Should Telstra be sold?

[Hawk_2004]

I actually work for them and was wondering what people thought? I for one think it should stay in the hands of the Government, as no one in Australia has enough money to upgrade the current Australian network

 

[Docker_Brat]

Does it matter what you think? It is gone. The public wanted it apparantly.

 

[Black Panther]

Even CUBA has privatised it's national phone company

 

[mantis]

When it's privatized, all the people who are for it, come back to me when you are whinging about timed local calls & poor service.

 

[Fire]

Even CUBA has privatised it's national phone company

So?


IMO, It all comes down to this question:

Would you rather Telstra in the hands of a private investor, who is only interested in making a profit

or

In the hands of the Government, who would (in theory) be mainly concerned with the service it is providing.


I would rather it in the hands of the government, because there is no way in hell regional services will be anywhere near acceptable once it is sold. Its just not financially viable. It is in Australians best interests for Telstra to be kept. Fair enough for companies like the Commonwealth bank, or Qantas, but Telstra provides an essential service which, quite simply, it will not provide to regional areas.

I would in fact argue a government 51% controlling stake in Telstra is probably the ideal amount. It ensures it provides the necessary service for all Australians, and it is reasonably privatised. Hell, its working right now, isn’t it?

 

[YOTC]

When it's privatized, all the people who are for it, come back to me when you are whinging about timed local calls & poor service.

Oh no, the service can get worse??????????? Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! the humanity.
How can you talk on a phone for more then 10 mins? The only time ive done that is waiting for telstra customer service

 

[mantis]

Oh no, the service can get worse??????????? Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! the humanity.
How can you talk on a phone for more then 10 mins? /QUOTE]

Well when you have friends it is very easy, but that is something you wouldn't know about, shame that no one wants to talk to you for long.

 

[YOTC]

Well when you have friends it is very easy, but that is something you wouldn't know about, shame that no one wants to talk to you for long.

Hmm what a shame i dont spend money on phone calls and talk to my friends on msn. Oh well, saving money isnt for everyone .

 

[demon_dave]

Telstra is gone, it will be first cab of the rank, prices will go up , services will be crap, jobs will be lost, thats what the majority wants, more money in the hands of big business with kickbacks to bent conservative pollies

 

[jim boy]

I suppose there are a couple of issues in regards to providing uneconomic infrastructure.

The most obvious example being provision of services to the country. But even in the city there are infrastructure issues.

For example, I don't think anybody really wants multiple cables going around when only one set should suffice.

Also investing in proper quality wires. With the Internet, extensive use of cheap twisted pair gain resulted in large swathes of people with poor Internet connections. Even those with superior wires still suffer from Telstra miserliness. Countries such as Korea and France now have normal DSL speeds of 2Mb's and above, allowing services such as TV to be digitally streamed. This isn't possible In Australia where the poor quality of lines prevents this.

What I wouldn't object to is the break-up of Telstra into two companies. One that deals customers accounts, competes on level terms with other companies and is totally privatised. And the second company that provides infrastructure, maintains exchanges and lines etc and remains in public hands.

 

[YOTC]

services will be crap

Services will be crap? What are they now?

 

[mantis]

Hmm what a shame i dont spend money on phone calls and talk to my friends on msn. Oh well, saving money isnt for everyone .

But are they really your friends?

I prefer to hear my friends voices, it is a lot more personal than the net, but then a computer nerd wouldn't understand that, OH well, maybe one day you will have friends or family that would prefer to hear your voice.

 

[Fire]

I suppose there are a couple of issues in regards to providing uneconomic infrastructure.

The most obvious example being provision of services to the country. But even in the city there are infrastructure issues.

For example, I don't think anybody really wants multiple cables going around when only one set should suffice.

Also investing in proper quality wires. With the Internet, extensive use of cheap twisted pair gain resulted in large swathes of people with poor Internet connections. Even those with superior wires still suffer from Telstra miserliness. Countries such as Korea and France now have normal DSL speeds of 2Mb's and above, allowing services such as TV to be digitally streamed. This isn't possible In Australia where the poor quality of lines prevents this.

What I wouldn't object to is the break-up of Telstra into two companies. One that deals customers accounts, competes on level terms with other companies and is totally privatised. And the second company that provides infrastructure, maintains exchanges and lines etc and remains in public hands.

In other words, the government owns all of the infrastructure and Telstra has to pay a fee to use them like every other company?

I can dig that.

 

[jim boy]

In other words, the government owns all of the infrastructure and Telstra has to pay a fee to use them like every other company?

I can dig that.

exactly

 

[YOTC]

But are they really your friends?

I prefer to hear my friends voices, it is a lot more personal than the net, but then a computer nerd wouldn't understand that, OH well, maybe one day you will have friends or family that would prefer to hear your voice.

I know very little about computers actually, all i do is post on forums and talk to friends on msn. I don't need to hear their voices, i trust my friends. I suppose your 5 min judgement on me means you know who i am and what i do.

 

[jim boy]

I prefer to hear my friends voices..

Use Skype then...

 

[YOTC]

In other words, the government owns all of the infrastructure and Telstra has to pay a fee to use them like every other company?

I can dig that.

I like I like.

 

[Hawk_2004]

In other words, the government owns all of the infrastructure and Telstra has to pay a fee to use them like every other company?

I can dig that.

Who will maintain the infrastructure? No other carrier in Australi8a besides Telstra has any Technicial staff

If Telstra is sold Telstra infrastructure must not be sold under any circumstances.

 

[Fire]

Who will maintain the infrastructure? No other carrier in Australi8a besides Telstra has any Technicial staff

The government. To be paid for by the fees telecomunication companies will have to pay in order to use them.

 

[Mr Q]

What I wouldn't object to is the break-up of Telstra into two companies. One that deals customers accounts, competes on level terms with other companies and is totally privatised. And the second company that provides infrastructure, maintains exchanges and lines etc and remains in public hands.

Agree 100%. I violently object to public infrastructure being sold off. I don't really have a problem with service providers being sold off, but if Telstra is sold off with control of the infrastructure there is no way in the long term that competing companies can have equal access to that. I can't see telecommunications infrastructure being any different to roads or rail networks or other publicly owned - and built - infrastructure.

 

[lozstar]

Telstra is gone, it will be first cab of the rank, prices will go up , services will be crap, jobs will be lost, thats what the majority wants, more money in the hands of big business with kickbacks to bent conservative pollies

exactly.
i work at telstra, and i dont want to lose my job.
****ing governemnt..

 

[TheBloods]

IMO, It all comes down to this question:

Would you rather Telstra in the hands of a private investor, who is only interested in making a profit

or

In the hands of the Government, who would (in theory) be mainly concerned with the service it is providing.

LOL - you think that a Govt-owned entity will provide good service? You think you can't get good service from a private-owned entity?

Best result is for Telstra to be split into two. If not, then the Govt needs to regulate the pricing of infrastructure access. The Govt doesn't need to actually own Telstra to do that and as a competitor in an essentially private market, it makes little sense for the Govt to be a participant.

 

[Joffaboy]

exactly.
i work at telstra, and i dont want to lose my job.
****ing governemnt..

I know IT contractors who are on over $150k a year. Why are not these people on the payroll? This typical govt wastage would be put right once the carrier is completely privatised.

The 50% govt ownership is just absolute rubbish. For one the people have voted for the full sale, so why not do it?

 

[Cap]

i think it should be sold if all the lines etc which were laid when it was owned by the government stay under goverment control. they can then control the rental on the lines stopping telstra being such a monopoly on the market

apart from that sell the big bugger

 

[stormee]

yesss sell it! im nostalgic for the old days of Australia Post and snail mail, good riddance to telephones!