Terria seeks national broadband network 'monopoly'

The Australian government has not ruled out the possibility that the planned National Broadband Network could be run as a monopoly, effectively closing the door on competing broadband infrastructure investments. Telco consortium Terria yesterday said it would seek a guaranteed monopoly network if successful in its bid to build the network that would service 98 per cent of the nation. "Our proposition to the Government is that no party be allowed to expand the network and operate in competition to the national broadband network," said Terria bid manager Michael Simmons. Terria's announcement sparked the ire of rival bidder Telstra, which labelled the telco consortium as a "closet monopolist."