As expected, Telstra today lodged a last minute, albeit non-compliant, bid to build the national broadband network. Optus, a Canadian telco Axia NetMedia and Acacia - led by a consortium including Melbourne businessman including Solomon Lew, also submitted proposals to build the national network. Other bids to build smaller parts of the network came from the Tasmanian Government and TransACT.

The Telstra bid was in the form of a 12 page letter and did not comply with the guidelines, most likely due to Communications Minister Stephen Conroy’s repeatedly refusal “to bow to Telstra’s demand for assurances that the project will not lead to a split of the dominant telco’s business.”

To read media coverage of the latest developments in the bidding process for the national broadband network, see:
Telstra lodges last-minute broadband ‘bid’
business.smh.com.au/business/telstra-lodges-lastminute-broadband-bid-20081126-6i3r.html
business.theage.com.au/business/telstra-lodges-lastminute-broadband-bid-20081126-6i3r.html

Telstra doesn’t bid, but could win
business.theage.com.au/business/telstra-doesnt-bid-but-could-win-20081126-6icy.html
business.smh.com.au/business/telstra-doesnt-bid-but-could-win-20081126-6icy.html

Telstra enters NBN race
www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24709781-15306,00.html