Telecommunication companies are privately hoping that a severe round of job cuts at NBN Co and commentary from its chief executive, Stephen Rue, point to a revision of its pricing structure to lower costs for them and, ultimately, the network’s end-users.

Amid a fight with Telstra, Optus, TPG Telecom and Vocus over wholesale costs, Mr Rue told staff on Tuesday that the government-owned company would make 10 per cent of its workforce – 500 people – redundant.