult leasing environment in the CBD.

Meanwhile, legal firm Corrs is to move to the upper floors of 600 Bourke Street, where it now occupies space on levels three to nine.

Corrs will lease 7000 sq m of space being vacated by BHP Billiton as it moves to its new corporate headquarters at QV.

Bullaugenjoe

[Bullaugenjoe]

Telstra confirms plans to cut 3000 jobs



CANBERRA

TELECOMMUNICATIONS giant Telstra today confirmed it planned to cut about 3000 jobs next financial year as part of an ongoing drive to boost productivity.

Telstra last week denied Labor claims it would cut its 40,000-odd workforce by five to 10 per cent - or up to 4000 positions - and slash capital spending by up to 20 per cent.

But Telstra officials today conceded about 3000 jobs would be lost next year as part of the company`s productivity drive, although they said no specific targets had been set.

Telstra finance director John Stanhope said the company would have shed about 2800 full-time staff by the end of June this year as it moved to boost productivity by seven per cent.

And he said next year would be about the same, subject to the Telstra board approving the company`s business plan.

"It`s approximately the same number as last year," Mr Stanhope told a Senate estimates committee hearing.

Asked if that was about 3,000 full-time staff, he said: "yes."

The committee heard Telstra had shed 11,423 jobs in the three years to April 2003.

About one in five of positions lost this year had been in country areas, 1500 from the network area, 210 from marketing, 400 from business and government and 300 from finance and administration.

Telstra also said it had reaped an extra $204 million in revenue from line rental increases in the nine months to March but refused to give an estimate for the full year.




-AAP


Bullaugenjoe

[Aktienfossil]

Telstra boss to get a year`s pay if sacked
By Cosima Marriner
May 27 2003




Ziggy Switkowski


The chief executive of Telstra, Ziggy Switkowski, would receive a year`s pay if he was sacked, it was confirmed yesterday.

The information was revealed when executives told a Senate committee that at least 3000 Telstra jobs will have been axed over the 12 months to June 30.

Dr Switkowski, whose contract expires in the first half of next year, was paid $2.4 million last year. This included a base salary of $1.25 million and a "short-term incentive" of $1.15 million.

The terms of the contract were decided by Telstra directors and disclosed in the annual report.

The Labor Party suggested Telstra`s retrenchment provisions for Dr Switkowski were at odds with the Government`s national redundancy scheme, which says employees should receive eight weeks` pay if made redundant.


Labor has been pushing for shareholders to be allowed to vote on executive remuneration.

"It`s time shareholders got to vote on the issue," said Labor`s financial services spokesman, Stephen Conroy. "It`s time the Government stood up to be counted as the majority shareholder of Telstra."

The Communications Minister, Richard Alston, said Dr Switkowski`s remuneration package matched his responsibilities.

"I`d imagine that the board decides on what`s an appropriate package," he said. "If Dr Switkowski is at a level where he ends up with a better package than the ordinary Australian worker, it`s because he has a much higher responsibility."

Senator Alston suggested the national redundancy scheme did not apply to chief executives of the top 100 companies. He said the Government would act if it thought redundancy standards had been exceeded.

"We won`t pre-empt decisions that we believe responsible boards are capable of taking . . . We have confidence [the Telstra board] will act appropriately."

The retrenchment packages awarded to chief executives came under scrutiny again last week, when it was revealed that the former BHP Billiton boss, Brian Gilbertson, could receive a $50 million settlement.

In addition to a $12.4 million payment, the 59-year-old Mr Gilbertson will be paid a lifetime pension of $1.5 million a year. Mr Gilbertson left BHP in January after just six months in the job.

The confirmation that 3000 Telstra jobs would be cut this financial year is a retreat from the figure of 4000 mooted last week, and is expected to be revenue-neutral.

Telstra plans to cut capital expenditure by 9 per cent, or between $3 billion and $3.3 billion, in 2004.

Telstra has been progressively reducing the size of its workforce over the past few years, with the number of full-time and equivalent staff expected to fall from 44,977 to 42,000 this year.

Labor said Telstra would not be able to provide decent telecommunications services while it was cutting staff.

The Opposition communications spokesman, Lindsay Tanner, said: "John Howard is allowing Telstra to slash staff, raise phone line rentals, lose billions overseas and reduce investment in its network. Australians are paying more and getting less in order to fatten Telstra up for privatisation."


http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/05/26/1053801342974.html


Aktienfossil

[Aktienfossil]

Telstra Weighs Up New Zealand Mobile Network Again




The Australian newspaper reported today that Telstra is considering whether to build a mobile phone network in New Zealand, and will release an industry tender this week to gauge the cost.

Telstra chief executive Ziggy Switkowski said the telco`s NZ subsidiary TelstraClear was "a very appealing business" that lacked a strong mobile phone operation. He said the company was considering whether to buy access to another company`s mobile network, or build its own, the newspaper added.

"We are weighing our buy or build options," he was quoted as saying. "One option is the possibility of rolling out a 3G network - we have the spectrum - which could be used for wholesale and retail."

Telstra first considered building a mobile phone network in New Zealand in 1992, after bidding $10m for a spectrum licence but concluded it was uneconomic to do so.

TLS shares last traded at $4.42.


Aktienfossil

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Oppn questions Telstra CEO`s $1m clause
The federal Opposition has called for the Government to intervene in a contract provision that Telstra chief Ziggy Switkowski would receive a $1 million payout if he were made redundant.

A Senate budget estimates committee has heard that Dr Switkowski stands to receive the equivalent of one year`s salary in the event of a redundancy.

Labor`s communications spokesman, Linsday Tanner, says that would amount to Dr Switkowsi receiving $1 million if he were unable to fulfil his contract.

Mr Tanner says the clause is outrageous considering Telstra plans to cut about 3,000 jobs this year.

"The Government should step in in this matter and indicate to the board that this type of payout for an executive who has failed is not appropriate," Mr Tanner said.

"It sets a very bad example for the rest of the business world, it is wrong."

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eNews internetaktien.de
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

27.05.2003 / 17:24
Telstra: Doch keine Stellenkürzungen geplant?

Telstra Corp. (WKN: 909947), das australische Telekommunikationsunternehmen und Marktführer auf dem fünften Kontinent, hat am Dienstag die Berichte der Regierung zurückgewiesen, wonach Stellen gekürzt werden sollen. Telstra reagiert damit auf Berichte aus den Regierungskreisen, wonach das Telekomunternehmen 3.000 Stellen streichen möchte.
Telstra hat am Montag in einer Senatsanhörung gegenüber den Abgeordneten erwähnt, dass sie im kommenden Finanzjahr plant, bis zu 3.000 Stellen zu kürzen. Begründet wird die Stellenreduktion mit dem aktuellen Umstrukturierungsprogramm mit dem Ziel, die Produktivität des Unternehmens zu steigern. Die Einzelheiten der Anhörung wurden nicht von dem Unternehmen selbst veröffentlicht, sondern wurden durch Senatsangehörige nach Außen getragen.

Bill Scales aus dem Telstra-Vorstand hat am Dienstag überraschen erklärt, dass das Unternehmen zwar über die Möglichkeit der Stellenkürzungen nachdenkt, jedoch keine spezifischen Ziele in diesem Bereich genannt hat.

An der Börse in Frankfurt notiert die Aktie des australischen Anbieters am Dienstag unverändert mit 2,40 Euro. (geu)

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Govt misled Parliament on Telstra value: Oppn
The Federal Opposition says the Government has breached its own Charter of Budget Honesty by overstating the value of Telstra by more than $3 billion.

The Budget assumes a Telstra share price of $5.25, about 50 cents above the current market price.

Finance Minister Nick Minchin says that is what the Government would expect to receive if it sold its remaining stake in Telstra.

He says it has no bearing on the Budget`s bottom line.

But Labor`s Stephen Conroy says the Government has breached accounting standards and misled Parliament over the matter.

"This misrepresents the strength of the Government`s overall financial position," he said.

"That goes to the heart of the Government`s economic credibility and the claims they make about how great a financial managers they are.

"The Government`s Charter of Budget Honesty is in tatters."

Under questioning from Senator Conroy, Commonwealth Finance Department officials agreed they had breached Budget reporting regulations and possibly the Charter of Budget Honesty.

[Aktienfossil]

Fels to move on Telstra, Foxtel
June 2 2003
By Sue Cant, Cosima Marriner




Picture: LOUIE DOUVIS
In its report on the communications industry the ACCC will recommend that Telstra cut its ties by selling its Foxtel shares, commission sources say.



The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is on the brink of finalising its report to the Federal Government, which is likely to recommend forcing Telstra to sell its half-share of Foxtel.

The long-awaited report on the structure of the communication industry simply needs its formal sign-off from the ACCC`s five commissioners and outgoing chairman Allan Fels.

ACCC sources have indicated that the regulator will recommend the Government force Telstra to sell out of Foxtel. "The ACCC is absolutely fed up," a former ACCC adviser and Telstra manager, Ross Kelso, said. "I believe they would come down and recommend it."

With its approval of the Foxtel-Optus deal allowing the pay TV operators to share programming last November, the regulator has made clear its concerns about the potential for Telstra to leverage its market power through its Foxtel shareholding.

But in recent months Professor Fels and commissioner Ross Jones have upped the ante.


"Telstra`s ownership of an HFC (hybrid fibre coaxial) network and its interest in Foxtel places it in a unique position to unduly influence and benefit from the increasing convergence between telecommunications and broadcasting markets to the detriment of competition," Professor Fels said in a speech in April. "Also, Telstra`s interest in Foxtel reduces the incentives for Foxtel to supply channels to competing telecommunications service providers."

Mr Kelso, who was Telstra`s regulatory and technology manager in the lead-up to it taking a shareholding in Foxtel, said there was a "real or perceived conflict of interest" in a telco providing content.

"Even if Telstra did get out of content but remained as the cable carrier this is still an exclusive arrangement," he said. "This is the big problem.Telstra agreed with Foxtel that it would be the sole provider of carriage and nobody else could get into it."

While the ACCC does not have the power to order the sale of Telstra`s stake in Foxtel it can seek divestiture in a court.

But the Minister for Communications, Richard Alston, who commissioned the pay TV report, has already ruled it out.

Still, Senator Alston will have other matters to consider, because the 200-page report is expected to raise the issues of multi-channelling, a fourth commercial television licence, digital television and access regimes for both the telecommunications and broadcasting industries.

Telstra`s ability to bundle and discount its telephony and pay TV service, granted under the content-sharing deal, is another issue. Telstra says it has signed 100,000 people to its pay TV service since it began late last year.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/06/01/1054406074167.h…


Aktienfossil

[Bullaugenjoe]

Telstra`s Directories to Generate $1.2b in Revenue
By InvestorWeb, 03 Jun 2003



Sensis Pty Ltd, the wholly-owned advertising subsidiary of Telstra Corporation Ltd, today announced it expected to generate more than A$1.2 billion in revenue this financial year, approaching EBIT growth of nearly 7.0 percent in excess of A$620 million.

The company`s revenue growth forecast of 6.8% is a substantial increase on the 2.2 percent growth delivered last financial year, and the result of an innovative change program implemented by the management team over the last three years and a general recovery in advertising. Yellow Pages(R) print is forecast to achieve growth of 3.6 percent, White Pages(R) print growth of nearly 17 percent, and Sensis` online and electronic businesses growth of nearly 30 percent.

Mr Bruce Akhurst, Telstra Group Managing Director and Sensis Chairman, said Sensis continued to make a significant financial and strategic contribution to the Corporation - on average 10 percent of Telstra`s earnings before interest and tax.

Sensis` 13 percent share of national advertising now exceeds that of radio and magazines, and is approximately one-third the size of television and newspapers.

TLS shares last traded at $4.51.


Bullaugenjoe

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Telstra to spend $231m on rural services
Jun 4 13:42
AAP

Telstra Corp will spend $231 million and roll out 100 more CDMA base stations in the next financial year to boost country phone services, the company said on Wednesday.

Telstra Country Wide managing director Doug Campbell said the company would soon introduce a range of new products aimed at improving internet access and speeds in the bush.

He also said Telstra Country Wide would seek approval to bundle telephone and internet products with the regional pay-TV operator Austar.

In a speech to the National Farmers Federation national conference in Canberra, Mr Campbell said his company was focused on improving country phone services.

Telstra will spend $231 million in 2003-04 to improve the phone network in rural areas.

Mr Campbell said Telstra Country Wide was in the process of building 263 CDMA base stations to improve rural phone access to meet its commitment to federal government contracts.

An additional 103 base stations would be built by November this year as part of the company`s wireless local loop rollout, he said.

"I think all these products and services demonstrate our commitment to people living, working and travelling in rural and remote Australia," he said.

Mr Campbell said the Austar proposal would see customers receive one phone and pay-TV bill, plus a discount.

He said Telstra Country Wide would offer similar bundled products to those provided by Telstra and Foxtel in metropolitan areas.

[Aktienfossil]

Telstra cleans up in line limit saga

By Fran Spencer







STEVE MANN has what he describes as a flawless ADSL service.

But in just over two weeks, Telstra Corp will cut his broadband access off - because, it says, he should not have been able to get it in the first place.

Mr Mann applied for an ADSL connection to his central New South Wales coast home earlier this year through Perth-based ISP iiNet, but was knocked back after Telstra Wholesale, which provides the infrastructure to run the service, ruled his line quality was not good enough to support the service.

Not long afterwards, Mr Mann applied for a connection through Bigpond, Telstra`s retail arm - and was accepted.

Mr Mann posted the details of the events on online broadband user`s site Whirlpool.net.au and also made a complaint to Telstra and to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.

On May 1, he received a letter from Telstra offering to resolve the issue with a refund of the ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) connection fee, an upgrade of his ADSL plan and a series of discounts.

"During the qualifying process to check for ADSL availability a transmission test must take place," the letter said.

"The result of the transmission test can be greatly affected by weather (for example, humid temperatures, wet conditions) and by the quality of the network (for example, there may have been noise on the line, or a deterioration of the network)."

Mr Mann accepted Telstra`s offer, and says he assumed the matter was closed. However, he also posted Telstra`s letter to the Whirlpool site, where the case continued to attract attention - including that of Federal shadow IT minister Kate Lundy, who publicly queried whether the telco giant was favouring its own retail operation over competitors.

Late last month, an area general manager for Telstra Country Wide came to see Mr Mann at his office and handed him a letter stating the ADSL service would be terminated on June 23.

The letter stated the service had been connected "due to a human error" despite the fact that Mr Mann`s home was too far from his local exchange.

"They said at first weather conditions could interfere but they`ve since completely contradicted that by saying they didn`t actually do a line test, they entered it on a database and calculated the line needs based on distance from the exchange," Mr Mann said.

"At the end of the day, the service was absolutely perfect . . . it`s still working perfectly."

Mr Mann`s home is just over 5km from the exchange, well outside Telstra`s limit of about 3.4km.

According to iiNet managing director Michael Malone, the problem is becoming a common one, with "about a dozen" iiNet customers knocked back for ADSL this year and subsequently accepted by Bigpond.

"Ordinarily we just approach Telstra and tell them the customers were declined with us and accepted by Bigpond, and then Telstra organises to transfer the customer across to us, but Steve`s case was unusual because they wouldn`t do that," he said.

"I don`t think there`s actually any conspiracy operating here, it`s just while theoretically the test performed by Telstra Wholesale and Bigpond is the same thing, it comes up with different results occasionally.

"It seems to be more of a systems issue, but the effect of it seems to be anti-competitive."

Senator Lundy has asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to look into the issue. The ACCC has not yet decided whether it will investigate the complaint.

But according to Telstra Bigpond spokeswoman Kerrina Lawrence, the issue has been blown out of proportion.

"Let`s be clear about this, the customer was mistakenly connected due to human error," she said.

"He can`t keep his service because he`s more than 5 kilometres from the exchange . . . the limit is there to make sure there`s no interference of line quality to other customers. The regulators put those provisions in place for a good reason."

Ms Lawrence said there was no question of anti-competitive behaviour by the telco.

"Telstra does not favour one set of customers over another, we`ve got procedures in place to ensure there`s no distinction," she said.

Ms Lawrence said claims of similar cases were hearsay. Reports Telstra had launched an inquiry into broadband infrastructure procedures were incorrect.


http://www.thewest.com.au/20030607/business/tw-business-home…


Aktienfossil

[Aktienfossil]

Timing not right for Telstra sale: MP
A Federal Government MP says it is the wrong time to sell the rest of Telstra.

The Government is working on a package of measures to improve telecommunications services for regional and remote areas, which it has promised to deliver before selling off the rest of the carrier.

It has been reported that package will be announced within days, but a spokesman for the Communications Minister has refused to confirm that.

But National Party MP Ian Causley is not expecting the sale to happen soon, due to Telstra`s depressed share price.

"I don`t think there`s any value in selling Telstra at the present time, I think that it will improve, Telstra`s a very strong company, that`s one of the reasons why it should be sold so it can continue to be a strong company, but I don`t think there`s any value in selling it now," he said.

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http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s880579.htm


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[Krutertee]

Telstra blows more millions as dotcom bubbles burst
By Colin Kruger
June 21 2003





Telstra palmed off another of its disastrous dotcom investments at a substantial loss yesterday, selling its 12.7 per cent stake in Solution 6 to accounting software firm MYOB for less than $17 million.

Telstra paid $100 million for the interest in August 1999, part of an $850 million splurge during the tech boom.

The only bright spot for Australia`s largest phone company was the sell-down of its investment in share registry firm Computershare in 2000 at a $162 million profit. But that has been more than offset by the losses on its other local investments, let alone its Asian ventures.

The company has also sold its stake in SMS Management & Technology, formerly Sausage Software, at a 70 per cent discount to its $19 million purchase price.

It is still left with an investment in electronic transactions vendor Keycorp. It paid $426 million for the stake, now valued at less than $45 million.


Telstra said it has already provided for the losses, including Keycorp, which confirmed that it had put itself up for sale in April, with Telstra believed to be interested in selling its stake.

Yesterday`s sale makes MYOB the second-largest shareholder in Solution 6 by a slim margin to the Guinness Peat Group, which lifted its stake to 17.7 per cent the day before yesterday`s announcement. Other backers include Kerry Packer`s Consolidated Press Holdings.

MYOB`s chief executive, Craig Winkler, denied rumours that his company was looking at a full takeover of Solution 6, but would not comment on talks between the two companies earlier this year.

"We`re certainly not launching a takeover, we`ve been very clear about that," he said.

According to Mr Winkler, the transaction is a one-off strategic investment designed to help MYOB preserve its position should any rationalisation occur in the software industry.

Either way, Adam Michell, of Burdett Buckeridge Young, said it was a good investment, with the stock fundamentally undervalued at these levels. The deal also benefits Solution 6.

"I would see it as a positive for Solution 6, with the Telstra [share] overhang out of the way," he said.

MYOB closed up 4c at 85c yesterday and Solution 6 finished the day 3c higher at 55c. Telstra gained 1c to $4.49.