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MEDIA RELEASE
16th October 2008
TERRiA committed to National Broadband bid
TERRiA chairman, Michael Egan, confirmed today that TERRiA would be bidding for the right to roll out the new National Broadband Network.
Mr Egan said TERRiA was the only potential bidder to publicly commit to making a bid.
“Telstra is still adamant that it will not bid unless the Federal Government first rules out the possibility of requiring separation of the new network from retail operations.”
“For TERRiA, on the other hand, it is full steam ahead.”
Mr Egan said that he regretted that AAPT, while continuing to support the TERRiA principles, would no longer be a participant in TERRiA.
“AAPT’s owner, Telecom NZ, is undertaking major capital investment in New Zealand and I can understand it wanting to focus on its home turf.”
“However, its decision will not affect TERRiA’s bid.”
“We have an excellent business case and are more than confident of our ability to fund the new network.”
“Unlike Telstra, our business case does not depend on anything like the exorbitant 25 percent return which Telstra’s John Stanhope demanded on Tuesday.”
“And, again unlike Telstra, which also stated on Tuesday that it would take eight years to connect rural and regional areas, TERRiA will start its high speed broadband roll out in these neglected areas immediately upon award. We are committed to completing the nation-wide roll out in the five year time frame set by the Government.”
Mr Egan also welcomed yesterday’s comments by Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy that the Government would continue to consider structural separation for the winner of the tender.
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About TERRiA
TERRiA is a consortium of seven major infrastructure based telecommunications companies which will bid to provide Australia’s new National Broadband Network (NBN). It includes iinet, Internode, Optus, Macquarie Telecom, Primus, SOUL and TransACT. | 
