Optus has raised concerns about new laws that could see the National Broadband Network replace Telstra as the country’s telecommunication’s monopolist.
The Australian newspaper reports that at yesterday’s senate committee hearing, an Optus spokesperson said proposed laws governing the NBN were "deeply worrying" for the nation’s telecommunications industry.
Optus is pushing for a raft of changes to the $43 billion NBN project that it says will enhance competition.
Among Optus' concerns with the draft laws, along with the lack of ownership caps are the inclusion of a ministerial discretion to allow NBN to offer retail services and the failure to specify equal wholesale access to the NBN.
Optus also fears that Telstra will be granted cheaper access to the NBN in exchange for bringing across its 8 million customers.
Telstra’s 2009 net profit was over $4 billion.
