This Month
Telstra beats Optus, TPG in launching satellite text messaging
The telecommunications group says its customers can now send texts in areas that have no mobile reception.
May
Telstra goes all in on five-year plan to ride AI infrastructure wave
The telco’s CEO Vicki Brady says an “unrelenting” demand for data would help fuel growth, and investment was needed to keep up with rivals.
How Telstra will make Australia pay up for the AI boom
Vicki Brady’s new five-year plan at Telstra is designed to try to solve the problem that’s been plaguing the telco sector for more than two decades.
Optus CEO focused on costs as profit rebounds
Optus boss Stephen Rue says the telco’s sports streaming platform remains important to customers, amid speculation it could be up for sale.
Telstra CEO Brady to face investor grilling on plan to boost returns
Big shareholders get to interrogate the company’s top brass next week and will be looking for detail on how they will make the core businesses more profitable.
Telstra seeks buyer for MTData subsidiary; hires corporate adviser
The IM talked up the opportunity present in the global fleet telematics market, which is projected to grow at 9 per cent compounded over the next eight years to $US170 billion.
Telstra swoops on Microsoft boss to steer AI push
Steven Worrall will join the telco group in September and run its infrastructure arm, including data centres, as Telstra invests heavily in AI.
Potentia Capital orders adviser beauty parade at Soprano Design
Investment bank Barrenjoey is in line to secure the mandate to sell Potentia’s 25 per cent stake in mobile phone communications company Soprano Design.
US urges nations facing tariffs to sign up to Musk’s Starlink
State Department cables show Trump officials pushing smaller nations to greenlight licensing of Musk’s satellites at the same time they are facing trade talks.
The stage of life Australians can’t afford to ignore
Kate Carnell says federal funds for end-of-life planning would reduce costly hospitalisations and prevent unnecessary suffering.
April
Ultra-fast internet provider GigaComm seeks $150m-plus; Rothschild on ticket
The six-year-old NBN challenger is seeking a deep-pocketed backer to help it build a broadband internet offering for apartment residents.
Aussie Broadband launches ‘aggressive’ push into mobile services
The challenger telco will use cheap plans to lure Telstra customers as it plots its most ambitious move into the $20 billion mobile market.
March
After 43 years, local tech pioneer NetComm heads for the scrapheap
Modem maker NetComm Wireless was once a star of the local tech scene. But its Nasdaq-listed owner has filed for bankruptcy after a year of ownership.
Optus considers bundling sports streaming with mobile plans
The Singaporean-owned group has been weighing up whether to sell off its streaming business, which holds the broadcast rights to English Premier League matches.
Optus has had some horror years, but its new CEO is taking on Telstra
From overhauling the books at Melbourne Storm to war gaming the impact of COVID-19 on the NBN, Stephen Rue is a solutions guy. Optus is his next big challenge.
Highest costs, lowest speeds make NBN a financial albatross for Australia
On this trajectory, the NBN may be ultimately regarded as one of the worst investments in Australia’s history.
AustralianSuper’s Indara reviews ‘smart city’ assets as losses mount
Australian Super’s loss-making telcoms tower business, Indara, is reviewing its troubled smart city infrastructure businesses as it searches for a new boss.
February
Optus customer executive the first to leave under new CEO Stephen Rue
Maurice McCarthy’s resignation marks the first big executive departure under new boss Stephen Rue as he tries to restore the embattled telco group’s reputation.
Taiwan detains Chinese-crewed ship after undersea cable severed
Taiwan is preparing for the worst in an escalating subsea infrastructure battle after authorities detained a Chinese-crewed cargo vessel suspected of sabotage.
Banks, insurers crack down on abusers using their products as weapons
Financial abuse is estimated to cost victims $5.7 billion every year – more than twice the amount of losses from scams.