Terria dances on Telstra’s NBN threats

The threats were made by Telstra Country Wide managing director, Geoff Booth, in a Rural Press article this week.

"People think we're playing a bluff here, but I spoke to the chairman yesterday, and the CEO this morning, and the message is clear: we will not bid if separation is not taken off the table,” Booth told the publication.

Terria chairman Michael Egan used the threats to reinforce Terria’s message that it ‘remains the only company committed to lodging a nationwide bid for the new National Broadband Network’.

He also claimed that Telstra was losing sight of the big picture.

“No one is calling for the dismemberment of Telstra,” said Egan.

“Despite Telstra continually clouding this issue, this is not a debate about the structural separation of Telstra’s existing business and network structure. It is about the new National Broadband Network infrastructure.”

“Terria is determined to win the NBN contract and ensure that Australian households and businesses have the opportunity to reap the benefits of affordable broadband and choice of provider,” added Egan.