Telstra has no tears for coalition, ready to roll out network

Labor\u27s election on Saturday night changes the telco landscape significantly - telecommunications was one area of substantial policy difference between the two major parties. The defeated coalition government\u27s objective was to ensure high speed broadband access through a range of technologies, including wireless WiMax technology. To that end, former communications minister Helen Coonan earlier this year approved a grant of almost $1 billion to an Optus and Elders (OPEL) joint venture to build a wireless bush broadband network. But the future of that program is now in doubt because of Labor\u27s promise to match $4.7 billion of public money with a similar private sector contribution to build a national fibre optic broadband network. Telstra says it can begin rolling out fibre optic cable for a new super fast national broadband network within 48 hours, if given the all clear by the new Federal Labor government