A private Australian submarine cable developer, ASSC-1 Communications Group, is to build a new four pair submarine cable from Perth to Indonesia via Singapore and has already sold one pair to Telstra.

Telstra's Indian joint venture, Telstra Telecommunications Private Limited (TTPL) has finally been awarded licences to provide customers in India with international and national long-distance telecommunications and Internet services, but is it now entering the market three years behind major global telcos like BT & AT&T.

Telstra International has appointed Martijn Blanken as chief operating officer, based in Hong Kong and reporting to Telstra International group managing director, Tarek Robbiati.

Telstra has appointed Ms Xiaowei Chen to the role of CEO Telstra China: a market from which it aimed to generate $1.0b in revenues by 2013, but where it is still well short of this figure.

Telstra CEO David Thodey has moved to stamp his mark on the organisation with the creation of new product and customer service units and a new international division.

Telstra International has unveiled what it says is a series of initiatives that will "deepen its connectivity in key Asian growth markets in Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia."

Telstra International Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) has formed a partnership with South African company, Internet Solutions, that will expand the reach of both parties' MPLS network coverage. In particular it will enable Telstra to provide better connectivity into Africa for its multinational corporate customers.