Telstra is calling for a new regulatory framework to underpin the rollout of a new open access, high-speed national broadband network (NBN). Specifically, Telstra believes new legislation is needed to lock in an agreement on the terms of core wholesale access to the NBN to provide certainty for investors and wholesale customers and attract the multi-billion dollar investment required.
"If this network is going to be built, the builder needs up-front certainty that its investment will not be undermined or given away by regulatory changes once a decision to invest is made," said Kate McKenzie, Group Managing Director of Telstra Wholesale.
Telstra's legislative recommendations include:
- Maintaining the integrity of the network, which means the Government should not try to slice up the network and give different elements to different providers and the Government should not force the network operator to accommodate old and new technologies, which are not compatible;
- Given the critical importance of telecommunications to public safety and national security, bidders must be able to demonstrate how their plan will provide for emergency services, particularly during the migration phase;
- Unnecessary regulation aimed at legacy networks should be removed;
- Land access arrangements need to be streamlined to facilitate the deployment of more than 50,000 nodes; and
- Important consumer protection and social policy objectives must be properly identified and funded.
