🚀 go-pugleaf

Harry Banaharis (harry@source.com.au) wrote:
: Well, it finally happened. Telstra is moving into the consumer ISP 
: market with some fancy schemes for taking over the existing ISP's.
:etc.. 

Telstra responded (at URL http://www.telstra.net/14may.html) to 
the Stewart Fist article in yesterday's Australian (and Net page 
at http://www.australian.aust.com/computer/special/telnet.htm ) 
as follows:
     
     "Telstra's Internet Directions - Statement
     
     14 May 1996
     
     Today's Australian newspaper published extracts from an 
     internal Telstra draft discussion paper and the accompanying
     commentary may have created confusion and uncertainty 
     amongst the Internet business community.
     
     The newspaper article interpreted the document as a 
     committed course of action by Telstra with the intent to 
     dominate the Internet access market. In fact this is not the 
     case. That document has not been finalised, neither has it 
     been approved for implementation by Telstra.
     
     In any event:-
     
          Telstra is not seeking to control the Internet - 
     Telstra is committed to a competitive Internet market
     
          At present there are other major companies providing 
     Internet connection (eg AT&T, Sprint, IBM - American 
     companies), Optus is also looking at this issue.
     
          Internet access provision is a business opportunity for 
     Telstra (100% Australian owned) to do what most other 
     carriers, worldwide are doing.
     
          Telstra already sells Internet access to residential 
     customers via On Australia and to corporate customers via 
     Telstra Internet.
     
          Telstra views entry into this market as a logical 
     evolution from its acquisition of AARNet last year. Since 
     then it has strengthened the domestic infrastructure and 
     moved points of presence into exchanges and significantly 
     increased international bandwidth. This is in the interest 
     of providing Australians with a quality service engineered 
     for reliability.
     
          Some Internet Service Providers have already been 
     consulted and acknowledge Telstra's entry into the 
     residential market as a logical and not unexpected next 
     step.
     
          In a radio interview late this afternoon, the Internet 
     Industry Association stated that it welcomed Telstra's 
     involvement so long as it was on a level playing field 
     basis. This is our intention.
     
     We hope the above clarifies Telstra's position and we look 
     forward to your support as we build a quality Internet 
     service for all Australians."
     

Make up your own mind.

-Ernie.