The Government has offered Australia's three mobile operators, and vividwireless, renewal of their existing spectrum allocated on 15 year licences in the late 90s and early 2000s at set prices, while the Government expects to rake in $3 billion.
"Frankly we looking to when is it going to happen in Australia," he says.
"Nothing is inevitable but it's desirable. We're now in a different
market and I think Telstra can put forward a pretty strong argument
that they're no longer a government owned organisation. They're much
more looking after the shareholder's interests but corporate Australia
isn't getting the right sort of deal and the right opportunity to see
innovation in action.
"This isn't about anything other than a separation debate which from a
retail point of view gives other people the same access to the assets
that have been invested in over many years.
"It means I can't call up my mate in the wholesale division to get things that aren't available to my competitors."
While Varney has some pretty strong pro-separation views, he is also
adamant that it can and will have to be worked out to be in the best
interests of Telstra shareholders.
"It is no one's interests for there to be a duplication of
infrastructure but there has got to be a fair return for Telstra
shareholders," he says.
However, Telstra wholesale margins, while healthy, would have to be regulated.
"Regulation will be necessary because otherwise there will be price creep," he says.
Meanwhile, according to Varney, Telstra is missing out on nothing by not being part of the NBN process.
"I don't think the NBN will go ahead," Varney says.
"Telstra can already provide just about everything that the NBN proposes to do."
David Bass
| ComOps, a leading Australian provider of business software products and services, has won a competitive tender to deploy its Salvus safety, r…
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