The telco launches a broadside at OPEL project, questioning the $1 billion budget for a network that isn’t here yet.
Telstra has launched an extraordinary attack on the $1 billion nationwide OPEL broadband project, calling it a "billion dollar boondoggle".
The carrier questioned why OPEL hasn’t "delivered" eight months after launch, contrasting the network with its recently announced ADSL2+ expansion which will expand to 900 new telephone exchanges.
"OPEL is now eight months old - and still no network, no rollout plan, no personnel and no management," Telstra Group General Manager of Public Policy Dr Phil Burgess said in a statement released today.
"By contrast, with a few days' notice, and zero contribution from taxpayers, Telstra last week expanded high-speed broadband to 2.4 million more Australians."
Telstra says it is a step closer to accessing "secret" documents about the OPEL bid. Instead of providing broadband just to "new rural communities" for the first time, Telstra wants to know why $1billion will be spent on OPEL to duplicate services that "already exist".
The OPEL project aims to provide broadband access to rural areas. The network will reportedly use ADSL as well as WiMax technology.
Telstra’s ADSL2+ rollout raises the question of whether OPEL is necessary, given that Telstra eventually hopes to cover more than 900 telephone exchanges with fast broadband. However several ISPs have indicated concern over possible lack of competition if Telstra does not provide them access to those same locations. iPrimus claims Telstra has "denied" them from getting inside key exchanges.