Einde van een monopolist (vroeger overheidsbedrijf)

[Cees Binkhorst]

REPLY TO: D66 at nic.surfnet.nl

En het zal hoog tijd worden ook.
Het vroegere overheidsbedrijf Telstra maakt AUD240 winst per klant per jaar!

De laatste tijd heeft ze zelfs overeenkomsten gesloten met huizenbouwers,
zodat hele nieuwe wijken _verplicht_ afnemer worden van Telstra.
Dit strookt niet met het plan van de regering voor een landelijk dekkend
glasvezelnet (tot in het huis). Afgelegen plekken krijgen
satellietverbindingen.

Groet / Cees

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/reforms-announced-that-could-break-up-telstra-20090915-fogi.html
Reforms announced that could break up Telstra
September 15, 2009 - 10:03AM

The Rudd government has announced a package of reforms to
telecommunications regulations that will pave the way for a break-up of
Telstra.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said the reforms would address the
telco's high level of integration with the aim of promoting greater
competition and consumer benefits.

"For years industry has been calling for fundamental and historic
micro-economic reform in telecommunications," Senator Conroy said.

"Today we are delivering this outcome in Australia's long-term national
interest."

The reforms would address the structure of the telecommunications market
and provide Telstra with the flexibility to choose its future path.

"It is the government's clear desire for Telstra to structurally separate,
on a voluntary and cooperative basis," Senator Conroy said.

"The government believes it is possible to achieve a win-win outcome in
the interests of Telstra, its shareholders and, more broadly, all
Australians."

The move is unlikely to be welcomed by Telstra which has resisted moves to
separate its retail and wholesale functions.

Telstra was one of the most highly integrated telecommunications companies
in the world across the fixed-line copper, cable and mobile platforms,
Senator Conroy said.

The government will strengthen consumer safeguards including the Universal
Service Obligation, Customer Service Guarantee and the Priority Assistance
arrangements to ensure consumers are protected and service standards are
maintained at a high level.

"These fundamental reforms address the long-standing inadequacies of the
existing telecommunications regulatory regime They will drive lower
prices, better quality and more innovative services," Senator Conroy said.

The government will introduce its legislation to parliament later today.

The draft laws will require Telstra to lose its cable network and divest
its interests in the pay television arm, Foxtel.

Telstra will be prevented from acquiring additional spectrum for advanced
mobile services.

"Unless it structurally separates, divests its ... cable network and
divests its interests in Foxtel,'' Senator Conroy said.

Previous governments had failed to undertake serious reforms of the
telecommunications sector, Senator Conroy said.

"The measures in this legislation will finally correct the mistakes of the
past,'' he said.

"The government will require the functional separation of Telstra, unless
it decides to voluntarily structurally separate.''

There was no recourse for compensation because the reforms allowed Telstra
to choose its future, Senator Conroy said.

"We are offering a choice, whether they want to be in this market, or that
market,'' he said.

"But we're not actually requiring Telstra to make a choice to structurally
separate, it's a voluntary situation where they get to choose how they
want to go forward.

"What we're saying is that you can't be in all platforms.''

Telstra was allowed to stay in its present form, although the proposed
legislation would deliver some regulatory changes and improvements to the
competition regime.

Senator Conroy would not divulge how long the plan had been in the works,
but said Telstra was well prepared even before being approached by
government.

Senator Conroy said the government's clear preference was for Telstra to
submit an undertaking to voluntarily structurally separate in a way that
was acceptable to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
(ACCC).

"The minister will provided guidance to the ACCC to assist its assessment
of these matters,'' he said.

"The government retains an open mind on how structurally separation may be
achieved.''

If Telstra chooses not to separate, the legislation provides for the
government to impose a "strong functional separation framework'' on the
telco.

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