Telstra stands ready to build NBN

Telstra has conducted ‘detailed planning’ and secured financing to build what they claim is ‘Australia’s most urgent and important infrastructure project’, but has stopped short of committing to actually bid for it.

Speaking at the Western Region Telecommunications Forum in Melbourne today, Telstra’s group managing director for public policy and communications, David Quilty, ticked off the boxes to show Telstra’s preparedness to build ‘a world-class NBN’.

“We have done the detailed planning; we have secured the financing; we have the world’s leading prime vendor… skilled workforce [and] proven track record,” Quilty’s speech notes claim.

However, Quilty pulled up just short of confirming that Telstra would bid for what he claimed to be ‘Australia’s most important and urgent infrastructure project’.

“I need to be careful what I say about the National Broadband Network,” he said.

“However, let me assure you that if it is in the interests of our shareholders, Telstra stands ready to build a world-class network.”

The telco has fuelled speculation in recent weeks that it may not bid if structural separation stays on the table.

Its main rival, Terria, has publicly stated it will bid despite a recent exodus of consortium members. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter